FS Super

Financial accountability regime (FAR) draft legislation: How far has it come?

GABRIELA PIRANA   After a long wait following Treasury's initial proposal paper issued in January 2020, the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) draft legislation has arrived, and there are ...

Tackling modern slavery through finance

SUZY YOON   This paper looks at the impact of modern slavery risks in investment management, what the industry can do to combat it and the approach JANA takes to ensure their investment managers ...

Downsizer contributions revisited

MINH LY   In the 2021 Federal Budget, the government proposed expanding eligibility to make downsizer contributions to individuals 60 and over, from previously 65 and over, allowing more ...

Finding income in a low interest environment

JESSE IMER   'Lower for Longer' - central bank monetary policy. 'There's no income in fixed income.' 'How can bond yields move any lower?' These are a small few of the expressions that ...

Insurance cover available through superannuation

AMY LEWIS   Superannuation funds typically offer three types of insurance to members. How age makes a difference to superannuation insurance If a member is over 25, most superannuation funds ...

Life insurance in superannuation: Improving member outcomes

AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY   Life and disability insurance are important benefits offered by superannuation funds to Australians. Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act), all members ...

Digital advice key to keeping members engaged

STEVEN DAVISON   Digital advice is set to play a vital role for superannuation funds wanting to engage their growing memberships and steer them toward better retirement outcomes, says Midwinter's ...

Striking the balance

DANIEL MCKEAN   As confirmed by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), we now live in a world where cyber-related identity crime is "more common than robbery, motor vehicle theft, household ...

Managing systematic longevity risk

DOUG MCBIRNIE   The superannuation sector has been effective in helping millions of Australians build a nest egg to improve their standard of living in retirement. One of the biggest challenges ...

Solving the longevity puzzle

FINTAN THORNTON   The risk of members outliving their retirement savings presents a significant challenge for retirees and superannuation funds alike. With the Retirement Income Covenant (the covenant) ...

An evolving administration environment

STEPHEN FREEBORN   Administration operations models in the Australian superannuation market are evolving. What funds want from their providers and what service providers can offer is changing. This ...

SMSFs and overseas property

GRAEME COLLEY   An important part of a fund's investment strategy is for trustees to consider diversification of assets. This can take place amongst different investment classes, but also within ...

Corporate greenwashing: The latest target for climate litigation

ANDREW KORBEL   As an oil and gas giant recently became the first corporate to be hit with Australian proceedings for alleged climate-related 'greenwashing', one thing is clear: companies ...

The psychology of super fund member segmentation

SIMON RUSSELL   Superannuation fund members are not all the same; but neither are they all entirely different. The more a fund can understand about its members, the more it can personalise its ...

The super fund performance test has landed

ALEX DUNNIN   The Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Act 2021 (YFYS) that came into effect on 1 July 2021 requires the superannuation industry to improve its efficiency, transparency ...

Your Future is now: Superannuation reforms pass Parliament

MATT DALEY   The passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Bill 2021 (YFYS Bill) in Parliament during June, marked one of the largest shake-ups to Australia's superannuation ...

Cryptic with cryptocurrency

GRAEME COLLEY   Cryptocurrency is a virtual or digital currency which allows people to pay for goods and services directly through an online system. It has no legislated or intrinsic value and ...

Protecting SMSF assets: Key ways to secure the fund's assets during adverse events

GRAEME COLLEY   A trustee's responsibility extends beyond just the fund, they are also obliged to oversee all of the members' interests. Some of the advantages of having an SMSF are that ...

Avoiding mistakes with superannuation nomination beneficiary forms

AIA TECHNICAL TEAM   It is generally well understood that an individual is unable to include directions in their Will in relation to the distribution of death benefits by a superannuation fund trustee.