Governance
Shield, First Guardian reforms must not become a covert operation to restrict competition
There is broad consensus in industry and Canberra that the collapses of the Shield and First Guardian master funds – and failures that led to them – demand a regulatory response. But getting that response wrong could create an uneven playing field in the industry and some counterproductive consumer outcomes.
Industry & regulation
Time to bring law to SMSF ‘wild west’: Hartley
More regulation is needed to address consumer harm arising from SMSFs and the Financial Accountability Regime should apply even to platforms that outsource their super trustee in order to close governance gaps, according to Insignia Financial CEO Scott Hartley.
Business strategy
Future Fund looks to slash external tech spend in cost-cutting drive
The $335 billion Future Fund is hoping to find tens of millions in cost savings by consolidating arrangements with external data and tech providers and putting a number of roles under review as it reconsiders resourcing in a volatile investment environment that it “expects to endure”.
Technology
How HESTA is rethinking portfolio construction at the human-AI nexus
As artificial intelligence models become more sophisticated, gaining an edge over the market increasingly requires investors to tap into both human wisdom and information derived from technology. At FIS Singapore, investors from HESTA, Temasek and Pictet unpacked how they are rethinking portfolio construction in the age of AI.
12 – 14 May, 2026
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
21 July, 2026
Insurance in Super Summit
19 August, 2026
Retirement Leaders Summit
Leadership & profiles
Former GESB CEO heads to asset manager
Former GESB CEO Ben Palmer has taken up the top job at Affinity Funds Management after 13 years at the Western Australian super fund, joining the ranks of super fund executives who have headed to family offices, charities and asset and wealth managers following careers in the super sector.
Profiles
‘Not afraid of the size we are’: NGS pushes ‘alternative scale’ as churn slows
NGS Super is on a mission to reduce its member churn with a bid to lean into its “alternative scale” as a small player in a superannuation landscape dominated by increasingly mammoth funds. Chief executive Natalie Previtera says the transition to Grow – which she calls the Ferrari of admin systems – is one of the first crucial steps.
2025 Insurance in Super Summit
What the super industry can learn about leadership under pressure
A willingness to make tough decisions in difficult circumstances characterises the careers of both former Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan AC and the neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo, and will provide the Investment Magazine Insurance in Super Summit with insights into the secrets of effective leadership in a challenging environment.
Retirement
Changing the focus, from ‘nest egg’ to ‘income for retirement’
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Dr Daniel Mulino writes exclusively for Retirement Magazine that superannuation fund members deserve a dignified retirement, consistent with the objective of super, and it is well past time to move the public conversation from super providing a lump sum to it being the source of ongoing and reliable income.
Governance
Why funds need to deal with TPA’s ‘free rider’ problem
More and more super funds are pivoting to the TPA approach, but will need to confront the long-standing issues with accountability that come with it if they want that model to be sustainable into the future.
Governance
Aware backs tougher law to ensure company action against modern slavery
Aware Super has backed the call for a legislative change that will introduce mandatory human rights due diligence for large Australian companies, as head of responsible investment Liza McDonald said it’s a “reasonable request” which will help asset owners understand and manage the governance risks in their portfolios.
Policy and Regulation
Shield, First Guardian trigger sweeping Treasury rethink of consumer protections
A cooling-off period would be applied to inter-fund super fund switches and platform trustees would be on the hook for member losses incurred through fraud or theft under proposals contained in a trio of consultation papers released on Wednesday morning.
Investments
The world won’t wait for the investment committee
The institutions managing long-term savings might not be built to respond at the speed the world now moves. The gap between knowing and acting – which, ultimately, is where all risk lives – is one they can’t afford to keep open.
Investments
Private credit managers say investor concerns are overhyped
Investment leaders in private credit have dismissed concerns about the asset class, arguing the real issue is a mismatch between the liquidity of the asset class and the expectations of non-institutional investors.
