Comment

The introduction of the Your Future, Your Super performance test has led to many strange portfolio construction outcomes. They might get stranger yet.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, investment managers have been bedeviled by the question of how much attention they should pay to geopolitics. Part of the answer can be found in parking lots.

AMP’s best deserve more than its worst, but the unilateral reduction of their redundancy benefits means that’s what they’ve gotten. There’s still time for its executive committee to make good.

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to member services. Megafunds might be able to mass customise, but when you’ve got two million members it’s tough to bring the personal touch.

First Sentier’s decision to close a number of strategies and pivot towards private markets handily illustrates the pressures facing the Australian funds management scene – and the new period of competition into which it is now entering.

Few would disagree that a strong regulator is required for a strong superannuation system. But APRA’s myopic focus on cost to members means its $70,000 Christmas party is unlikely to help its reputation.

Private credit has seen huge inflows in recent years, but contrary to the claims made by some of its advocates it’s not a defensive asset class or a substitute for investment grade corporate and sovereign bonds.

Everybody and their dog has an idea for putting the Future Fund to work beyond its core mandate.
But the best idea for getting it to invest more in Australia’s economy is probably already being done.

As 2023 draws to an end, it’s worth looking back at those stories that didn’t make it into the top 10 but in which some of the great industry shifts were chronicled.

More updates to Your Future, Your Super (YFYS) will no doubt be welcomed by the industry, but a thorough review must get to the bottom of the potential system risks created by benchmarking and big funds that keep bulking up.

It’s temping to dismiss the super for housing debate out of hand. But if funds and trustees refuse to engage with that debate it will inevitably be settled without them, with a deleterious impact on retirement savings.

Clicks on the Firstlinks newsletter went through the roof on Thursday morning, driven by a spontaneous reaction to distressful hard news.