News

The head of NAB’s custody business will step down while its cornerstone client looks for a new service provider.

Unlisted assets deliver high risk-adjusted returns across market cycles but come with inherent challenges, especially around valuation. For super fund trustees, the importance of ensuring accurate valuations to fairness and member equity can’t be overstated, says Frontier Advisors.

The $120 billion fund is making moves to shore up its property portfolio while also consolidating its sustainable investment credentials through a tie-up with NorthStar Impact as a specialist external listed equities manager.

At a recent industry discussion of the Financial Stability Council’s new Retirement Income Policy Roadmap, industry leaders said putting greater emphasis on the drawdown phase of superannuation will be key to keeping accumulation balances in check and retirement savings flowing through the economy.

A joint review conducted by ASIC and APRA was scathing of funds’ collective attempts to meet their new legal obligation to help fund members plan for retirement, and urged them to “address, with urgency, the gaps in their approach”.

While PwC expects the asset and wealth management sector to see a rebound in assets under management by 2027, it predicts a vastly changed landscape in which the top 10 per cent of managers will control half of all mutual fund assets globally.

The prudential regulator is “rigorously targeting” areas of non-compliance it identifies during its massive study of cyber resilience among banks, insurers and superannuation trustees.

The long-time institutional investment executive has resigned from his position as chair at the boutique consultant after six years to focus on assorted directorial roles.

The world of ethical investing continues to change, and Australian Ethical is investing in itself to keep up. A new CIO and a portfolio of impact investments from the Christian Super successor fund transfer are helping too.

Jessica Donohue has a 20-year pedigree with the asset servicing and fund management firm, with leadership roles in its asset owner, investment services and academia segments. She replaces retiring Rick Lacaille as head of global investment insights, sustainability and impact.

Some of the country’s biggest super funds have navigated volatile markets and write-downs in one of their favourite asset classes to deliver solid returns in a tough year.

There’s going to be plenty of low cost of capital opportunities for super funds as Australia’s existing power infrastructure is retired and replaced with renewable energy generation – not to mention its storage.