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9 October 2025
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Former ACCC Chairman, Allan Fels, reveals the large 'loyalty taxes' in the insurance industry, where existing customers pay much higher prices than the specials aimed at new accounts.
Amid the Royal Commission words like toxicity, rot, darkness and attrition, the super industry must rebuild trust with accessible, open and candid communication, and stop scoring own goals.
Nobel Laureate, Robert C. Merton, says technology and fintechs will find it difficult to build trust, but how much trust do we have in "the contradiction of the country’s most hated company"?
Despite the commonly held views that Australians hate banks, market research shows the vast majority are satisfied with their bank. Same with super funds. What about bank managers and financial advisers?
Consumers of financial products are increasingly willing to place their trust in new intermediaries, including fintechs driving change with innovation and consumer-driven processes.
Success in wealth management requires meeting client demands for performance, engagement and trust. There are key areas where established businesses are out of step with client expectations.
LICs are continuing to struggle with large discounts and frustrated investors are wondering whether it’s worth holding onto them. This explains why the next 6-12 months will be make or break for many LICs.
Younger Australians think they’ll need $100k a year in retirement - nearly double what current retirees spend. Expectations are rising fast, but are they realistic or just another case of lifestyle inflation?
This week, I got the news that my mother has dementia. It came shortly after my father received the same diagnosis. This is a meditation on getting old and my regrets in not getting my parents’ affairs in order sooner.
Retirement can be daunting for Australians facing financial uncertainty. Understand your goals, longevity challenges, inflation impacts, market risks, and components of retirement income with these crucial charts.
Five mega trends point to risks of a more inflation prone and lower growth environment. This, along with rich market valuations, should constrain medium term superannuation returns to around 5% per annum.
Australia's superannuation system faces a 'Rubicon' moment, a turning point where the focus is shifting from accumulation phase to retirement readiness, but unfortunately, many funds are not rising to the challenge.