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18 September 2025
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Where once it was difficult to differentiate between the superannuation policies of the two major political parties, the 2019 Federal Election will deliver some stark choices for voters.
Treasury is designing guidelines for retirement products which virtually preclude reversionary benefits, and yet these usually accrue to women when the male partner with more superannuation dies.
Enthusiasm for post-retirement investment products is growing, and the Government has just appointed an advisory group, but there are many reasons why the industry has not yet finalised the best outcomes.
The superannuation industry is facing a retirement outcome challenge, which is driving the need to develop products, strategies and solutions that better reflect members’ objectives and preferences.
Government-sponsored reviews often focus on costs and efficiencies because they are easier to measure, but far greater gains can be made if the super system is encouraged to innovate, even if it comes with costs.
It's laudable for government to fund important research but for it to really make a difference, industry participants and researchers need to engage and collaborate with the other. Research on ageing is a case in point.
An appeal for interested parties to contribute to the government's discussion paper on post-retirement products, now called 'MyRetirement' solutions, to be offered within the superannuation system.
Super funds have Chief Investment Officers charged with optimising investment returns, but should they also appoint a Chief Retirement Income Officer (CRIO) to achieve the best retirement outcomes?
In this update of the 'winners versus losers' investment hypothesis, momentum is the winner - again. It's only a 'paper' portfolio but it suggests consistent behavioural biases among investors.
Highly respected author and academic David Blake makes a compelling case for a major overhaul of financial advice, especially the way in which projected outcomes are communicated to investors.
The unique and practical skills of actuaries will be essential for the superannuation industry to tackle such complex issues as providing adequate retirement outcomes and effectively managing big data.
Even the experts can slip up sometimes with insufficient diligence when making investment decisions, but it's important to self-assess mistakes to avoid a repeat experience.
Australia could unlock smarter investment and greater equity by reforming housing tax concessions. Rethinking exemptions on the family home could benefit most Australians, especially renters and owners of modest homes.
The creator of the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals, Bill Bengen, has written a new book outlining fresh strategies to outlive your money, including holding fewer stocks in early retirement before increasing allocations.
This AI cycle feels less like a revolution and more like a rerun. Just like fibre in 2000, shale in 2014, and cannabis in 2019, the technology or product is real but the capital cycle will be brutal. Investors beware.
An explosion in low-skilled migration to Australia has depressed wages, killed productivity, and cut rental vacancy rates to near decades-lows. It’s time both sides of politics addressed the issue.
Are franking credits factored into share prices? The data suggests they're probably not, and there are certain types of stocks that offer higher franking credits as well as the prospect for higher returns.
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.