Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 521

Podcast: Big flows into super funds force unlisted allocations

Season 2, Episode 5

In this week's episode, we welcome special guest, John Abernethy. John is the Founder and Chairman of Clime Investment Management. He's seemingly done it all across 40-plus years in investing, from managing multi-asset portfolios, to venture capital, and now overseeing a sizeable investment portfolio and financial advice business. John tells us that super funds aren't admitting to their biggest problem: having too much money is driving them into alternative assets. In a broad-ranging interview, he also outlines why bonds aren't great value right now and Aussie equities look good in comparison, as well as how the current government isn't doing enough to help reduce inflation.

Regular guest, Peter Warnes, has a different take to John's on super funds and unlisted assets. And he's scratching his head at a recent scathing review into APRA and its supervision of super. Finally, Graham Hand discusses why homeowning retirees should never run out of money, even though many fear they will.

The podcast is also available via our dedicated website page, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and BuzzSprout.

Please share with friends and colleagues, and a favourable rating would help spread the word. We welcome questions and suggestions at [email protected].

Grab a cuppa and settle in for our chat.

James Gruber
Editorial, Firstlinks and Morningstar

 

  •   9 August 2023
  • 4
  •      
  •   
4 Comments
Graham Hand
August 11, 2023

A correction on a statistic mentioned in my section. I should have said that based on life expectancies of people in a couple at age 65, there is a 50% chance one of them will still be alive at age 90.

Michael2
August 12, 2023

Hi Graham, in your comments about reverse mortgages on the home, I don’t remember you mentioning that people often view the home as a deposit to get into a nursing home.

What are your views on not having a reverse mortgage to fund nursing home entry,

Michael

Graham Hand
August 12, 2023

Hi Michael2, good question, thanks. As you know, the cost of aged care is a complex and specialist subject which is why we often run Rachel Lane's articles, and in the same edition as the podcast, this article: https://www.firstlinks.com.au/consider-paying-nursing-home-accommodation

So to answer your question, the point I was making is that a major concern of homeowning retirees is that they may run out of money, and I argue they will not actually 'run out of money' as Australia offers a safety net system. I'm not suggesting people should aim to live on social security, just saying they will not literally 'run out of money'.

So in the same way some people can fall back on the age pension, as the nursing home articles says: "While some have their nursing home accommodation costs fully covered by the government (based on a means test), most will have to pay their own way. The average lump sum room value is A$334,000."

All circumstances are different but for many people, the value of their home will far exceed the cost of nursing home entry.

Michael2
August 13, 2023

Thanks Graham, much appreciated

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Testamentary trusts post-budget: Estate planning, tax reform and the ‘death tax’ debate

Proposed Budget changes to taxation are casting new uncertainty over testamentary trusts, prompting closer scrutiny of estate planning structures and the real implications of reforms still taking shape.

How to minimise tax with a will

Inheritance tax implications in Australia may surprise some, as poor estate planning without proper wills or trusts can lead to costly tax bills and delays for beneficiaries.

High quality businesses are on sale

Beneath the dominance of the ASX's largest stocks, much of the market has been left behind. High-quality companies are now trading at levels rarely seen, offering opportunities for investors willing to look deeper.

Meg on SMSFs: The CGT changes don’t impact super but what about Div 296 tax decisions?

New CGT rules could tip the scales in the super vs non-super debate. For those facing the Division 296 tax, the case for withdrawing has gotten more complex. A "comparison rate" tool may help assess decisions.

The strange effect of the 30% minimum capital gains tax

The 30% minimum tax on capital gains sits at the heart of the budget's proposed reforms. Yet the mechanics reveal anomalies that introduce unexpected distortions that raise questions about its design.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 667 with weekend update

The downfall of the giant and three lessons for investors.

  • 18 June 2026

Latest Updates

Latest from Morningstar

Ranking three common retirement strategies

The defining challenge of retirement isn't just about building wealth, it's about converting your lifetime savings into sustainable income. A holistic understanding of different strategies can improve long-term outcomes.

Economy

Was life really better in the good old days?

Are we worse off than previous generations? Lately, there seems to be a heightened level of angst that economic conditions are getting harder and that the two-party political system (and maybe democracy too) is failing voters.

Retirement

Australia has saved $4.5 trillion for retirement. Here's what matters more

Most Australians approaching retirement can tell you the exact dollar value of their super account. But success depends on more than a sizeable balance. Here's four key questions to ask yourself at the start of the financial year. 

Who gains in an AI-supercharged economy?

AI is already reshaping the economy, but companies building transformative technologies rarely capture the greatest long-term value. Instead, those benefits accrue to the users. We may well see this pattern reproduced. 

Taxation

Div 296's million-dollar reset worth $25,000

The 'cost base reset' for the new super tax is being sold as protection for pre-July gains. A worked example shows $1M of protection is worth about $25,000, and the real deadline has not passed.

Latest from Morningstar

The forecasting fix that Wall Street missed

Asking whether markets are overpriced may be the wrong question. New research suggests that traditional valuation metrics used to forecast returns may have been misread. Here are five takeaways for investors.

Investment strategies

Should a fund manager invest their own money differently?

Investors often like the idea that fund managers should invest client money exactly as they invest their own. But reality is more complicated. Unique circumstances make a different approach rational and, at times, beneficial.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.