Super doesn't have to be 'boring', but innovation is keyBY ELIZA BAVIN | WEDNESDAY, 12 MAR 2025 12:25PMIn a world of fast-changing technology, old school thinking is holding superannuation funds back from the forefront, according to industry professionals. Related News |
Editor's Choice
Australia, UK partner to procure well-regulated financial markets
Following its inaugural meeting in September 2025, the second UK-Australia Joint Financial Regulatory Forum took place this week, with Australia remaining vocal about placing greater emphasis on governance and asset valuation of private markets.
Count takes 30% stake in Brisbane advice firm
Count has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Brisbane-based accounting and financial advice firm Apiary Financial, continuing its push to expand its equity partnership network while reporting stronger first-quarter earnings.
Audit quality continues to fall short: ASIC
The corporate regulator has called for improvements in audit quality and financial reporting after its latest surveillance found companies, including superannuation funds, are still not getting the fundamentals right.
ETFs entering 3.0 era: JPMAM
JPMAM believes thematic ETFs may become a thing of the past as actively managed ETFs become more prevalent.
Further Reading
Products
Expert Feed
When geopolitics becomes a portfolio risk
Geopolitics is back - again - and Australian investors can no longer treat it as distant background noise.
Does association membership still matter?
With all the changes the advice sector has experienced in recent years, such as regulatory reform and increased education and professional standards ...
Digital assets and where they stand in 2026
So far in 2026 digital assets have captured the headlines largely for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't tell the full story.
Rethinking default design in a changing market environment
The evolution underway in the US DC system highlights the value of periodically reassessing default design assumptions.
Featured Profile
Jacqueline Fernley
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ARC POINT OCIO PTY LTD
ARC POINT OCIO PTY LTD
Jacqueline Fernley is a self-confessed nerd, a market animal and as of this year, her own boss. Riddhima Talwani writes.
The Financial Standard podcast Tune in each week as we discuss the latest developments in Australia's wealth management industry. |  |
The engaged use of AI allowing interactive voice engagement with personal advice attached through an SoA in intrafund advice is what I would term innovative and importantly, live right now. Source : Otivo Pty ltd . ( conflict declared)
However the Super industry is going to morph back into the days of mutuals (who they replaced) unless they embrace what's available rather than trying to boil the ocean and build everything in-house. Most of the funds are so heavily engaged in IT with mergers and takeovers and this coupled with APRA at their heels makes it "easy" to defer easy leadership initiatives with member benefits.
Here is fact: if a super fund wants to launch a full personal advice service without AFSL risk and wants it to be scalable to thousands of members not just those that can afford it - it's here and can be live within 4 weeks. The teams of procurement officers cost more than the service does - ironic or what ? ....the issue is human capital and focus by CEOs to force change as visionaries.