Super trustees need better vigilance: APRABY EMMA RAPAPORT | MONDAY, 27 MAR 2017 12:43PM APRA's deputy chair Helen Rowell hit out at superannuation trustees who incur "inappropriate expenditures" saying that unnecessary costs negatively affect outcomes for members. Related News |
Editor's Choice
AIA Australia rejigs retail team, appoints new lead
|AIA Australia's restructure of its retail business will see two senior leaders depart while a new chief retail insurance officer has been appointed to take charge of the next phase of growth.
JANA launches private credit trust
|JANA is expanding its investment trust offering with the launch of an institutional-quality private credit solution.
FAAA welcomes 'widow's tax' changes in CGT, negative gearing reforms
|FAAA says it welcomes the legislative changes aimed at addressing the so-called "widow's tax," noting the amendments will protect grieving families and individuals navigating relationship breakdowns from unintended tax consequences.
ART strikes $883m QLD Westfield deal
|Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has agreed to acquire a 50% interest in Brisbane's Westfield Mt Gravatt from Scentre Group for $882.5 million, in what is expected to be Australia's largest single-asset retail transaction this year.
Videos
Brought to you by ![]()
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
Andrew Gregory
CHIEF ADVICE OFFICER
UNISUPER
UNISUPER
After 25 years, Andrew Gregory remains motivated by the impact financial advice can have on Australians' lives. As UniSuper's chief advice officer, he is not slowing down on any of his current ambitions. Matthew Wai writes.
The Financial Standard podcast Tune in each week as we discuss the latest developments in Australia's wealth management industry. |  |
The issue I see is APRA's interpretation of what makes a person independent because each person will have a past history which will influence their decision-making processes. We all carry some baggage from our past whether we come from the employer or employee side, so can anyone be truly independent?
Surely it should be about what skills and abilities a person has rather than are they are 'independent'. By adding independent trustees to the board aren't we just adding to the cost, yet APRA also say that's a major issue? So which is it?
The decision to merge or close a fund should sit with the members and in fact it does. If a member is unhappy they can move to another Fund or is APRA saying members do not understand?
If that's the case why not spend money educating Australians of their rights instead of lecturing funds that they should make the decision without even consulting their members?