Best Practice Forum - Retirement Income

Retirement Income Insights for Financial Advisers

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Australia's population is ageing, and thousands of Australians are retiring each week. As a result, the focus on retirement outcomes, income sustainability and the financial wellbeing of retirees has never been greater.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to retirement, and financial advisers are navigating a changing landscape that requires tailored strategies, income solutions and guidance to meet clients' individual needs.

Financial Standard's Retirement Income Forum equips financial advisers with insights into Australia's retirement landscape, innovative product solutions, income strategies and perspectives from leading retirement experts.

Event Details

AgendaSubject to change

8:30am

Registrations open
Barista coffee and a light breakfast is on us

9:00am

Welcome from Financial Standard

9:10am

Painting the picture: Australia's retirement landscape

• The major demographic, economic and policy trends shaping Australia's retirement system
• Explore how changing retirement patterns are influencing income needs and portfolio construction

James Waterworth
head of distribution, La Trobe Financial

Find out more about James

James has over 20 years' experience in distribution across multiple asset classes and markets. A recognised industry thought leader, James leads the national distribution of La Trobe Financial's investment products. James is known for his unwavering commitment to client outcomes, deep market insight, and extensive network across Australia and internationally.

9:50am

Retirement in wonderland: Taking longevity and inflation from theoretical to the real world

• Explore how inflation and longevity assumptions can significantly influence retirement outcomes and planning decisions
• Learn practical ways to discuss retirement risks and individual needs with clients to build greater confidence and understanding
• Develop tailored retirement income strategies using the right mix of solutions to help protect and support retirees throughout retirement.

Giacomo Tarantolo
head of retirement solutions, Acenda Life

Find out more about Giacomo

Giacomo Tarantolo is Head of Retirement Solutions at Acenda Life, where he leads the strategy, development and delivery of retirement income and investment solutions across retail and institutional markets. He brings more than a decade of financial services experience spanning product, investments, actuarial and commercial strategy through roles at UniSuper, Allianz and Mercer. Giacomo is a qualified actuary, a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and a Certified Enterprise Risk Actuary. He holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.

10:30am

Credit in retirement: Yield is the easy part

• Income reliability: Focus on defaults, capital preservations and diversification, not just income levels
• Beyond yield: Assess whether returns adequately compensate for credit, market and liquidity risks
• Liquidity matters: Ensure credit investment can meet retiree's cash flow and redemption needs especially in stressed markets

Adam Scully
portfolio manager, Alexander Funds

Find out more about Adam

Adam is a Portfolio Manager at Alexander Funds, bringing more than 15 years of experience in credit markets. Adam has experience in portfolio construction, credit analysis, and risk management across a range of fixed income strategies. He has deep expertise across bonds, loans, structured credit, and credit derivatives, with a disciplined approach to investment management. Prior to Alexander Funds, Adam was a Senior Portfolio Manager at VFMC, where he managed the directly invested credit portfolio. Earlier in his career, he developed broad experience across institutional credit markets and investment management. Adam is a CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University.

11:10am

Morning Tea

11:30am

Fireside chat - Private credit: A new era of retirement income

• Understand how private credit strategies can generate regular income and diversify traditional retirement portfolios
• Explore the risk and return characteristics of private credit, including liquidity considerations and capital preservation objectives
• Learn where private credit can fit within retirement income portfolios to help support sustainable cash flow and long-term retirement outcomes

Rhys Leitch
distribution director, Real Asset Management

Marcus Huynh
distribution director, Real Asset Management

James Chapman
portfolio manager, Real Asset Management

Find out more about Rhys, Marcus and James

Rhys holds the position of Distribution Director. Rhys has over 8, years of experience in Financial Services. Prior to joining Real Asset Management Group, he worked for FIIG Securities as an Associate Director for Fixed Income. Rhys holds a bachelor's degree in commerce from Macquarie University. Marcus holds the position of Distribution Director. Marcus has over 7 years of experience in the Wealth and Financial Services Industry. Prior to joining Real Asset Management Group, he worked for Morningstar Investment Management as a Business Development Manager. Previously, he worked for AMP and AMP Capital. Marcus holds a Bachelor of Business from University of Technology, Sydney. James has 8+ years experience in credit and investment management, specialising in originating, underwriting, structuring and managing private credit securitisation facilities for Australian non-bank lenders. As an inaugural hire in the Aura Private Credit business, James helped grow the business to over $1bn in FUMA and five investment strategies.

12:10pm

Adviser panel - Being a client champion, best practice for retirees and pre-retirees

• How advisers can be at the forefront of Australia's pending great wealth transfer
• No one-size fits all approach. A review of complex retirement case studies
• How advisers are working with product providers to drive successful outcomes

12:50pm

Superannuation hot seat: Building retirement confidence at scale

• How super funds support thousands of members through retirement
• Retirement innovation, education, digital tools and advice initiatives
• Measuring retirement confidence and success

Camille Schmidt
associate director of research, Rainmaker Information

Annika Bradley
head of strategic initiatives, UniSuper

Ben Hillier
director, retirement, AMP

Roshan Singappuli
general manager - partnerships and advice, Future Group

Find out more about Camille, Annika, Ben and Roshan

Camille Schmidt is the associate director of research at Rainmaker Information, with over 15 years of experience across research, consulting and academia and holds a PhD in Finance. She is known for translating complex regulatory, superannuation and investment issues into clear, practical insights. Prior to joining Rainmaker, she spent three years at APRA as a principal analyst, leading work on member outcomes and co-leading a major review of platform trustees. Annika Bradley is Head of Strategic Initiatives at UniSuper. She brings over 20 years of experience across wealth management, investments and strategy in both the public and private sectors. In previous roles Bradley worked with Morningstar and QSuper. Ben Hillier is Director, Retirement at AMP, responsible for shaping AMP's retirement strategy and leading the design, development and delivery of retirement income solutions across the superannuation and platforms businesses. Since joining AMP in July 2021, Ben has led a team focused on retirement product, strategy and solution development. He brings more than 25 years of experience across strategic management and product leadership, with a background spanning superannuation, SMSFs, private wealth, banking, property and digital. Prior to AMP, Ben was Head of Product and Services at QSuper and Senior Manager, Superannuation and Retirement Products at Sunsuper and held product leadership roles with ANZ Trustees, SuperConcepts and Suncorp. Since 2025, he has served on the Board of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). His work is centred on practical retirement product innovation, including lifetime and longevity income solutions that help improve retirement confidence for members. Roshan Singappuli is General Manager - Partnerships & Advice at Future Group, where he leads strategies spanning employer partnerships, member advice, digital engagement and retention across the Group's superannuation brands. With more than 20 years' experience across superannuation, insurance, advice and customer strategy, Roshan has led the development of digital advice at scale, retirement income strategy and advice models designed to support members through accumulation, transition to retirement and retirement. Previously, Roshan was Executive General Manager of smartMonday, where he led the organisation's return to positive net flows, strengthened employer and member engagement, and supported its acquisition and successor fund transfer to Future Group. Roshan brings a practical perspective on how superannuation funds can combine technology, advice, data and human support to build retirement confidence and improve member outcomes at scale.

1:30pm

End of event. Lunch and post networking drinks

CPD Information

Retirement Income Forum is accredited by the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) for CPD hours alighted to Legislated learning areas. The Retirement Income Forum was accredited in 2024 for 4.00 learning hours, divided into the following categories:

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