Events

What will be discussed? | Who will attend? | Program at a glance | Event details

The Australian super industry is facing a challenge as 4.4 million baby boomers start to make long-term financial decisions regarding their retirement. A key consideration will be how they can invest in a way that protects capital and delivers returns.

Late last year, Treasurer Wayne Swan convened a forum of senior members of the financial services industry to discuss whether the superannuation sector, as the largest institutional investor in the economy, can play a role in supporting the development of a deep and liquid Australian corporate bond market.

With the growing concern that access to overseas debt will get harder and more expensive due to the likelihood of continued turmoil in Europe and the US, experts predict that the demand for fixed interest assets is likely to increase. Questions have also been raised about the way in which superannuation funds invest, whether we are fulfilling our investment and economic role, in particular whether our current investment approach is sustainable and as such, the need to have this difficult conversation is now.

As part of its key business strategy of driving thought leadership on the economic and investment role of the superannuation pool, ASFA will host an Investment Interchange Series. The first of the series will debate and discuss whether the super industry should invest more in fixed interest.

This special event will be opened by The Honorable Al Gore. The growing global population coupled with climate change, means that a series of interconnected megatrends such as food security, water scarcity and energy price rises, will make for a volatile world. The impact of which will flow to investment markets. Vice President Gore, who fully understands these megatrends and is well placed to comment on the retirement issues of baby boomers, will set the scene with a big picture presentation on sustainable capitalism and long-term investing.

Leading figures from the financial services industry will then canvass how the industry can manage future volatility and the role of fixed interest investments, which promise to offer investors lower volatility.

The time to have this debate is now.

What will be discussed?

The approach will be to have a discussion that involves systemic and structural considerations, such as:

• Is our current asset allocation suitable for a volatile investment environment?
• What is the role of fixed interest investments in post-retirement investment?
• What is the appropriate response to ever changing demographics?
• Are stable fixed interest investments available?
• Is there an opportunity to create a deep and liquid corporate bond market in Australia or support the development of infrastructure investments?

Who will be attending to contribute to the debate?

• The super industry’s CEOs, CIOs and trustees
• Investment professionals
• Portfolio managers
• Asset consultants
• Product developers
• Business development managers
• Senior Treasury representatives
• Financial planners and advisers
• Fund managers

Program at a Glance

Event details