Australia’s housing affordability crisis and a new report revealing investors aged under 35 are more risk averse than their baby boomer counterparts could be giving clues about the next big trend in the investing habits of millennials - and it proves they can have their smashed avocado and eat it too!
Impact investing is a unique and innovative method of both social service provision and investing – involving Government, investors and the not-for-profit sector working together for a dual purpose. The most pressing social and environmental issues cannot be solved by the public sector alone, hence the need for institutional investors to invest capital, while the need for solutions grows. While the current impact investing market in Australia is small, it has great potential to transform into an asset class with attractive rates of return for 'traditional’ or 'mainstream’ investors.
The Productivity Commission’s (PC) interim report is an important step towards introducing genuine competition in the default superannuation market. The Financial Services Council (FSC) recognises the principle that competition policy is in the best interests of consumers is at the core of each of the four models proposed by the Commission. The evidence is clear; competitive markets drive prices lower, improves service quality and encourages product innovation.
The Productivity Commission’s (PC) interim report is an important step towards introducing genuine competition in the default superannuation market. The Financial Services Council (FSC) recognises the principle that competition policy is in the best interests of consumers is at the core of each of the four models proposed by the Commission. The evidence is clear; competitive markets drive prices lower, improves service quality and encourages product innovation.
The SMSF Association (SMSFA) and Financial Services Council (FSC) were proud to host the Women, Super and Wealth Summit in Sydney today. The Summit brought together a range of thought leaders from across government and financial services, placing the spotlight back on the need to ensure that the gender gap in superannuation is closed so that men and women can both have the opportunity for a secure and dignified retirement.The Summit discussed and debated key issues relating to the causes of the gender gap in superannuation and solutions that can close the gap and improve retirement and wealth outcomes for women. The gender pay gap, further legislative reform, the need to empower girls and women for financial decision making and broader change to workplace and societal attitudes to women’s work emerged as key themes.
More than 45 million people around the world are trapped in some form of modern slavery, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index. This staggering figure involves a range of exploitative practices including human trafficking, forced labour, wage exploitation, child labour and debt bondage. But how does this relate to us, as investors, and what can we do about it? It’s an important question that was raised recently at a special briefing involving the Financial Services Council (FSC), Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR).