Bringing investment expertise in-house is a natural evolution for the superannuation industry, Jeremy Cooper, chairman of retirement income at Challenger said.
He said although the industry had started out as an almost completely outsourced model, the top super funds had already made dramatic changes to their internal investment capabilities.
"We're seeing this in the elite pack of super funds now, we've seen this happen quite dramatically, but it's not a road without bumps," he said.
Cooper said it was "absolutely a natural evolution", although some superannuation funds would have success while others would not.
VicSuper chief investment officer Oscar Fabian said the fund had experienced both internal and external investment teams.
He said there were arguments for both outsourcing the function and for bolstering internal investment expertise, but disagreed that in-house investment teams would become the standard for the superannuation industry.
"It's a lot easier to fire a fund manager than fire your internal staff, so there's many facets to it… I think it's horses for courses," he said.
Rest has joined forces with alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital, co-investing in a real estate trust, with the aim of capitalising on systemic changes in debt financing.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.
The fund has unveiled reforms to streamline death benefit payments, cut processing times, and reduce complexity.
A ratings firm has placed more prominence on governance in its fund ratings, highlighting that it’s not just about how much money a fund makes today, but whether the people running it are trustworthy, disciplined, and able to deliver for members in the future.