Market disruption, reputation damage, and financial performance are the main risks to the superannuation and investment industry, according to a survey.
The survey by Riskwise Professionals and SUPER Recruiters found these risks were followed by cybercrime, and regulations.
SUPER Recruiters principal, Guy McKanna said: “Reputation damage is often typically caused through front line staff not having clear unambiguous instructions, training, and understanding of product disclosure requirements and superannuation rules”.
“This is particularly relevant given the high profile cases of inappropriate advice ascribed to predominantly bank-owned or franchised distribution channels,” he said.
“As management should know well and truly by now, embedding a proactive culture of risk goes a long way to lifting the game. Improving an organisation’s culture of appropriate selling practices should be high on their agenda.”
The survey also found respondents thought that engaging with external consultants would be the best way to prepare for risks.
“The strong response for accessing external expertise would suggest that organisations are not solely comfortable with their current level of risk preparedness and/or the frameworks under which they operate,” McKanna said.
Respondents also said that building stronger controls into investment processes, in particular automating processing technology, would help better identify risks.
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.
AMP has reached an agreement in principle to settle a landmark class action over fees charged to members of its superannuation funds, with $120 million earmarked for affected members.