Vertically-integrated structures and their impact on bank-owned superannuation structures have been heavily scrutinised in today’s hearings of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
Under questioning from counsel assisting the Royal Commission, Michael Hodge QC, the former chair of the trustee for NAB/MLC superannuation funds, NULIS, Nicole Smith acknowledged that the fund’s administrator had taken decisions without always appropriately informing the trustee.
Hodge’s questioning related to the administrator’s decision to retain the so-called “Plan Service Fee” (PSF) with respect to members of superannuation funds who the administrator knew did not have a financial adviser.
Smith acknowledged the administrator, also a part of NAB/MLC, had not provided appropriate information to the trustee board and the status of the PSF should have been made clearer.
Asked what the trustee would have done about the administrator’s actions with respect to the PSF, Smith replied that the trustee board would have said “no” because it was obvious that there was no adviser linked to the account.
The Royal Commission had earlier been told that the inappropriately deducted PSF had been the subject of remediation by the NAB/MLC Superannuation Funds.
The super fund announced that Gregory has been appointed to its executive leadership team, taking on the fresh role of chief advice officer.
The deputy governor has warned that, as super funds’ overseas assets grow and liquidity risks rise, they will need to expand their FX hedge books to manage currency exposure effectively.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.