Retirement Digital Conference 2020

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of institutional content at Investment Magazine, chats with Aaron Minney, head of retirement income research at Challenger, about a range of topics including deaccumulation, sequencing risk and income generation in retirement.

Retirement is a recent phenomenon in history and has acquired several preconceptions around a typical experience. This thought-provoking session explores the reality of ageing in the 21st century and the contemporary needs of members. After this session the question has to be asked, what will we call this conference next year?Participant: Paul Gordon, Co Author Spenditude, Principal Aon's smartMondayFacilitator: Alex Proimos, head of institutional content, Investment MagazineLength: 23 mins

How to ensure a happy retirement for all Australians? How can we predict people who will age happily? This session will dispel certain myths and draw on research from the Blue Zones, a Harvard longitudinal study and the works of Ellen Langer and George Vaillant. The conversation will traverse topics spanning mental health, diet and exercise, alcoholism and the impact of community and purpose. Speakers: Nicolette Rubinsztein, director, SuperEd; UniSuper; OnePath Insurance; Zurich AustraliaFacilitator: Laurence Parker-Brown, institutional content producer, Conexus Financial Length: 26 mins

Dispersion of opinion remains alive and well on the topic of how best to approach accumulation vs decumulation investing, but how different are these two regimes in reality? What does a decumulation investment process look like?  Furthermore, what does a decumulation process look like in a defined contribution regime, and in a guaranteed regime?  What are the perils, the assumptions, and the impossibilities, all of which need to be balanced? This is a practitioner's discussion on the realities of running a portfolio with structural decumulation.Speakers: Charles Wu, deputy chief investment officer and general manager DC investments, State Super, Chris Plater, chief executive and chief investment officer, Life, Challenger and Jacki Ellis, portfolio manager retirement strategies, First State SuperModerator: David Bell, executive director, The Conexus InstituteLength: 33 mins

What does the 'average' retiree look like? What experiences does the 'average' retirement provide? What's the 'average' return needed to fund an 'average' retirement? How long does the 'average' retiree live? What is the reality of planning for the average? This session discusses individualised retirement advice and appropriate strategies.Speaker: Jacqui Lennon, head of product and customer experience, Allianz Retire+Facilitator: Matt Smith, director of retail content, Conexus FinancialLength: 30 mins

Australia has a world class accumulation superannuation system but with considerable imbalance across gender, employment type and education. Drawing from superannuation funds, professional advisors and consultants, this session will explore what can be done to promote education, adoption of good habits and sharing of knowledge so there is dignity in retirement for all Australians.Speakers: Lara Bourguignon, managing director superannuation, retirement & platforms, AMP and Liz Hughes, financial adviser, Wealthspring Financial Moderator: Laurence Parker-Brown, institutional content producer, Conexus FinancialLength: 30 mins

Superannuation is a key part of retirement incomes policy – but just one part. This session looks at the purposes of the system. What does an “adequate” retirement income mean? Is the Australian system delivering enough income in retirement, and will it be able to do so in future? In the light of early access to retirement, we must even ask the question, are superannuation contributions still appropriate in the short run?Speakers: John Daley, chief executive, Grattan Institute and David Knox, senior partner, senior actuary, MercerModerator: Alex Proimos, head of institutional content, Investment MagazineLength: 45 mins

This conversation covers some examples of the techniques deployed for thinking about decumulation using data from Hong Kong, Singapore and France.Speaker: Raphael Sobotka, global head of flexible, risk premia and retirement solutions, Amundi Moderator: Alex Proimos, head of institutional content, Investment MagazineLength: 11 mins

The global macroeconomic environment is different from a generation ago. With cash rates close to zero, and debt instruments diminishing in both yield and defensive characteristics, it is becoming harder than ever to construct income portfolios for retirees. This first quarter of 2020 has seen market volatility and further unorthodox central bank behaviour as the world chooses to shutdown output to contain coronavirus. This session considers both the scope of the challenge for investors and the potential opportunities that exist to navigate this temporary health problem.Speaker: Jason Brady, chief executive officer, Thornburg Investment ManagementModerator: Alex Proimos, head of institutional content, Investment MagazineLength: 20 mins

The Productivity Commission has started the journey to understanding how the superannuation system can deliver sustainable retirement incomes. This session looks at how to deliver clear objectives that cater to diverse circumstances of retirees, especially as the economy and financial markets experience extreme strain. The session considers the immediate challenges with unemployment, early access to super and the advice gap as anxieties mount.Speakers: Nick Callil, head of retirement solutions, Australia, Willis Towers Watson and Dante De Gori, chief executive, Financial Planning AssociationModerator: Matt Smith, director of retail content, Conexus Financial Length: 42 mins

This quarter has seen a perfect storm of challenges to Australian society. The bushfires, the escalating coronavirus pandemic and a global shock to output and the economy have produced unprecedented turmoil in our communities. This session will hold a candid conversation about the role of financial services in holding the nation together.Speaker: Geoff Lloyd, chief executive, MLCModerator: Colin Tate, chief executive officer, Conexus FinancialLength: 38 mins

With stocks markets experiencing high volatility and economists warning of a first recession in 27 years, retirees and the broader community are looking for leadership. The Assistant Minister discussed the latest policy initiatives and how we navigate a dual public health and financial crisis.Speaker: Hon. Jane Hume, Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial TechnologyModerator: Colin Tate, chief executive, Conexus Financial Length: 40 mins, 59 seconds

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of domestic content, Conexus Financial, chats with Veronica Klaus, general manager - investment consulting at Lonsec, about a range of topics including the advice gap, allocations for retirement, liquidity in private assets and income strategies for retirees.

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of domestic content, Conexus Financial, chats with Jason Brady, chief executive and president of Thornburg Investment Management, about a range of topics including dividends, bond yields and creating robust income in retirement.

In this episode, Amanda White, director of institutional content, Conexus Financial, chats with Andre Snellen, chair of the Pensioenfonds Detailhandel in the Netherlands about what Australia can learn from other systems around the world.

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of domestic content, Conexus Financial, chats with David Bell, executive director of the Conexus Institute, about a range of topics including governance models, market timing, heatmaps and early access.

In this episode, Matt Smith, director of retail content, Conexus Financial, chats with Matt Raddy, chief executive of Allianz Retire +, about annuities, video conferencing and breaking the old rules around investment ideas.

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of domestic content, Conexus Financial, chats with Amara Haqqani, director, insights and strategy at Milliman, about grassroots conversations about stopping the super guarantee, the industry's Copernican moment of kicking product to the kerb, and what the real black swan event has been for super during the Coronavirus crisis.

In this episode, Alex Proimos, head of domestic content, Conexus Financial, chats with Rob Pruguel, principal consultant at Callidum Investment Research, about vulnerability as we restart the global economy, consolidation with superannuation and how bigger isn't always better.