Anton Kryachok

Investors focus on the artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom may be overlooking some of the world’s highest-quality companies, according to Anton Kryachok, portfolio manager for the International Equity team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, who sees today’s market as a compelling opportunity for quality investing.

While global share markets have surged on the back of enthusiasm for AI infrastructure, semiconductors and digital transformation, market returns have become increasingly concentrated, creating what Kryachok describes as a growing disconnect between sentiment and fundamentals.

With less than 25 per cent of stocks currently outperforming the S&P 500 as of 31 May 2026, a small group of AI-related companies now account for an increasingly significant share of market performance.

“We’ve seen an extraordinary concentration of market returns over the past year, driven largely by a small number of companies benefiting from the AI infrastructure build-out,” said Kryachok.

“While those businesses have delivered exceptional performance, there are now entire pockets of high-quality companies trading at valuations we would not have expected to see.”

Kryachok says that the divergence can also be seen across the technology sector itself. Over the past 11 months (from 1 July 2025 to 31 May 2026), information technology stocks have gained more than 42 per cent, led by semiconductor companies, which have returned more than 86 per cent, and hardware businesses, which have risen more than 65 per cent.

In contrast, software and IT services companies have declined almost 10 per cent, despite many continuing to deliver resilient earnings growth and strong cash generation.

“The market has taken a broad-brush approach to AI disruption,” said Kryachok.

“Many businesses have been treated as potential losers simply because they operate in software, data or information-rich industries. Our view is that the reality is far more nuanced. Companies with proprietary data, embedded customer relationships and strong competitive advantages may actually emerge stronger as AI adoption accelerates.”

Kryachok believes this has created an increasingly attractive opportunity among high-quality businesses impacted by broader concerns about AI disruption.

Examples identified and held by MSIM’s International Equity team include globally recognised businesses across sectors such as digital platforms, enterprise software, electronic payments and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. These companies continue to benefit from strong competitive positions, embedded customer relationships and significant cash flow generation.

Other opportunities beyond the traditional technology sector include businesses operating in media and entertainment, as well as premium consumer discretionary segments, where long-term earnings potential appears underappreciated by the market, according to MSIM’s International Equity team.

“What unites these businesses isn’t the sector they operate in, but their ability to compound earnings over long periods of time,” said Kryachok.

“These are companies with strong franchises, resilient business models and durable competitive advantages that we believe position them well regardless of the economic or technological environment.”

Despite recent share price weakness across many quality businesses, Kryachok highlights that underlying earnings have remained resilient.

“Recent underperformance has largely been driven by valuation as investors reassess how advances in AI may affect the long-term prospects of software, data, and other information-rich businesses.

“As a result, many high-quality businesses are now trading at valuation levels that compare favourably with the broader market despite exhibiting stronger profitability and more resilient earnings streams.”

Kryachok said the current valuation backdrop was attractive for quality-focused investors.

“Today, investors can access a portfolio of high-quality global businesses at a discount to the broader market despite those companies generating higher returns on capital, stronger cash flows and more resilient earnings streams,” he said.

“While the timing of the next market rotation is difficult to predict, we believe owning high-quality businesses at attractive valuations remains a reliable strategy to compound wealth over the long term.”

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James Barker

AI infrastructure, electrification and under-researched companies are creating one of the strongest opportunities in Australian micro and small caps in years, says Ellerston Capital.

While Australia’s largest listed companies continue to dominate investor portfolios, Ellerston Capital believes the country’s most compelling future growth opportunities are increasingly being found further down the market-cap spectrum.

According to James Barker and Jack Briggs, Portfolio Managers of the Ellerston Australian Micro Cap Fund, and Ellerston Australian Emerging Leaders Fund (respectively), structural themes including artificial intelligence (AI), electrification and digital infrastructure are driving earnings growth in businesses largely absent from the S&P/ASX 20.

The opportunity comes as Australia’s economic growth outlook remains subdued, forcing investors to look beyond traditional large-cap exposures in search of companies capable of delivering sustained earnings growth.

“The businesses building the infrastructure behind AI are where we’re finding some of the most exciting opportunities locally,” says Barker.

“Investors can gain very little exposure to these themes through the S&P/ASX 20. Many of the companies benefiting most from these structural shifts are operating in the micro and small-cap universe.”

The Ellerston Australian Micro Cap Fund has demonstrated the strength of this approach, returning 27.8% over the 12 months to 31 May 2026, outperforming the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index by 16.6%. Since inception in May 2017, the Fund has delivered 16.0% per annum, compared with 7.2% per annum for its benchmark.

AI infrastructure driving the next investment cycle

Rather than investing directly in AI software developers, Ellerston has focused on businesses enabling the rapid expansion of Australia’s digital infrastructure.

“Companies including

• SKS Technologies (ASX: SKS),
• Mayfield Group Holdings (ASX: MYG),
• Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (ASX: SXE) and
• GenusPlus Group (ASX: GNP)

have all benefited from increasing investment in hyperscale data centres, power infrastructure and electrical networks,” says Barker.

“Order books across many of these businesses have expanded significantly, providing greater earnings visibility than has historically been available in the sector.

“The market is still underestimating the duration of this investment cycle,” says Barker. “We’re seeing project pipelines extending into 2028 and 2029, which gives these businesses far stronger revenue visibility than they had only a few years ago.”

The Ellerston team also believes Australia’s ongoing electrification program, including upgrades to transmission infrastructure, renewable energy projects and increased electricity demand from data centres, will continue supporting earnings growth for many years.

Finding opportunities before the market does

Unlike Australia’s largest companies, many micro and small-cap businesses receive little or no broker research coverage, creating opportunities for specialist active managers.

Rather than relying on macroeconomic forecasts, the investment team employs a research-intensive, bottom-up approach to uncover opportunities across Australia’s under-researched micro and small-cap universe. Frequent company meetings, deep industry analysis and rigorous fundamental research are central to identifying businesses capable of delivering long-term earnings growth before they become widely recognised by the market.

Barker says maintaining a capacity-constrained strategy remained central to the investment philosophy.

“We’ve deliberately built these funds around investment performance rather than gathering assets under management,” he says.

“Being capacity constrained allows us to invest in businesses much earlier in their growth journey and build meaningful positions before they become too large for many institutional investors.”

The approach has also enabled the team to identify emerging companies benefiting from long-term structural themes before they become widely recognised by the broader market.

Stock picking, not macro forecasting

FY26 demonstrated how quickly market leadership can change. Early in the financial year, lower interest rates and improving housing activity supported consumer-facing businesses such as Autosports Group (ASX: ASG) and Cedar Woods Properties (ASX: CWP). However, three consecutive interest rate increases later in the year shifted investor sentiment, prompting the team to reduce exposure to more economically sensitive businesses.

Rather than attempting to forecast macroeconomic outcomes, Ellerston says portfolio decisions remain driven by bottom-up company analysis.

“Our investment process starts with identifying quality businesses,” says Briggs. “If the fundamentals change, we’ll adjust our portfolio accordingly.”

Backing Australia’s next generation of leaders

Among the team’s strongest performers has been SKS Technologies (ASX: SKS), which Ellerston first invested in during July 2024 at around $1.30 per share. The company has since benefited from surging demand for hyperscale data centres and AI infrastructure, with increasing project wins driving substantial earnings growth.

Another high-conviction holding is Wagners Holding Company (ASX: WGN), where Ellerston sees a multi-year investment opportunity supported by Queensland’s population growth, infrastructure spending and preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The company’s Composite Fibre Technologies business also provides additional exposure to Australia’s electrification rollout through advanced utility poles and transmission infrastructure.

Long-term holding Servcorp (ASX: SRV) represents a different type of opportunity. The founder-led flexible workspace business has more than doubled earnings over the past three years while maintaining a strong balance sheet, illustrating the team’s preference for companies capable of compounding earnings over extended periods.

Another example is Shape Australia (ASX: SHA), which Ellerston identified as a misunderstood business. While often categorised alongside traditional construction companies, the team recognised its lower-risk refurbishment and fit-out model, strong repeat customer base and growing exposure to sectors including education, healthcare and data centres.

The next opportunity may be hiding in plain sight

While AI infrastructure and electrification remain long-term investment themes, Ellerston believes the next wave of opportunities may emerge from sectors that have recently fallen out of favour.

Industrial companies, selected financials and consumer discretionary businesses have all experienced meaningful valuation compression following interest rate increases.

Companies such as Plenti Group (ASX: PLT) and Baby Bunting Group (ASX: BBN) are now attracting increased research attention from the team as valuations become increasingly compelling.

Rather than attempting to identify the exact market bottom, Barker and Briggs are focused on identifying businesses where improving fundamentals are yet to be reflected in share prices.

Looking beyond Australia’s largest companies

For Barker and Briggs, the case for Australian micro and small caps has rarely been stronger.

After several years of lagging large caps, Australian micro and small caps are trading below their long-term relative valuation against the ASX 200. Combined with strengthening structural growth themes, the sector presents an attractive entry point for long-term investors.

Barker says, “Investors looking beyond the ASX 20 aren’t simply buying smaller companies. They’re accessing businesses exposed to some of the fastest-growing parts of the Australian economy. For active investors prepared to do the research, that’s where we believe many of Australia’s future market leaders will be found.”

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Jeremy Hall

Brookfield’s Alts Institute has found high-net worth (HNW) women in Asia have strong interest in alternative investments while financial advisors play a critical role in helping women access and understand these opportunities.

Conducted by CoreData on behalf of Brookfield’s private wealth business, the latest Alts Institute survey examined the attitudes and behaviours of HNW investors in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan with at least US $2.5 million in household investable assets.

The research found that women are turning to alternatives as a key driver of stronger long-term outcomes and a foundational element of a successful portfolio strategy. While 83% currently hold alternatives, 89% of women surveyed say they would increase their allocations if they had a better understanding of how alternatives fit within a portfolio, underscoring a meaningful opportunity for advisor-led education and engagement.

Key findings among female HNW investors in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan:

• 94% believe diversification is critical to managing portfolio risk.
• 91% are primarily focused on long-term investing.
• 87% trust their advisor to make the right decisions on alternatives but still want to understand their investments.
• 89% want their advisor to stay ahead of the curve on new alternative investment opportunities.

Women already invested in alternatives report high satisfaction levels:

• 84% are satisfied with the performance of their alternative investments.
• 84% are open to investing in additional alternative asset classes that they don’t currently own.

Those who are looking to increase their exposure to alternatives:

• 89% want their advisor to speak to them more about alternatives and 55% said they have moved or would consider moving to a new advisor in order to better access high-quality alternatives.
• 74% said they would begin investing in alternatives if their advisor focused on the portfolio’s overall benefits rather than the product itself.

Brookfield launched its Women & Wealth initiative to help financial advisors navigate the evolving demographic landscape driven by the Great Wealth Transfer and the growing influence of women investors within wealth management. The global program provides advisors with actionable insights, educational content and practical strategies to better engage female clients and address changing expectations around financial planning, portfolio construction and long-term wealth management.

It also offers a series of curated events in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and Switzerland with Brookfield investment professionals and industry experts, creating opportunities for deeper conversations around private markets, investor behaviour and evolving client trends.

Jeremy Hall, Head of International for Brookfield’s private wealth business, said: “As women continue to play a larger role in shaping wealth outcomes, we’re seeing strong interest for alternatives as part of a long-term investment strategy. Through our Women & Wealth Initiative, we’re committed to helping advisors better engage and educate female investors around the opportunities in private markets today. We brought these results into focus at our recent Women & Wealth events in Hong Kong and Singapore, which proved extremely popular with our local female investors.”

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Brett Grant

AUSIEX has launched the AUSIEX Cash Account – a secure, fully integrated, interest-earning cash solution that acts as a central hub for advisers to manage client cash seamlessly alongside trading accounts.

Embedded within the AUSIEX trading experience, the solution is designed to simplify and streamline cash management, accelerate funding and settlement, improve visibility and control, and reduce the friction and risk associated with multiple cash accounts and transfers.

“AUSIEX has built an integrated cash hub as a practical solution for advisers to reduce unnecessary steps in trading and cash administration,” says Brett Grant, Head of Product and Customer Experience at AUSIEX.

“Inefficient cash and trading processes is costing advisers and their clients valuable time – reducing both trading agility and time spent with clients. Our analysis shows advisers executing 100 trades a month could save more than eight hours by removing unnecessary cash transfer steps through a more integrated cash solution – time that can be redirected to client outcomes. Streamlining these processes also helps reduce the compliance and operational risks associated with cash movements.”

The AUSIEX Cash Account has also been designed as a practical liquidity tool for advisers and clients, helping them keep investable cash accessible and ready to deploy when markets move and provide opportunities, while still supporting efficient settlement and portfolio implementation.

“Cash should not simply be set and forget, nor treated as a passive and disconnected portfolio holding. An efficient integrated cash management account can help advisers build more deliberate liquidity positions – enabling client cash to earn income while giving advisers the flexibility to meet cash needs, respond to volatility and take advantage of investment opportunities without unnecessarily disrupting long-term portfolio strategies,” Mr Grant adds.

The AUSIEX Cash Account is fully integrated and accessible within the AUSIEX Adviser trading portal, provides near real time funding for trading accounts, online visibility of balances and transactions, automatic settlements and notifications, a competitive interest rate calculated daily and paid monthly and is fully supported by local service teams.

This latest investment strengthens AUSIEX’s position in the wholesale trading market and, alongside its acquisition of FIIG in 2025 and the launch of its international trading solution, AUSIEX International Markets, in the prior year, demonstrates the firm’s commitment to being one of the most comprehensive investment trading and portfolio administration platforms for advisers in Australia.

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Bernard Chua

The next phase of AI could reshape earnings growth across sectors, not just in tech, possibly creating new opportunities for institutional investors. So far, AI’s impact has largely centered on the large hyperscalers that are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI models and infrastructure.

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Bianca Hartge-Hazelman

Key points

• The Financy Women’s Index rose 0.61 points to 78.47 points out of 100 in the March quarter.
• The Underemployment sub-index gained 2.9 points, returning to March 2025 level but masks a decline in both women and men’s underemployment through the start of 2026.
• The Superannuation sub-index gained 1.1 points, with ATO data showing a small narrowing of the gender gap in lifetime superannuation savings.
• The Employment sub-index improved slightly, rising 0.3 points.
• This quarter’s gains represent gradual improvement for economic equality but highlights the need to stay vigilant such that temporary progress is not interpreted as lasting change.
• The Federal Budget also highlights how competing fiscal and economic pressures can shift focus away from sustained progress on gender equity.
• Timeframes to equality: the overall timeframe to financial gender equality in Australia remains largely unchanged at a median of 20 years.

While headline numbers suggest a modest recovery in economic equality, data from the latest Financy Women’s Index (FWX) suggests that a softening labour market and shifting political priorities risk freezing long-term progress for Australian women.

During the March quarter, the FWX rose 0.61 points to 78.47 points (out of 100) compared to the December quarter. 

While this reflects a slight improvement in economic equality during the past quarter, the FWX has returned to its same level as March 2025. This plateau leaves the overall median timeframe to financial gender equality in Australia stuck at a stubborn 20 years.

Financial gender equality outcomes improved this quarter in just three of the seven areas measured by the FWX: Underemployment, Superannuation, and Employment. 

“The March results signal a fragile state of progress that demands ongoing vigilance so temporary progress is not interpreted as lasting change,” said Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, CEO of Financy. 

“While we see positive steps in Superannuation, the Federal Budget highlights how competing fiscal and economic pressures can easily shift focus away from sustained progress on gender equity.”

Evie Fox Koob, manager at Deloitte Access Economics, noted that overhauling the NDIS and removing 160,000 people from the scheme threatens to trade women’s paid care for unpaid care, contributing to persistent financial inequities.

The quarter’s largest positive movement came from the Underemployment sub-index, which gained 2.9 points to reach 68.8. However, the report notes there are “no winners” here, as the narrowing gap was driven by underemployment increasing for both men and women as households sought more hours to combat rising cost-of-living pressures.

The Employment sub-index registered a minor increase of 0.3 points to 74.8 but masks a contraction in employment for young women aged 15–24 by 3% and older women aged 65+ by 1% over the year to April 2026.

Entrenched structural barriers remained completely stagnant, with the ASX 200 Boards sub-index unchanged at 75.2 points and the Gender Pay Gap remaining stuck at a 21.0-year wait to parity.

Evaluating the Federal Budget and recent tax reforms, Dr. Leonora Risse, associate professor in economics at QUT, highlighted that a gender comparison of personal tax deductions reveals men benefit more than women for all but 3 of the 13 analysed tax items, with some gaps reaching as high as 40 per cent.

Nicki Hutley, economist & social impact consultant, added that while proposed housing reforms in the May Budget aim to improve affordability, what women gain in potential home ownership may well come at the expense of opportunities to invest in housing.

Superannuation provided a steady bright spot, recording a 1.1-point increase and narrowing the lifetime savings gap timeline slightly to 13.3 years. 

This long-term trend was supported by improved wage growth and key legislative changes, such as paying superannuation on government-funded Paid Parental Leave. 

Rhiannon Yetsenga, director at Deloitte Access Economics, said: “The Index suggests we may have entered a period where gains in gender equity are slower, and where progress is more easily reversed.” 

She further noted that progress on gender equality is not guaranteed, occurring only when individuals, organisations, and governments actively make it a strategic priority.

In particular, Education continues to present the longest generational challenge, with the projected wait for equality sitting at a profound 212.5 years. This sub-index assesses the tertiary education subjects being studied and their future earnings potential and is a significant contributor to the gender economic gap.

Updated Timeframes to Equality

 Source: Financy March 2026

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Rachel joins Allianz Retire+ from AMP, where she was a New Business Manager for the North platform. She brings more than 30 years of experience across wealth management, distribution and relationship management, having held senior roles with AMP, VGI Partners, Pengana Capital Group and Australian Unity.

She also has a strong track record of industry leadership and advocacy, having previously served as President of Women in Finance Queensland, and currently sitting on FINSIA’s Queensland Regional Council.

Chief Distribution and Marketing Officers Catherine van der Veen and Lucy Foster said Rachel’s appointment reflects Allianz Retire+’s continued investment in supporting advisers in delivering better retirement outcomes for Australians.

“Rachel joins Allianz Retire+ at an exciting time for the business,” van der Veen and Foster said.

“She brings deep industry experience, strong adviser relationships and a genuine passion for helping financial professionals deliver better outcomes for their clients.

“As demand for retirement income solutions grows, expanding our distribution capability ensures more advisers can access innovative products and strategies that help Australians retire with confidence.”

The appointment comes as Allianz Retire+ continues to build momentum, with uptake of its flagship retirement income solution Allianz Guaranteed Income for Life (AGILE) increasing by 31 per cent since January 2026.

Commenting on her appointment, Rachel said she was delighted to join Allianz Retire+, a business focused on addressing one of Australia’s most significant financial challenges.

“I am passionate about helping financial professionals access outstanding products and strategies that improve outcomes for clients while supporting business growth and efficiency,” Ms Elfverson said.

“Allianz Retire+ is helping shape the future of retirement income in Australia, and I’m looking forward to working closely with advisers across Queensland to help more Australians achieve confidence and security in retirement.”

Rachel’s appointment follows a period of continued recognition and growth for Allianz Retire+, including Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer Catherine van der Veen being named ‘Thought Leader of the Year’ at the Money Management 38th Annual Fund Manager of the Year Awards.

The business also recently announced the appointment of Kiru Anantharaj as Senior Manager, Retirement Solutions, further strengthening its retirement expertise and adviser support capabilities.

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The ratings upgrade comes at a pivotal time for Australian income investors after the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) decision to phase out Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bank hybrids, prompting many investors to reconsider how they generate reliable income from their portfolios.

In its latest reports, Zenith said its conviction in both Schroders strategies had strengthened, describing them as “highly attractive” options in the Australian corporate debt sector.

Further, the strategies benefit from Schroders’ well-defined top-down investment framework, complemented by rigorous bottom-up security selection, enabling the team to identify opportunities across investment-grade corporate credit while actively managing portfolio risk.

Zenith: “With a long-term track record of managing domestic credit portfolios, Zenith considers the Fund to be a highly attractive option in the corporate debt sector and our conviction has strengthened, highlighting Schroders’ well-defined top-down processes and proven ability to manage portfolios through different phases of the cycle.

“In Zenith’s opinion, the top-down framework effectively combines a range of macro inputs with the team’s qualitative insights on the idiosyncrasies of the Australian credit market.”

The ratings reflect Schroders’ long-term track record in domestic credit investing and ability to actively manage portfolios through different phases of the credit cycle.

Zenith also highlighted the strength of Schroders’ portfolio construction process and investment team, identifying Head of Credit Helen Mason’s ability to actively manage portfolios through different phases of the credit cycle as a key competitive advantage.

Mason said the upgraded ratings reflected the team’s consistent investment approach and came at an important time for Australian investors.

“We’re delighted that Zenith has strengthened its conviction in both our wholesale fund and Active ETF. The upgrade reflects the depth of our investment process, the strength of our credit research and our disciplined approach to navigating changing market conditions.

“From an investor perspective, the phase-out of bank hybrids is reshaping Australia’s income investing landscape. Investors who have traditionally relied on hybrids are now looking for high-quality alternatives that can continue to deliver attractive income while managing risk.

“We believe actively managed investment-grade credit is well placed to meet that need through diversified exposure across corporate issuers and active portfolio management,” she added.

The upgraded ratings apply to:

• Schroder Australian High Yielding Credit Fund (Wholesale Class) (APIR: SCH0778AU)
• Schroder Australian High Yielding Credit Fund – Active ETF (Cboe: HIGH)

Both strategies seek to outperform the RBA Cash Rate by 2.5 per cent to 3.0 per cent, per annum (before fees) over rolling three-year periods while providing regular monthly income through investment in predominantly Australian investment-grade corporate credit.

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The appointment comes as demand continues to grow for advice that brings together wealth management, tax, accounting and lending expertise through a single, coordinated client experience. As one of Australia’s leading integrated advice businesses, Focus Partners Australia is continuing to strengthen its leadership capability to meet this evolving need.

Lane will lead Focus Partners Australia | Wealth, FPA’s wealth advisory business, overseeing advisers, paraplanners, client service and operations teams, while helping drive the next phase of growth across the advice platform.

Kristen Bell, President at Focus Partners Australia’s said: “David’s appointment reflects our long-term commitment to investing in our wealth business and building greater capability to support clients’ evolving needs.”

“The advice landscape is changing rapidly. Clients increasingly want advisers who can help them navigate every aspect of their financial lives through connected, specialist advice rather than fragmented services,” Bell said.

“David brings the leadership, experience and deep understanding of advice businesses that will help us continue to strengthen our wealth offering, support our advisers and deliver the best outcomes for clients. His appointment is another important step as we continue building one of Australia’s leading integrated advice businesses bringing boutique individualised services to clients at scale.”

In his role, Lane will focus on expanding Focus Partners Australia’s wealth advisory capability by strengthening referral networks, enhancing adviser performance and supporting continued growth across the business. He will also play a key role working alongside Kris Bell to identify strategic opportunities and evolving the firm’s advice platform to meet changing client needs.

David Lane said: “I’m excited to be joining Focus Partners Australia at such a pivotal time for the industry. I look forward to partnering with FPA’s expanded capability in technology and operations to continue growing the business, enhancing the client experience and building on the strong foundations already in place to help more Australians achieve their financial goals.”

Lane joins Focus Partners Australia from Ord Minnett, where he was State Manager (Queensland) and Senior Private Wealth Adviser. He has also held senior leadership positions at Pitcher Partners and FirstUnity Wealth Management, bringing more than three decades of experience across wealth management, financial advice and business leadership.

He officially commenced his role at Focus Partners Australia on 6 July 2026.

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Tim Kane

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) has published new analysis showing that while Australia is among the highest‑ranking nations for health system performance and reduced mortality, it faces rising levels of morbidity due to chronic illnesses.

The Zurich Chronic Care Index quantifies health system effectiveness relative to the mortality and morbidity burden of more than 200 chronic illnesses – such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological disorders – across all 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Australia ranked eighth overall, characterised by low mortality levels and strong system capacity, outperforming countries such as New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Canada, the United States and United Kingdom.

While medical advancements are helping Australians live longer, the Index found the nation ranked significantly lower than comparable countries for morbidity, as rising numbers of people are living with long-term illnesses requiring high levels of care.

Tim Kane, Head of Retail at Zurich said: “As one of Australia’s largest life insurers, we see the full spectrum of impacts caused by chronic conditions. People are living longer than ever before, but often with long-term illnesses that significantly impact how they live and work, as well as their financial security.”

“This research provides a valuable benchmark to identify strengths, gaps and potential future strains on Australia’s health system. In turn, insurers and other critical parts of the health ecosystem can develop more meaningful and targeted prevention and early intervention programs focused on improving people’s health, productivity and financial resilience,” Mr Kane said.

The Index identifies Australia’s leading contributors for morbidity as mental disorders (close to one in three people), musculoskeletal conditions (one in five) and neurological disorders (one in ten). In 2025, these three condition categories collectively accounted for close to 60 per cent of claims* at Zurich.

The largest contributor to mortality in Australia was neoplasms (two in five deaths), followed by cardiovascular diseases (around a quarter) and neurological disorders (one in ten).

Read the report.

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