Professor Deborah Ralston

The pre-eminent retirement incomes research organisation, the CSIRO-Monash University Superannuation Cluster, has secured another significant private sector backer with the decision by ANZ Wealth to join its ranks.

ANZ Wealth will join five other organisations as the key supporters of the $9 million research project that brings together academics from four universities, Monash, Warwick, Griffith and Western Australia, as well as the CSIRO, to examine the challenges facing the Australia’s retirement system.

The other five organisations are BT, Cbus, Mercer, Vanguard and Challenger, which, together Treasury, the ATO, the ABS, ASFA, National Seniors and AIST, form the Cluster’s Steering Committee with eminent researcher, Professor Hazel Bateman from the University of NSW. The Australian Centre for Financial Studies (ACFS), which promotes thought leadership in the financial services sector, leads the project for Monash University.

Patrick Clarke, Head of Direct Super and Investments at ANZ Wealth, said it was a privilege to be involved with the CSIRO-Monash University Superannuation Cluster.

“Over the past 18 months the work done by CSIRO and Monash in examining the dynamics and inter-relationships between superannuation and the wider economy, as well as the transition and retirement phase of Australians over 60, has been first class.

“We believe it’s critical that this research continues so that both the public and private sectors can base their decision–making on hard data in the vital area of superannuation.”

Dr Sarah Dods, CSIRO’s Research Director, Digital Economy, Digital Productivity and Services Flagship, said it was a tribute to the research done by the Cluster that such a significant player in the wealth management sector had decided to come on-board.

“We believe the research we have been conducting in areas such as ways to improve the participation of older workers is critical if we are to get the superannuation policy settings right, and for an organisation of the reputation of ANZ Wealth to give its support further endorses the value of our work.”

ACFS Executive Director, Professor Deborah Ralston, said the sheer size of the superannuation pool, at $1.8 trillion, posed important policy issues that the Cluster had been addressing.

“In the past, much of the research focus has been on asset allocation and the accumulation phase. But much less focus has been given to the post retirement phase and Australians over 60; a better retirement system is broader than superannuation, including pensions and private savings.

“What is critically needed for better policy and product development in post-retirement is a research evidence base.

“Funding for better health and welfare, accommodation and transport, they all have a bearing on the quality of the life enjoyed by older Australians and are important issues that demand a policy response, so the fact ANZ Wealth is giving its support to the Cluster is testimony we have the right focus and are adding to the pool of knowledge around retirement incomes policy.”

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Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has announced the six finalists in the tenth AFA Rising Star of the Year Award (the Award), supported by ANZ Wealth. The Award recognises the best new advisers who provide quality financial advice, demonstrate a commitment to education, and make a valuable contribution to their profession and to their community.

AFA CEO, Brad Fox, said, “The Award continues to profile the most talented new advisers in the industry. The quality and the quantity of the nominations goes to show that the advice profession is in good hands, and will grow and develop to continue to help achieve great advice for more Australians.”

Each finalist will attend a full day judging process to be held in Sydney in front of a judging panel that includes ANZ Wealth’s General Manager for Advice & Open Market channels, Neil Younger and the first three winners of the award: Esther Althaus (2006), Chris Browne (2007) and Brad Fox (2008).

Mr Fox said, “A very strong part of the AFA’s DNA is the willingness to share with your peers and in this case, having three previous winners as part of the judging panel takes it one step further.  It is a great example of how the AFA Rising Star Award has achieved one of its key objectives envisioned ten years ago when it commenced – to attract and foster new talent towards a career in financial advice. We have seen, year after year, amazing new talent join the AFA through the awareness generated through the Award and our GenXt initiative.”

ANZ Wealth, Neil Younger said, “We are pleased to see that as we celebrate the tenth year of the Award, it continues to go from strength to strength.  This year, the judges have been overwhelmed with the standard of nominees and the outstanding contribution they make towards their clients, their profession and their community.”

Mr Fox said the Award is about profiling and encouraging the talents of advisers at the start of their careers and inspiring them to become leaders and innovators in the advice profession.

The 2014 Rising Star of the Year Award finalists are:

• Ben Nash, Successful Ways, NSW
• Benjamin Budge, My Wealth Solutions, QLD
• Catherine Wells, Plansure Solutions, SA
• James Jagodnik, Stanford Brown, NSW
• Phillip Thompson, Thompson Financial Services, VIC
• Samantha Robinson, Eluvia, VIC

This year’s judging panel includes:

• Esther Althaus, Financial Planner, Perspective Financial Services and 2005 AFA Rising Star Winner
• Brad Fox, AFA CEO
• Michael Nowak, AFA President
• Chris Browne, Financial Planner, Founder of Rising Tide and 2007 AFA Rising Star Winner
• Ben Harrop, Head of Strategic Accounts Management, ANZ Wealth
• Neil Younger, General Manager for Advice & Open Market Channels, ANZ Wealth

The Award winner will be announced at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns, Sunday 12 October 2014.

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