This isn’t a ‘should it, shouldn’t it’ question. For pensions, savings and investment businesses, the move to next generation technology is a strategic imperative if they’re to respond effectively to consumer demand and market innovation. Bluntly, it’s the only viable option to remain competitive. We’re familiar with the trend towards platforms. Fragmented consumer experience caused... MORE
As investors, we like to believe that we make rational financial decisions. Yet most Australians are still not on track to reach a comfortable level of income in retirement. Could the way in which the superannuation industry presents information to investors be indirectly contributing to this shortfall? In truth, our emotions and biases play a... MORE
In financial services ‘innovation’ is at risk of becoming another overused buzzword. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take it seriously. Without innovation customers vote with their feet and businesses fail. The problem with the term is that it means different things to different people. In our sector, innovation has often meant dreaming up complex product... MORE
The much anticipated 2015-16 Federal Budget was handed down last week and the good news for super funds and wealth administrators is that the impacts are fairly minimal. That said, it remains highly likely that further reforms are on the horizon, but I’ll come to that later. Firstly, let’s sift through the detail and identify... MORE
The 2015 election has given us all a good shake. On the face of it, the status quo is maintained, with David Cameron and George Osborne (the man who brought us pensions flexibility) returning to office. But half of the previous coalition has all but disappeared, including Steve Webb, arguably one of the most well... MORE
Despite its high profile and buzzword status – in practice, big data and analytics continues to be underutilised and less than adequately applied by a number of financial services businesses. With such wide recognition, why are companies still missing a trick? Historically, data was most often used as a statement of fact – what has... MORE
Sweeping changes tear up the rule book And so it begins. April 6, 2015 is a day that few in the retirement industry had predicted, as individuals are handed unprecedented freedom to access their defined contribution (DC) pensions. The biggest pension revolution we’ve seen in our lifetime, it gives those over the age of 55... MORE
A Bravura Solutions’ snap online poll of the Australian life insurance industry has revealed the highest priorities for life companies over the next two and five years, as well as their preparedness to respond to key trends. Conducted in conjunction with the Financial Services Council (FSC) as part of Evolve, FSC’s 2015 Annual Life Insurance... MORE
Recently the smartwatch maker Pebble shattered Kickstarter’s crowdfunding records, raising more than $5.7 million in just six hours. With an increasing number of companies and individuals turning to this creative medium to launch portable party drinks coolers or long awaited movies, the appetite for alternative ways to raise money is clear. Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) is... MORE
Over the past 50 years, the UK has experienced fundamental changes to consumer savings habits. In the medium to long-term, these have the potential to be detrimental to individuals’ financial wellbeing, as well as our economy. In addition to low savings rates and poor financial resilience, we face a tipping point in 2035 when individuals... MORE