Towers Watson Australia - articles

Over Half of Korean Corporate Pension Assets in Cash says Towers Watson Research

20 May 2012

Sydney, 21 May 2012 – Term savings and Guaranteed Insurance Contracts (GICs)* dominate Korean corporate pension plans’ investment portfolios as a result of their assets being heavily invested in principal-guaranteed products, according to Towers Watson’s annual Korea Pension Report.

Asia Pacific Insurance

16 May 2012

This publication features hot topics and insurance industry developments for the Asia Pacific region. Our aim is to provide our readers with a high quality review of risk management and insurance issues

Insight - May 2012

15 May 2012

The main 2012 budget announcements on superannuation confirmed two pre-budget rumours – a reduction in the contribution tax concession for people earning over $300,000 pa, and the deferral, for two years, of a higher concessional contributions cap for people over age 50.

Bulletin - May 2012

10 May 2012

Australia: Changes to Private Health Insurance Premium Rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge

3 May 2012

Employers with private health insurance arrangements for employees need to review the impact of recent legislative changes made to Australia’s private health insurance rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge.

Asia Pacific: 2011 Asia Incentive Plan Survey Finds That Plan Design Is Increasingly Tied to Company Performance

3 May 2012

Towers Watson’s 2011 Asia Incentive Plan Design Survey has found that annual and long-term incentive plans continue to play a critical role in supporting organizational objectives, encouraging desired behaviors, and attracting and retaining skilled talent.

De-risking options for DB funds

1 May 2012

There are three fundamental questions that plan sponsors should ask of the executives in charge of pension finance: How much risk are we carrying- Should we de-risk- How can de-risking be achieved-

Hedge Fund Fees Get a Makeover as Investors Take the Upper Hand

1 May 2012

Sydney, 2 May 2012 – Only around one-third* of outperformance from skill** should go to hedge fund managers in the form of fees, with the rest going to the investor according to new research from Towers Watson, the global professional services company. In the research, entitled Hedge fund investing – opportunities and challenges, the company argues that this is wholly appropriate given investors place 100% of their capital at risk.

New Remuneration Disclosure Rules for Superannuation

29 Apr 2012

Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten has announced draft remuneration disclosure rules aimed to bring super fund trustees and senior executives in line with provisions that apply to publicly-listed companies. The new Towers Watson Executive Compensation team, combined with our long experience consulting to the superannuation industry means we are uniquely placed to assist funds.

Australia: Employers’ Mandatory Pension Contributions to Increase to 12%

26 Apr 2012

Employers’ mandatory pension contributions under the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) will increase from 9% to 12% of employees’ earnings (up to a certain ceiling). The increase will be phased in between July 2013 and July 2019.

Investment Mistakes Identify Real Skill

25 Apr 2012

Sydney, 26 April 2012 - Poorly performing investments by fund managers can be more revealing than their successes when assessing investment skill according to an article in Towers Watson’s annual Global Investment Matters publication.

Super Update - April 2012

19 Apr 2012

The Mineral Resources Rent Tax (or “mining tax”) bills have been passed by parliament and received royal assent in March 2012. The package of bills include several superannuation measures which are therefore now law.

Towers Watson Establishes Executive Compensation Team in Australia

1 Apr 2012

Sydney, 2 April 2012 – Global professional services company Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW) has established an executive compensation business in Australia to complement its existing engagement survey and reward businesses in the country. The new business is headed by former Deloitte partner Jonathan Finlay, who leads a team of seven consultants, including Stephen Burke.

Global Investment Matters - 2012

30 Mar 2012

The ongoing financial difficulties have led to a heightened awareness among investors of the factors that could disrupt immediate recovery and longer-term economic prospects.

Emphasis 2012/1

28 Mar 2012

Towers Watson's quarterly magazine on insurance industry issues.

Private Health Insurance: Proposed Means Testing Not Consistent with Community Rating

28 Mar 2012

On 7 July 2011, the Commonwealth government introduced legislation into Parliament to establish a means test covering PHI premium rebate payments which the government makes to individuals, or to employers in respect of their employees. Changes are also proposed to the Medicare Levy Surcharge taxation arrangements for individuals in respect of PHI. This update sets out the implications of these changes and suggests an alternative proposal that is consistent with Community Rating, would remove the complexity and costs from means testing, and would produce the same level of cost reduction for the Government.

Viewpoints Q&A: Retention Strategies for Corporate Transactions

27 Mar 2012

Veterans of multiple M&A deals at Boeing and GE Energy join a Towers Watson expert to look at how leading-edge companies are retaining key talent during and after corporate integrations.

Risk Management Revisited: The Wrong Type of Snow

20 Mar 2012

The Wrong Type of Snow is written by our Thinking Ahead Group. They share their work on risk and how better risk management can provide a competitive advantage. The publication includes a study of existing practices, a new way of thinking about risk in the context of mission and proposals for improving risk management by institutional funds.

Managing DC Plans with our Membership Risk Tolerance Tool

12 Mar 2012

What are the investment needs of your plan’s membership- How much risk can your members cope with and what level of return do they need to achieve an adequate retirement outcome- To what extent is your default investment strategy successful in meeting these needs- Our DC Membership Risk Tolerance Tool can help you answer these questions and more.

Finding the Balance: Strategies to Improve Post Retirement Investing

5 Mar 2012

While the industry continues to grapple with the “ideal” post retirement investment strategy, Towers Watson has identified two approaches that may offer improvements on existing investment options.

Bulletin - March 2012

1 Mar 2012

Various thresholds for superannuation have been indexed in line with increases in AWOTE. The new thresholds for 2012/2013, along with the thresholds for the previous two years, are set out below.

Towers Watson Downgrades Global Sovereign Bonds to 'Highly Unattractive'

1 Mar 2012

Sydney, 1 March, 2012 – Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW), the global professional services firm, has downgraded intermediate* global developed market government and inflation-linked bonds to 'highly unattractive'. This is in line with its view that ongoing money-printing by central banks and flows into so-called safe assets have pushed intermediate bond risk premiums to very low levels that no longer properly compensate long-term investors for taking duration risk.

Viewpoints Q&A: Workforce Planning for the IT Function

29 Feb 2012

Towers Watson senior workforce planning consultants share advice about workforce planning strategies and tactics for IT.

View - February 2012

23 Feb 2012

Superannuation trustees can now issue retirement estimates to members with their benefits statements each year without having to meet AFS licensing requirements, under a new ASIC Class Order and guidelines.

Towers Watson Expands Australian Investment Team

20 Feb 2012

Sydney, 20 February, 2012 – Leading global consultant Towers Watson has appointed two more investment analysts as it continues to build its Australian Investment team following some significant new client wins.

Linking Life and Technology

17 Feb 2012

Sound integration planning, teamwork and change management help Qualcomm successfully navigate a complex acquistion.

Fund Managers Cautious About 2012

16 Feb 2012

Sydney, 16 February, 2012 - Fund managers have turned significantly more cautious about the prospects for world growth and investment returns, according to a global survey of investment managers conducted by global professional services firm Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW).

Super Update - February 2012

7 Feb 2012

ASIC has released a new class order CO 11/1227 which provides conditional relief from certain obligations under the Corporations legislation for trustees who issue "retirement forecasts" (or projections) for their members as part of their benefit statements.

Viewpoints Q&A: 2012 — a year of transition- A look at the big picture for the superannuation industry

30 Jan 2012

What should the super industry be aware of for the year ahead- Of the major reforms announced in 2011, what are likely to be the priorities for implementation- Will the industry finally come to terms with longevity risk- Andrew Boal talks to Sonja Lee in this Viewpoint about a year that promises to be a watershed for the industry.

Strong Dollar and Superannuation Guarantee Drive Strong Growth in Australian Pension Assets

30 Jan 2012

Sydney, 31 January 2012 – Australian pension assets are among the developed world’s fastest- growing, with an annual growth rate of 17%, measured in US dollars, over the past ten years according to the Towers Watson Global Pension Assets Study. In 2011, they totalled US$1.3 trillion, the equivalent of 96% of Australia's GDP.

Exchange Traded Funds Update

30 Dec 2011

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) continue to generate extensive media coverage. This is a growing asset management and banking segment which simultaneously provides implementation tools to institutional investors and fund alternatives for the retail investor.

Need Help Planning Your Move into the Short PDS World-

21 Dec 2011

With the introduction of short Product Disclosure Statements next year, the financial services industry must navigate a new path.

Why You Need Benefit Projections on Member Statements

21 Dec 2011

Each year, super funds around Australia produce statements for their members. But the challenge remains – how to make statements, and super, as meaningful as possible. Read our case study with Toyota Super.

Insight - December 2011

20 Dec 2011

It gives me pleasure to provide you with our last ‘Insight’ of 2011, a bi-annual newsletter produced by Towers Watson Financial Planning

Human Capital Metrics: Fueling Smart Decision Making

14 Dec 2011

Keri Alletson and Susan Haslett examine how human capital metrics can help organizations make complex decisions about people, gauge the effectiveness of their HR function, and assess the return on their investments in people and programs.

Australia: Government Finalises Key Elements of Pension Reform

5 Dec 2011

The Australian government has unveiled further key elements of its superannuation (pension) reform package, called “Stronger Super.” The reform aims to provide a more secure retirement for workers by delivering better and more cost-effective superannuation funds.

Towers Watson hires Head of Wealth Management for Asia

5 Dec 2011

Hong Kong, London, New York, 5 December 2011 – Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:TW), a leading global professional services company, has appointed Danny Howell as Head of Wealth Management for Asia.

Extreme Risks

22 Nov 2011

Extreme risks are potential events that are very unlikely to occur (therefore infrequent) but could have a significant impact on economic growth and asset returns, should they happen.

Age Pension Must Be Factored Into Retirement Income

7 Nov 2011

Sydney, 8 November 2011 - Australians should factor in the age pension when looking at their projected retirement income, according to leading global professional services firm, Towers Watson.

Australian Employee Insights 2011 – Pay and Engagement Levels Lower, Leadership Satisfaction Mixed

7 Nov 2011

Sydney, 8 November 2011 - Australian employee confidence in their organisation’s leaders has dropped, according to the latest research by leading global consultant Towers Watson.

Australian Investment Managers Rocket Up Rankings as Markets and the Strength of the Dollar Lead to Asset Growth

31 Oct 2011

Sydney, 1 November 2011 – Latest research from leading global consultant Towers Watson and Pension & Investments, a leading US investment newspaper, shows assets managed by Australia’s largest investment managers increased significantly relative to global peers last year.

Super Update – October 2011

27 Oct 2011

As part of its Stronger Super response to the Cooper review, the government decided to give APRA the power to make prudential standards for superannuation.

Extreme Risk Planning

24 Oct 2011

Sydney, 25 October 2011 - Sovereign default has risen four places to second position in Towers Watson's ranking of the top fifteen extreme risks while Depression retains the top position and hyperinflation moves to third.

Viewpoints Q&A: An Interview with Peter Ryan-Kane

23 Oct 2011

China’s impact on the global economy can’t be underestimated. Peter Ryan-Kane CFA, Head of Portfolio Advisory for Asia-Pacific catches up with Sonja Lee, Head of Marketing in Australia to share his thoughts on the region and what’s keeping him up at night.

New Zealand Leadership Culture Indicates Victory Over France at the Final Hurdle

20 Oct 2011

Sydney, 21 October 2011 - The upcoming Rugby World Cup final will see a confident New Zealand side face a French team that has consistently overcome the odds to reach the final stage of the competition.

View - October 2011

17 Oct 2011

There has been much focus in recent times on the adequacy of retirement savings. The Federal Government considers the current level of Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is not sufficient and has announced a scheduled increase to SG contributions from 9 per cent to 12 per cent over a six year period, commencing 1 July 2013.

Safe and Sound: Managing Health and Welfare at Diebold

17 Oct 2011

The multinational company invests in employee wellness and internal communication, and reins in health care benefit cost increases.

Bulletin – October 2011

13 Oct 2011

There has been substantial movement from the government and regulators on MySuper and associated changes in recent weeks.

Towers Watson Expands Investment Services for Insurers and Reinsurers With Acquisition of WellsCanning

4 Oct 2011

Sydney, 4 October 2011 - Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:TW), a leading global professional services company, today announced that it has acquired the business of WellsCanning, an investment advisory firm specialising in the insurance industry.

Introducing the Towers Watson and Link Super Partnership

3 Oct 2011

A key plank of the government’s Stronger Super reforms is improving operational efficiency and super funds accessing the benefits of scale.

Volatility a Health Risk for Investors

27 Sep 2011

When should investors fear stock market volatility, asks Graeme Miller, Director, Investment Services Australia for Towers Watson.

Evidence-Based Change Helping Companies Achieve Greater Success and Competitive Advantage, New Towers Watson Book Reveals

19 Sep 2011

Sydney, 19 September 2011- When it comes to managing people, many organisations have made important HR decisions without any real rigour, often relying on instincts or copying competitors’ practices.

Towers Watson Investment Strengthens Australian Manager Research Team

11 Sep 2011

Sydney, 12 September 2011 – Leading global consultant Towers Watson has continued to grow its Australian Investment team with the appointment of investment analyst Brian Sparkes.

Australian and Global Pension Funds at their Highest Ever Asset Size

5 Sep 2011

Sydney, 6 September 2011 – Latest research from leading global consultant Towers Watson and Pension & Investments, a leading US investment newspaper, shows that in 2010 the growth in assets of major Australian institutional funds was more than double that of their global peers.

Towers Watson Calculators Help Your Members Head in the Right Direction

18 Aug 2011

Towers Watson now offers super funds a customised, user-friendly tool to engage their members and get them thinking about their financial futures.

10 Questions for Hoang Cao Tri, Deputy CEO,
Acecook Vietnam JSC

17 Aug 2011

Acecook Vietnam — a leading Southeast Asian food manufacturer with over 5,000 employees — exports its products to more than 40 countries around the world. The company is a client of Towers Watson’s Ho Chi Minh City office. Mr. Hoang has served as Acecook's Deputy CEO since 2001.

Towers Watson Sees Bumpy Path to Global Economic Recovery

9 Aug 2011

The dramatic financial developments over the past week, including S&P’s downgrading of the U.S. long-term credit rating, reflect an inherent fragility in the global economy that means potentially violent and difficult-to-predict market moves are likely for a number of years, according to global professional services company Towers Watson.

Towers Watson Investment Expands – Three New Appointments

1 Aug 2011

Sydney, 2 August 2011 – Leading global consultant Towers Watson has made three new appointments to its Australian Investment team.

Super Update – July 2011

27 Jul 2011

In our last Update, we noted that the Stronger Super Peak Consultative Group and its various Working Groups had issued a range of issues papers on which submissions were sought. In total, twenty-five papers were released, plus another nine relating to self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Viewpoints Q&A: An Interview with Tim Hodgson

14 Jul 2011

Tim Hodgson, the Head of our Thinking Ahead Group, talks about key areas of interest to Australian investors, particularly China, sustainability and debt.

Pensions Funds’ Global Alternative Assets Close in on
$1 Trillion Mark

11 Jul 2011

Sydney, 12 July 2011 – Alternative assets managed on behalf of pension funds1 by the world’s largest managers grew 16% in 2010 to US$952bn (from US$817bn in 2009), according to global research produced by Towers Watson in conjunction with the Financial Times.

Global Alternatives Survey 2011

11 Jul 2011

The Global Alternatives Survey aims to track the movements of alternative assets managed on behalf of pension funds by the world’s largest alternative investment managers and to produce authoritative rankings.

Providing a Rock Solid Link Between Employee Engagement and Business Performance: A Towers Watson and Rio Tinto case study

6 Jul 2011

In 2011, Rio Tinto and global consulting firm Towers Watson partnered to conduct a global engagement survey in 15 languages across 43 countries.

Enabling a New Business Strategy: A Towers Watson and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Case Study

6 Jul 2011

Since the financial crisis in late 2008, the RBS Group has invested in a business strategy to return it to standalone strength within a five-year time period.

Sustainable Investing
The role of Universal Owners

23 Jun 2011

This paper reviews the Universal Owner concept and how practice may change in the future. It draws on a recent paper titled Universal Owners: Opportunity Beckons and Leadership Calls by Roger Urwin. We finish by commenting on the implications for institutional funds that are not Universal Owners.

All Eyes on Universal Owners for Next Investment Trends

23 Jun 2011

Sydney, 23 June 2011 – In a recent research paper, leading global consultant Towers Watson discusses the concept of the Universal Owner and its potential to influence investor thinking globally. Universal Owners control large amounts of assets and their actions, according to the company, can influence economies and markets.

Institutional Funds Should Consider Thematic Investing

13 Jun 2011

Sydney, 14 June 2011 – Leading global consultant Towers Watson believes that a thematic approach to investing can position institutional funds to benefit from tomorrow’s trends today.

Capturing Long-term Themes

9 Jun 2011

Investment macro factor themes are multi-year and international in nature. They have substantial impact on assets and can cut across asset classes and managers. This paper explores how macro factors can be exploited through thematic investing.

Bulletin - June 2011

1 Jun 2011

Various thresholds for superannuation have been indexed in line with increases in AWOTE. The new thresholds for 2011/2012, along with the thresholds for the previous two years, are set out below.

APRA’s Review of Life Insurance Capital Standards

24 May 2011

Following on from the Quantitative Impact Study conducted in 2010, APRA released a Response to Submissions paper as part of its review of capital standards for general insurers and life insurers on 31 March 2011.

Insight - May 2011

17 May 2011

It gives me pleasure to provide you with our budget edition of ‘Insight’ for 2011, a bi-annual newsletter produced by Towers Watson Financial Planning.

Towers Watson and Link Group Partnership Provides New Administration Alternative

16 May 2011

Sydney, 17 May 2011 – The recent formalisation of a partnership between leading global professional services firm Towers Watson and the Link Group means that corporate, public sector and hybrid industry funds now have an alternative when choosing an administration provider.

Bulletin - May 2011

11 May 2011

There were no major new announcements on superannuation in the 2011 federal budget. It is clear the government’s main focus for superannuation is its Stronger Super initiatives.

Tax Incentives on Infrastructure Not ‘Be All and End All’ for Super Funds

11 May 2011

Sydney, 12 May 2011 – Tax incentives designed to promote take-up of infrastructure assets by institutional investors announced in the federal budget will make the asset class more attractive, but leading global professional services firm Towers Watson says the underlying structure of the investment must remain the number one consideration.

Global Investment Matters - 2011

5 May 2011

Aftershocks from the global financial crisis still threaten to upset the nascent economic recovery. There is broad acceptance that higher levels of uncertainty are the new norm, and that investors will need investment strategies that are more flexible and adaptable than they have been in the past.

Investing in Core Infrastructure

4 May 2011

Many institutional investors are thinking of, or have already made, an allocation to infrastructure.

Super Update – April 2011

27 Apr 2011

In February 2011 the government announced the establishment of a Stronger Super Peak Consultative Group, comprising representatives of peak industry, employer, employee and consumer groups.

Pressure on Staff Retention in Professional Services

14 Apr 2011

Professional service firms need to ramp up their reward and development programs to engage and retain talent, according to the latest research from Towers Watson.

Towers Watson’s Mark Mactas to Retire by End of Calendar Year 2011

11 Apr 2011

Towers Watson has announced that president and chief operating officer Mark Mactas has decided to retire by the end of calendar year 2011.
Mactas, 58, has provided leadership in a number of geography and line-of-business roles during his 31-year tenure with the company. He served as Towers Perrin chief executive officer before stepping into the role of Towers Watson president and chief operating officer after the merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt Worldwide in 2010.

View - April 2011

5 Apr 2011

Given the federal government has stopped short of requiring annual benefit projections under MySuper, the possibility of a mandatory regime being introduced seems to have stalled.

Towers Watson Launches First Impartial Comparison Service for Mandatory Provident Fund members in Hong Kong

31 Mar 2011

Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW), a leading global professional services company, has launched a one-stop resource for information on Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) including a free portal and magazine named MPFeXPRESS.com to help MPF members monitor the appropriateness of their MPF investment arrangements. The Towers Watson initiative aims to provide comprehensive and unbiased information to empower MPF members when comparing MPF schemes, service providers and funds.

Professional Service Firms - Re-engaging and Retaining Employees

29 Mar 2011

Maximising engagement and retention of employees are vital for professional service firms seeking an edge as the global economy recovers. Towers Watson research shows an engaged workforce is perhaps the greatest source of competitive advantage for any organisation and could spell the difference between a firm experiencing a sluggish recovery or a strong return to growth.

Will MySuper Still be Super if I Live Too Long-

27 Mar 2011

Retirees with modest balances are likely to exhaust their savings if they survive into old age.

Towers Watson Launches New iPad Application

23 Mar 2011

Sydney, 24 March 2011 — Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW), a global professional services company, announced today the launch of TWGlobal50, a unique and searchable application for the iPad. The free app is designed to provide human resource and benefit professionals with instant access to critical human capital data from around the globe.

Towers Watson appoints Rory O’Brien to lead its Risk Consulting and Software business

22 Mar 2011

Towers Watson has appointed Rory O’Brien as global Risk Consulting and Software leader, effective immediately. He replaces Steve Taylor-Gooby, who is stepping down from the role after 25 years at the company.

View - March 2011

17 Mar 2011

Senior Consultant Nick Callil examines the post retirement environment and considers some of the strategies available to trustees.

Bulletin - March 2011

10 Mar 2011

The government released the Super System Review (or, more commonly, “Cooper Review”) panel’s final report on 5 July 2010.

Global Recovery On Track Say Fund Managers

2 Mar 2011

Global, 1 March, 2011 - Fund managers are bullish about the prospects for public equities and emerging markets in 2011, but have bearish views of nominal government bonds according to a survey of investment managers conducted by global professional services firm Towers Watson.

Towers Watson Investment Strengthens its Team, Announcing Four New Appointments

14 Feb 2011

Sydney, 15 February 2011 – Leading global consultant Towers Watson has made four new appointments to its Australian Investment team: one senior investment consultant and three analysts.

Companies View Talent as Biggest Obstacle to Future Growth, Towers Watson Survey Finds

8 Feb 2011

Melbourne, 9 February 2011 — As companies begin to position themselves for future growth in a period of uncertainty, Australian companies – like their global peers - have revealed concerns over their ability to attract and retain key talent, as well as planning for an orderly replacement of talent. A new survey by leading global consultant Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:TW) also found significant gaps in employers' capabilities to address talent management and succession planning issues.

Australia Powers Up to Fourth Spot in Global Pension Rankings

6 Feb 2011

Sydney, 8 February 2011 – Latest research from Towers Watson’s Global Pension Asset Study 2011 indicates the assets of Australian superannuation funds rose to 103% of Australia’s GDP last year, up from 93% a year earlier. Over the year, Australian superannuation assets (measured in US dollar terms) moved up from fifth spot to become the fourth largest pension asset pool in the world.

After-Tax Investing in Australian Shares

27 Jan 2011

Through 2010, Towers Watson undertook a detailed study of the after-tax returns from investing in Australian equities. The aim of our study was to better understand the tax drag from both passive and active management under different scenarios, and the scope to reduce this through more tax-aware strategies and practices.

Super Update - January 2011

23 Jan 2011

Welcome to the Towers Watson Super Update, providing you with information on recent or topical superannuation developments and issues in Australia.

Viewpoints Q&A: Cross-Border M&A Deals for Companies in Asia Pacific

23 Dec 2010

With an increasing number of companies in Asia Pacific looking to expand internationally, three Towers Watson M&A experts discuss the opportunities and challenges for organizations considering expansion within Asia and beyond.

Towers Watson and Link Group partner to provide administration services

22 Dec 2010

Sydney, 23 December 2010 – Leading global consulting company Towers Watson and global financial record keeper, Link Group (Link) today announced that they have signed a Heads of Agreement detailing the terms of a business relationship whereby Link will partner with Towers Watson in Australia to provide superannuation administration services to clients of Towers Watson.

Cooper Review Full Government Response Released

18 Dec 2010

In this Bulletin, we examine the government’s response and provide comments on some key areas of interest.

Viewpoints Q&A: The Future of Account-Based Retirement Plans

15 Dec 2010

Retirement has changed markedly in recent years, as the financial crisis has made personal responsibility de rigueur and postponed retirement increasingly common. In this article, four Towers Watson consultants discuss the future of account-based retirement plans and what employers should and can do to help today’s workers retire successfully.

Viewpoints Q&A: Reflections – The Year Past in Australia and What’s in Store for 2011

13 Dec 2010

Andrew Boal, Managing Director, reflects on what’s happened in the superannuation and investment industry over the past year, key issues for the coming year and major areas trustees need to think about for 2011 in a recent conversation with Sonja Lee, Head of Marketing.

Insight

8 Dec 2010

It gives me pleasure to provide you with our last edition of ‘Insight’ for 2010, a bi-annual newsletter produced by Towers Watson Financial Planning.

Redefined Role of Manager Unleashes Workforce Productivity

5 Dec 2010

Melbourne, 2 December 2010 – The Competitive Advantage in the Middle of Your Organization

Redefined Role of Manager Unleashes Workforce Productivity

2 Dec 2010

The Competitive Advantage in the Middle of Your Organisation

Investing Long Term

2 Dec 2010

This paper presents institutional investment funds with guidance in making allocations to sustainable investing strategies.

Public Policy

11 Nov 2010

Public policy issues have risen in significance since the global financial crisis of 2007-08. Amongst other things, decisions were taken regarding which institutions would survive and which would fail, interest rates were reduced to record lows and public sector spending occurred on an enormous scale to avert the threat of depression.

Towers Watson to Acquire EMB in Move to Expand Consulting and Software Offerings to Non-Life Insurers

11 Nov 2010

New York and London, 10 November 2010 - Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:TW), a leading global professional services company, and EMB, a non-life consulting and software company, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Towers Watson’s acquisition of EMB’s operations around the world.

Thinking Global: World Economies and Investment Impacts

10 Nov 2010

It’s great to be back here at the ASFA Conference after six years. ASFA – the largest pensions conference in the world.

Viewpoints Q&A: Improving Financial Management in Australian Defined Contribution Superannuation Funds

4 Nov 2010

Brad Jeffrey, Head of Superannuation for Towers Watson in Australia discusses how Australian defined contribution funds can improve their financial management.

I Still Call Australia Home

28 Oct 2010

The time is ripe for Australian super funds to invest more overseas and loosen the ties that hold them closely to the local sharemarket writes Graeme Miller, Head of Investment.

Insurers’ ERM Performance Mixed During Financial Crisis

21 Oct 2010

Sydney, 21 October 2010 - The two-year global economic crisis tested the mettle of the insurance industry’s enterprise risk management (ERM) programs. While insurers have performed relatively well, the impending implementation of Solvency II in 2012 and the increasing expectations among rating agencies are driving insurers to continue to bolster their ERM programs, according to a recent survey conducted by global professional services company Towers Watson.

Australian Investment Managers Perform Well as the Top Asset Managers Globally Rebound Strongly

18 Oct 2010

Sydney, 18 October 2010 – According to latest research from leading global consultant Towers Watson and Pension & Investments, a leading US investment newspaper, assets managed by Australia’s largest investment managers increased by 20% to US$568 billion from US$475 billion last year. This increase is four per cent higher than the average of the global survey. In Australia, growth over the year has mostly been driven by market and organic growth but, similar to the global trend, there has also been some merger and acquisition activity.

Super Update - October 2010

17 Oct 2010

Welcome to the Towers Watson Super Update, providing you with information on recent or topical superannuation developments and issues in Australia.

Motivating Employees to Go the Extra Mile:
The Manager’s Role in Employee Engagement

15 Oct 2010

Towers Watson’s research and client experience point to three practical actions that organizations and managers can take to achieve higher employee engagement — and stronger financial performance.

Leadership, Succession Planning and Career Pathing are Top Talent Management Priorities, Towers Watson Survey Finds

12 Oct 2010

Melbourne, 12 October 2010 – Organisations are likely to increase their focus on talent management in the areas of leadership, succession planning and development of career paths over the next three years, according to the Global Talent Management & Rewards Survey by leading global consultant Towers Watson. These plans are a clear response to further findings that the vast majority of companies worldwide are experiencing difficulty in attracting talented employees and those with the critical skills needed to help them rebound and prosper in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Viewpoints Q&A: Government, Governance and Sustainability in the Investment World

7 Sep 2010

Roger Urwin, Global Head of Investment Content at Towers Watson talks about government, governance and sustainability with Sonja Lee, Head of Marketing Australia.

Australian Super Funds: The Fastest Growing in the Developed World

7 Sep 2010

Sydney, 8 September 2010 – Latest research from leading global consultant Towers Watson and Pension & Investments, a leading US investment newspaper, indicates Australian super funds lead the growth rates when compared with their global peers.

Cooper Review Highlights Key Challenges as Post-Retirement Solutions and Longevity Risk

30 Aug 2010

While the review recommends sweeping structural changes, the greatest remaining challenge for industry will be how to provide retirees with an income stream that addresses investment, inflation and longevity risks — as part of the recommended MySuper options.

Corporate Facebook

23 Aug 2010

Social media from an Australian perspective. Social media is here to stay and is already having an impact on business and the community at large.

Viewpoints Q&A: The Australian and Global Investment Landscape

16 Aug 2010

Carl Hess, Global Head of Investment chats about big picture local and global investment issues with Sonja Lee, Head of Marketing Australia.

Australia: Paid Parental Leave to Be Introduced From 2011

12 Aug 2010

The bill to implement the federal government’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme received Royal Assent on July 14, 2010. A brief summary and employer obligations follow.

Whose Interests Are We Really Serving-

6 Aug 2010

The question is a subtle one: whose interests are we really serving- The interesting extra word - ‘really’. This is beautifully nuanced to bring out that this is a time for honesty at a time when trust is in short supply.

Super Update - July 2010

20 Jul 2010

Welcome to the Towers Watson Super Update, providing you with information on recent or topical superannuation developments and issues in Australia.

Fixed Income Concepts for Australian Superannuation Funds

13 Jul 2010

Fixed income portfolio construction and how to adequately address all of the different facets of investing in bonds can be a complex topic.

Global Alternatives Survey 2010

12 Jul 2010

Pension Funds Allocate Across the Breadth of Alternative Assets

12 Jul 2010

Sydney, 13 July 2010 - Alternative assets under management (AuM) on behalf of pension funds by the world’s largest alternative investment managers remained broadly unchanged in 2009 compared to the year before at US$817 billion, according to global research produced by Towers Watson in conjunction with the Financial Times. The research also shows that around half of all assets managed by these alternative investment managers are managed on behalf of pension funds. The Global Alternatives Survey covers five alternatives asset classes: real estate; private equity fund of funds (PEFoF); fund of hedge funds (FoHF); infrastructure and commodities and includes rankings by size of the top managers in each area.

Challenge for Industry

8 Jul 2010

Andrew Boal, Managing Director of Towers Watson in Australia, discusses post-retirement challenges and longevity risk

Bulletin - July 2010

7 Jul 2010

The government released the Super System Review (or, more commonly, “Cooper Review”) panel’s final report on 5 July 2010.

Towers Watson Investment Continues to Strengthen its Team, Announcing Two New Appointments

6 Jul 2010

Sydney, 7 July 2010 – Leading global consulting firm Towers Watson has made two new appointments to its Australian Investment business. Louise Oakley has been appointed to the Strategy Group as an investment consultant, while Brent Snow has been hired as an investment analyst.

APRA’s Review of Life Insurance Capital Standards

20 Jun 2010

APRA released a discussion paper considering capital requirements for life insurance companies on 13 May 2010.

Australia: Government Publishes Response to the Henry Taxation Review

18 Jun 2010

On May 2, 2010, the Australian government released its response to the Henry tax review, in which it adopted only a few of the review’s recommendations. The main change proposed, an increase in the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) level, was not one of the Henry review’s recommendations.

Private Equity Emerging From the Crisis

14 Jun 2010

The private equity industry has been under the spotlight over the past few years, not always for the right reasons. This publication seeks to review how recent developments will affect the private equity industry and to identify areas of possible opportunity for investors over the next couple of years.

Portugal would Win the World Cup of 'Employee Team Management'

11 Jun 2010

Melbourne, 11 June 2010 – If company culture and manager performance is any guide then Brazil and Portugal will contest the World Cup Final on July 11, according to analysis from Towers Watson.

Korean Corporate Pension Assets Concentrated Among Top Four

7 Jun 2010

Asia Pacific, 7 June 2010 - The top four service providers* administer around half of all funded corporate pension assets in Korea and account for KRW 7 trillion of assets according to Towers Watson’s Korea Pension Report. The new report covers 53 service providers including banks, insurers and securities firms.

Euroland Risk Remains a Threat to Global Stability

4 Jun 2010

Sydney, 4 June 2010 - Recent actions of European policymakers have temporarily reassured markets and only gained them sufficient time to introduce necessary policy measures and consolidate the weak financial outlook according to a Towers Watson report. In the report, the firm suggests that the recent policy moves clearly indicate that the global financial crisis is still a lingering threat to the financial and economic system.

Bulletin - June 2010

3 Jun 2010

Various thresholds for superannuation have been indexed in line with increases in AWOTE. The new thresholds for 2010/2011, along with the thresholds for the previous two years, are set out below.

View - June 2010

1 Jun 2010

How are you managing your company’s global employee benefit programmes-

View - May 2010

18 May 2010

Industry consolidation is here to stay. The last ten years have seen a remarkable reduction in the number of superannuation funds in Australia, starting with small to medium-sized funds and then gradually moving to larger ones.

Euroland Sovereign Risks and Recent Market Activity

17 May 2010

This newsletter summarises the recent market activity in Euroland and our view of the implications on sovereign risks following these significant events.

Bulletin - May 2010

12 May 2010

There were no major new announcements in relation to superannuation in the 2010 Budget. Rather, the government reiterated the major initiatives it had recently announced in its response to the Henry taxation review, and outlined some lesser measures which will be of interest to funds and their members. In this Bulletin, we provide some details of those measures.

Towers Watson Defends Asset Diversity

4 May 2010

Sydney, 5 May 2010 - Institutional investors that have diversified their assets away from developed market equities during the past five to ten years will have made the case for diversification as almost every other asset class outperformed these markets during this period, according to an article in Towers Watson’s Global Investment Matters publication. In the article, entitled Is diversification dead-, the firm asserts that the risk of an equity-focused strategy remains high, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty and recommends that investors should seek both existing and new market opportunities to build more diversified portfolios.

Bulletin - May 2010

3 May 2010

In this Bulletin, we provide details of the superannuation aspects of the government’s response, as well as some of the Henry review recommendations that the government didn’t adopt or didn’t address.

Towers Watson Wins Australian Capital Territory Department of Treasury Investment Advisory Mandate

28 Apr 2010

Sydney, 28 April 2010 - Towers Watson has been appointed by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Department of Treasury to provide it with investment consulting advice for its financial investment assets currently in the order of $3.5 billion.

Super Update - April 2010

27 Apr 2010

Welcome to the Towers Watson SuperUpdate, providing you with information on recent or topical superannuation developments and issues.

Fees in Real Estate

21 Apr 2010

In this newsletter we examine fee structures currently employed by higher-return seeking “value-added” or “opportunistic” property funds.

Strong Endorsement of Australian Management's Handling of the Global Financial Crisis, but Job Security Remains the Key Issue for Employees in 2010

13 Apr 2010

Melbourne, 13 April 2010 – The Australian workforce strongly supports the way in which Australian management has performed during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), according to the 2010 Towers Watson Global Workforce Survey released today. At the same time, the survey shows employees continue to view job security as their major concern and that they are looking for stability over advancement, preferring to stay with between one and three employers for their entire career.

Bulletin - April 2010

8 Apr 2010

Various thresholds for superannuation have been indexed in line with increases in AWOTE. The new thresholds for 2010/2011, along with the thresholds for the previous two years, are set out below.

Towers Watson Investment Consultant Rejoins the Australian Investment Team

10 Mar 2010

Sydney, 10 March 2010 – Ben Griffiths is to rejoin Towers Watson’s Australian Investment team after nearly three years with its UK Investment business. Griffiths will research Australian equity managers and his move brings the total number of manager researchers to nine following the recent appointments of Vineta Salale and Alek Misev.

Super Update - March 2010

10 Mar 2010

Welcome to the Towers Watson SuperUpdate, providing you with information on recent or topical superannuation developments and issues in Australia.

The Talent Prize: A Strategic Outcome of Corporate Transactions

8 Mar 2010

In today’s transaction environment, companies are struggling to balance the need for talent, with the need to control costs and achieve other business objectives. Even those companies with strong balance may not succeed in building their talent portfolio to the extent desired without fully integrating their acquisition strategy into their overall talent agenda. This article discusses how companies can best shape their talent agenda in an M&A.

Bulletin - Intergenerational Report 2010

4 Mar 2010

In this Bulletin we provide a summary of, and comment on, the federal government’s Intergenerational Report 2010 (IGR3).
“The Intergenerational Report 2010 provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges that Australia will face over the next forty years. It is a timely reminder that the decisions we take over the next four years will be crucial to our economic prospects and living standards over the next forty” - The Hon. Wayne Swan, MP, Federal Treasurer.

Managing Talent in Tough Times: An Australian Perspective

1 Mar 2010

Despite increasing awareness of the importance of talent management amongst Australian organisations, alignment between talent management and overall strategic goals remains more aspiration than reality.

Towers Watson Investment Announces Two New Appointments

16 Feb 2010

Sydney, 16 February 2010 - Leading global consulting firm Towers Watson has made two new appointments to its Australian Investment Practice to provide enhanced services to its portfolio construction and manager research groups. Alek Misev has been appointed to the Portfolio Construction Group as an investment consultant, while Vineta Salale has been hired as an investment analyst. These appointments follow the announcement of seven recruits in the UK last month.

Australia: Tax Law Amendment on Employee Share Plans

15 Feb 2010

A bill introducing a series of amendments to the taxation of employee share schemes (ESS) was approved by both Australian Houses on December 2, 2009, and received Royal Assent on December 14, 2009. The changes remove the option to defer tax on shares purchased under a qualifying ESS and are retroactive to July 1, 2009.

Global Pension Asset Study 2010

1 Feb 2010

This is a study of the 13 largest pension markets in the world and accounts for more than 85% of global pension assets. The countries included are Australia, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S..

Australia Moves Up to Fifth Spot in Rankings of Global Pension Assets

1 Feb 2010

Sydney, 2 February 2010 - Latest research from Towers Watson’s Global Pension Asset Study, indicates assets of Australian superannuation funds rose by around 9% during 2009, increasing to an estimated A$1,115 billion at the end of 2009. This is around A$90 billion up from the previous year’s total of A$1,027 billion. Over the year, Australian pension assets measured in US dollars moved up from sixth to fifth spot in the global rankings.

Welcome to Towers Watson

26 Dec 2009

Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt have come together as Towers Watson, a global company that shares a common set of values and a singular focus: our clients.

Towers Watson Australia - articles

Over Half of Korean Corporate Pension Assets in Cash says Towers Watson Research

Asia Pacific Insurance

Insight - May 2012

Bulletin - May 2012

Australia: Changes to Private Health Insurance Premium Rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge

Asia Pacific: 2011 Asia Incentive Plan Survey Finds That Plan Design Is Increasingly Tied to Company Performance

De-risking options for DB funds

Hedge Fund Fees Get a Makeover as Investors Take the Upper Hand

New Remuneration Disclosure Rules for Superannuation

Australia: Employers’ Mandatory Pension Contributions to Increase to 12%

Investment Mistakes Identify Real Skill

Super Update - April 2012

Towers Watson Establishes Executive Compensation Team in Australia

Global Investment Matters - 2012

Emphasis 2012/1

Private Health Insurance: Proposed Means Testing Not Consistent with Community Rating

Viewpoints Q&A: Retention Strategies for Corporate Transactions

Risk Management Revisited: The Wrong Type of Snow

Managing DC Plans with our Membership Risk Tolerance Tool

Finding the Balance: Strategies to Improve Post Retirement Investing

Bulletin - March 2012

Towers Watson Downgrades Global Sovereign Bonds to 'Highly Unattractive'

Viewpoints Q&A: Workforce Planning for the IT Function

View - February 2012

Towers Watson Expands Australian Investment Team

Linking Life and Technology

Fund Managers Cautious About 2012

Super Update - February 2012

Viewpoints Q&A: 2012 — a year of transition- A look at the big picture for the superannuation industry

Strong Dollar and Superannuation Guarantee Drive Strong Growth in Australian Pension Assets

Exchange Traded Funds Update

Need Help Planning Your Move into the Short PDS World-

Why You Need Benefit Projections on Member Statements

Insight - December 2011

Human Capital Metrics: Fueling Smart Decision Making

Australia: Government Finalises Key Elements of Pension Reform

Towers Watson hires Head of Wealth Management for Asia

Extreme Risks

Age Pension Must Be Factored Into Retirement Income

Australian Employee Insights 2011 – Pay and Engagement Levels Lower, Leadership Satisfaction Mixed

Australian Investment Managers Rocket Up Rankings as Markets and the Strength of the Dollar Lead to Asset Growth

Super Update – October 2011

Extreme Risk Planning

Viewpoints Q&A: An Interview with Peter Ryan-Kane

New Zealand Leadership Culture Indicates Victory Over France at the Final Hurdle

View - October 2011

Safe and Sound: Managing Health and Welfare at Diebold

Bulletin – October 2011

Towers Watson Expands Investment Services for Insurers and Reinsurers With Acquisition of WellsCanning

Introducing the Towers Watson and Link Super Partnership

Volatility a Health Risk for Investors

Evidence-Based Change Helping Companies Achieve Greater Success and Competitive Advantage, New Towers Watson Book Reveals

Towers Watson Investment Strengthens Australian Manager Research Team

Australian and Global Pension Funds at their Highest Ever Asset Size

Towers Watson Calculators Help Your Members Head in the Right Direction

10 Questions for Hoang Cao Tri, Deputy CEO, Acecook Vietnam JSC

Towers Watson Sees Bumpy Path to Global Economic Recovery

Towers Watson Investment Expands – Three New Appointments

Super Update – July 2011

Viewpoints Q&A: An Interview with Tim Hodgson

Pensions Funds’ Global Alternative Assets Close in on $1 Trillion Mark

Global Alternatives Survey 2011

Providing a Rock Solid Link Between Employee Engagement and Business Performance: A Towers Watson and Rio Tinto case study

Enabling a New Business Strategy: A Towers Watson and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Case Study

Sustainable Investing The role of Universal Owners

All Eyes on Universal Owners for Next Investment Trends

Institutional Funds Should Consider Thematic Investing

Capturing Long-term Themes

Bulletin - June 2011

APRA’s Review of Life Insurance Capital Standards

Insight - May 2011

Towers Watson and Link Group Partnership Provides New Administration Alternative

Bulletin - May 2011

Tax Incentives on Infrastructure Not ‘Be All and End All’ for Super Funds

Global Investment Matters - 2011

Investing in Core Infrastructure

Super Update – April 2011

Pressure on Staff Retention in Professional Services

Towers Watson’s Mark Mactas to Retire by End of Calendar Year 2011

10 Questions for Hoang Cao Tri, Deputy CEO,
Acecook Vietnam JSC

Pensions Funds’ Global Alternative Assets Close in on
$1 Trillion Mark

Sustainable Investing
The role of Universal Owners

Motivating Employees to Go the Extra Mile:
The Manager’s Role in Employee Engagement