Global investment management firm, PIMCO, has set what amounts to an advisory benchmark by former a new Global Advisory Board which includes a former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, and a former British Prime Minister.
The company announced to that the board would be made up of former Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, Former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, former chief investment officer of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Ng Kok Song, the former director of policy and planning for the US State Department, Anne-Marie Slaughter, and the former president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet.
The announcement said the board members would contribute their insights to the firm on global economic, political and strategic developments, and their relevance for financial markets.
Bernanke will serve as chairman of the group which will meet several times a year at PIMCO's Newport Beach office as well as at other PIMCO offices around the world.
Commenting on formation of the group, PIMCO's chief investment officer, Dan Ivascyn said the Global Advisory Board represented an unrivalled team of macroeconomic thinkers and former policymakers, whose insights into the intersection of policy and financial markets would be a valuable input to the firm's investment process.
The future of superannuation policy remains uncertain, with further reforms potentially on the horizon as the Albanese government seeks to curb the use of superannuation as a bequest vehicle.
Superannuation funds will have two options for charging fees for the advice provided by the new class of adviser.
The proposed reforms have been described as a key step towards delivering better products and retirement experiences for members, with many noting financial advice remains the “urgent missing piece” of the puzzle.
APRA’s latest data has revealed that superannuation funds spent $1.3 billion on advice fees, with the vast majority sent to external financial advisers.