The larger industry funds are creating an inefficient life insurance market, according to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority executive John Trowbridge.
In his speech to the Institute of Actuaries in Sydney, Trowbridge said the larger industry funds are currently creating a “form of indigestion within the life industry”.
“Because of the large scale and limited period of [the larger industry funds’] insurance contracts, we now have an inefficient market operating,” Trowbridge said.
This was evidenced by “many of the larger life insurers not participating in industry fund tenders because of the upheaval that occurs at each renewal, usually every three years”, Trowbridge said.
He predicted there would likely be a “restructuring of this market, perhaps along the lines of the coinsurance practices managed by general insurance brokers on behalf of large corporates when they buy their insurances”.
Australia’s largest superannuation fund has confirmed all members who had funds stolen during the recent cyber fraud crime have been reimbursed.
As institutional investors grapple with shifting sentiment towards US equities and fresh uncertainty surrounding tariffs, Australia’s Aware Super is sticking to a disciplined, diversified playbook.
Market volatility continued to weigh on fund returns last month, with persistent uncertainty making it difficult to pinpoint how returns will fare in April.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has called for the incoming government to prioritise “certainty and stability” when it comes to super policy.