Helping members manage the cost of living in retirement
While the immediate inflation crisis is easing and the Reserve Bank has lowered interest rates for the first time in five years, inflation risks remain. Factors such as global economic uncertainties, political instability, and weak productivity growth in Australia contribute to an uncertain inflation outlook. The impact of inflation is particularly concerning for retirees whose income does not automatically increase with inflation. This means retirees may face the difficult choice of lowering their living standards to manage increased expenses.
This highlights the critical role of super funds in helping their members manage inflation risk, along with maximising retirement income, whilst managing longevity and investment risks. By offering guidance and tailored solutions, super funds can help retirees maintain their financial wellbeing and avoid unexpected disruptions to their lifestyles.
At this FEAL luncheon Challenger’s Dr Jonathan Kearns, Chief Economist and Head of Regulatory Affairs, will provide a macro-economic overview summarising current Australian and global conditions that could impact the cost of living and the potential financial impact for superannuation members that draw down an income. Following this, Dr Kearns will join a panel / table discussion with FEAL member executives to discuss what proactive measures super funds can take to mitigate inflation risk and other challenges faced in retirement.
Guest speakers
Jonathan Kearns
Chief Economist and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Challenger
Jonathan is Chief Economist and Head of Regulatory Affairs and a member of the Asset & Liability Committee and the Investment Committee at Challenger. Previously he worked for over 20 years at the Reserve Bank of Australia. At the RBA he occupied a wide range of senior roles, including as head of four separate departments: Domestic Markets Department; Financial Stability Department; Economic Analysis Department and Economic Research Department. He also led the RBA’s work on climate change.
Jonathan also worked at the Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland. He has published research in the fields of international finance and macroeconomics. He has a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours) from the Australian National University. He is a member of the Finance Committee at Australian National University and the Board for Santa Sabina College, Strathfield.
Aaron Minney, CFA
Head of Retirement Income, Challenger
Aaron is the Head of Retirement Income for Challenger where he is responsible for research and advocacy for retirement income for Australian retirees. For 13 years he has been researching ways to generate income from investments in retirement. He has worked with super funds on developing retirement solutions, has published academic research in the area and is a sought-after spokesperson on retirement income.
Aaron has 30 years’ experience as an investment strategist and researcher, across a wide range of asset classes. Prior to Challenger, Aaron has held roles managing investment portfolios, led investment product innovations, and worked with clients to develop bespoke investment solutions.
Aaron is also an Honorary Fellow at the Macquarie Business School’s Applied Finance Centre where he is an adjunct lecturer in Advanced Investment Management.
Sydney panelists
Nathan Buttigieg, Executive Manager - Strategy and Product, NGS Super
Nathan is the Executive Manager of Strategy and Product at NSG Super.
Nathan has spent more than 15 years serving in various leadership roles within the super industry, including roles managing the Operations, Member Experience and Growth functions at different funds.
With completed studies in Business, Organisational Leadership and as a CPA Accountant, Nathan is passionate about Funds working to tailor their produces to the distinct needs of their memberships and having the right channels and messages to get the individual connected to these product solutions.
Alla Gorbunova, Head of Advice Delivery, TelstraSuper
Alla is an experienced wealth executive, who has spent most of her career leading advice businesses through change in a highly regulated environment. This included roles at NAB Financial Planning, MLC Advice, Insignia Financial and now TelstraSuper Financial Planning.
Alla is a strong advocate for the positive impact of financial advice and wants to see more Australians benefit from financial advice. Alla has a Bachelor of Business from UTS and MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Business.
Matt Werakso, State Manager Advice - NSW, UniSuper
Approaching two decades in the financial services industry across Australia and the U.S., Matt Werakso is passionate about helping clients understand their relationship with money, set meaningful goals, and navigate financial opportunities and risks with confidence. As UniSuper’s State Manager of Advice, he plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the business, driving innovation, and enhancing the delivery of financial advice. Leading a team of financial advisers, Matt provides guidance, support, and mentorship to develop the next generation of professionals. Committed to excellence in advice and industry leadership, he is dedicated to empowering both clients and advisers to achieve long-term financial success.
Melbourne panelists
Louise Aracas, Senior Product Manager Retirement, AustralianSuper
Louise Aracas is a Senior Product Manager, Retirement at AustralianSuper, responsible for delivering product development and improvement initiatives for retirees. She has over 20 years’ experience in superannuation, across both retirement and insurance product management, member services and financial advice, and has held roles with AGEST Super, Superpartners and IFS. Louise has a Master of Applied Finance, an Advanced diploma of Financial Services and a bachelor of Arts/Science.
Renae Anderson, Manager Select Advice, UniSuper
Renae Anderson leads a national team of financial advisers at UniSuper. With nearly two decades of advising Australians on their retirement savings, she is a Certified Financial Planner, holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning through Deakin University and sits on the Financial Planning Education Council.
Adelaide table discussion leads
Tristan Barnes, State Manager Advice - SA, UniSuper
As the State Manager of Unisuper’s Advice business in South Australia, Tristan’s primary focus is supporting great outcomes for clients and leading strong performance outcomes for Unisuper's team in South Australia. Tristan’s experience in delivering high value financial advice spans many years and specialisations, including the delivery of personal financial planning advice to high net worth retail clients, SMSFs, and financial consultancy to medium and large corporations (listed and privately owned). With a deep interest in how human psychology affects financial decisions, Tristan assists clients in connecting with their own beliefs around ‘money’, how these factors can affect behaviour, and how these considerations can be translated into better goal setting, and better lifestyle and financial outcomes.
Adrian De Silva, Director, People, Product & Transformation, Super SA
Adrian is currently the Director of People, Product & Transformation at Super SA. Within this role he drives the People Development, Product roadmap and the Strategic Projects within the PMO.
Prior to this role, Adrian held Senior Wealth Executive appointments across NAB/MLC, BT, AMP and Beyond Bank. Adrian has a passion for supporting the leadership growth of People, and also how to improve the Financial Literacy of the community. He holds post tertiary qualifications in Management and Financial Planning.
Outside of work, Adrian can been seen riding with his friends and also running with his wife, as long as there is good coffee coming up.
Brisbane table discussion leads
Steven O’Donoghue, Head of Advice, Brighter Super
Steven has a wealth of knowledge with over two decades of industry experience and is passionate about quality advice and helping shape the future of the financial planning landscape. Steven has experiences covering all aspects of financial planning, including running AFSLs, business transformation, change and project management and has led multiple, and diverse teams. Steven is currently the Head of Advice at Brighter Super, a QLD based super fund.
Steven holds a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Applied Finance, is a Certified Financial Planner and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Steven has also been awarded a Distinguished Services Award by the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
Nathan McCabe, Financial Adviser, TelstraSuper
Nathan is a Financial Services Professional with over twenty years experience advising both Personal and Corporate clients. He is passionate about the retirement segment and assists TelstraSuper members and clients navigate risks faced during their retirement lifespan. Nathan regularly supports the funds Member Education Team with retirement planning sessions, including a focus on the TelstraSuper Lifetime Pension product since its launch in November 2023.
Nathan’s education includes a Bachelor of Commence and Economics from the University of Queensland and a Post Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.
Sydney
DATE: Tuesday 25th March
VENUE: EY
ADDRESS: 200 George Street
Melbourne
date: Wednesday 26th March
venue: EY
address: 8 Exhibition Street
ADELAIDE
DATE: Thursday 27th
VENUE: EY
ADDRESS: Level 12/121 King William St
Brisbane
DATE: Thursday 3rd April
VENUE: EY
ADDRESS: 111 Eagle Street
TIME: 12.15PM - 2.00PM SYD & MELB (AEDT), BRIS (AEST) ADEL (ACDT)
COST: FEAL MEMBERS: $0 & NON MEMBERS: $145 (INC GST)
*if you are a non member & would like to attend please contact FEAL.
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