Podcast/Vodcast/Audio
Superannuation and Investments

Investment Ideas: Decumulation

Aidan NguyenJan SwinhoeDouglas IslesActuaries Institute
By Actuaries Institute, Douglas Isles, Jan Swinhoe, Aidan Nguyen Short read • 6 March 2025

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How can retirees confidently spend their super without fear of running out?

In our latest instalment of Investment Ideas, hosts Jan Swinhoe and Douglas Isles explore the challenges of the decumulation phase with Giacomo Tarantolo from Unisuper and Estelle Liu from AMP, specialists in retirement solutions.

Key areas discussed include:

  • The complexity of transitioning from accumulation to decumulation
  • The importance of simplicity in retirement systems and the need for more effective digital platforms
  • The challenge of effectively communicating risk to members making retirement decisions
  • How many retirees live more frugally than required

 

About the guest speakers

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Estelle LiuEstelle is the Head of Retirement Solutions at AMP. She is an actuary and has been the chair of the Actuaries Institute Superannuation Projections and Disclosure Sub-committee since 2019, and member of the Superannuation and Investments Practice Committee and Data Science and AI Practice Committee since 2022.  Prior to joining AMP, Estelle led the Actuarial Practice at Aware Super with key contributions and focus on all things financial projections, defined benefit and actuarial advice to inform retirement income strategy and its implementation.

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Giacomo TarantoloGiacomo joined UniSuper in the role of Manager, Retirement Solutions in 2023 and is responsible for leading a cross-functional team that maintains and implements UniSuper's Retirement Income Strategy across the Fund, ensuring that UniSuper's Retirement Income Covenant obligations to its members are met.

Giacomo is a qualified Actuary having completed a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies with a Bachelor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University. Giacomo is approaching ten years' experience in financial services in roles spanning retirement product development, institutional business development, actuarial and investment consulting at Allianz and Mercer.

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About the authors
Actuaries Institute
The Actuaries Institute is committed to promoting the actuarial profession and provides expert comment on public policy issues that exhibit uncertainty of future financial outcomes.
Douglas Isles
Douglas qualified as an actuary in 1999 while working at Aegon UK, where he worked in marketing and then as an investment manager. He moved to Australia in 2002, and after a brief spell with CBA, has spent over 17 years at Platinum Asset Management, in two stints, sitting on their management committee since rejoining in 2013. He is currently the Head of Investment, having previously been an Investment Analyst and Investment Specialist. Douglas lived in Singapore from 2009, launching Pengana Capital’s Asian office before working in equity sales for Standard Chartered Bank. He has an MA in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge, became a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute in 2019, is a member of the AICD and sits on the board of Odyssey House NSW.
Jan Swinhoe
Jan spent the first 9 years of her career working in the Superannuation world with limited exposure to investment intricacies, but she was curious (and naiive enough) to respond to an ad through the Actuaries Institute that sought trainee derivatives dealers for a large US investment bank. The rest is history with Jan spending the next twenty years of her career in banking and broadening out many aspects of her structuring expertise to complete numerous transactions for large global companies. Since commencing her Non-executive career in 2011, she has sought to merge these passions and has served on a number of Boards including Mercer Superannuation (Chair for 10 years until June 2024), IMB Limited, Suncorp Superannuation, Athletics Australia (First female President) and Fusion Retail Group. Jan currently serves on the Boards of Swiss Re Life & Health, Australian Philanthropic Services and Vanguard Super. Jan’s personal interests include running, financial literacy for all and mental health.
Aidan Nguyen
Aidan is the Public Policy Lead for the Actuaries Institute where he cares about improving and aligning financial wellbeing for all. He helps actuaries use their voices as both trusted adviser and honest broker to get better public policy and effective regulation.


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