Good morning everyone. Welcome to the AFR Super and Wealth Summit.  Acenda is delighted to be the presenting partner for this year’s event which brings together the best minds across the industry. 
 
We are on the cusp of an exciting new era at Acenda. As the Acenda Group we will become a larger more dynamic business with the scale and ambition to grow, innovate and deliver more for our customers and partners. 

The next stage of our evolution to Acenda Group is about more than just a new name. It’s the continuation of the trust Australians have placed in us for generations. Together, we have a long and rich history dating back more than 175 years. Throughout that time, we have been there when Australians have needed us most. 

We’ve continued to adapt and evolve to meet people’s needs in an ever-changing world. As the Acenda Group we will be positioned to deliver greater value through our enhanced scale, capability and innovation 

We will serve more than two million customers, while evolving into a new business with bold growth ambitions, particularly in life insurance and retirement.  We want to empower Australians to live life with confidence, knowing they are protected and will be cared for no matter what life throws their way.  

We want to help them plan for and secure their financial futures from the very start of their working life right through to retirement and beyond. Retirement is something most Australians don’t think about until they are in their late 40s or 50s. 

Yet we know to get the best outcomes planning ideally needs to start from the time one starts earning an income It’s why access to financial advice is so critical. When people have access to quality financial advice, their financial outcomes and their confidence improves immeasurably.  This is why Acenda has been strong in its support for the Federal Government’s financial advice reforms.  
 
While many Australians are working longer or more flexibly, the fundamental concerns they have around funding for their retirement goals haven’t changed. Advice can help them plan and ensure they are financially independent and confident throughout their working lives but equally into retirement and beyond. 

Australians deserve to feel confident – we have a world-class superannuation system that is delivering billions in retirement income every year.  Life insurance plays a very important role in that system. From life cover, disability cover, income protection and annuities, these products provide certainty and give people the confidence to take life on. 

A large proportion of Australians access life insurance through their super.  More than eight million people hold life insurance this way - often by default - but it provides a vital financial safety net when people need it most. In 2024 alone, super funds paid $1.7 billion in death benefits and $3 billion in permanent disability payments. These aren’t just big, impressive numbers – they are families protected, mortgages paid, and futures safeguarded.  

But our superannuation system is maturing and evolving – I’m sure there will be much discussion today as our industry increasingly moves into a de-accumulation stage – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, around 700,000 Australians intend to retire within the next five years.  

Acenda is here with retirement solutions and choices - to support those Australians as they move into the critical stage of retirement. That’s the power of what we do. Protecting Australians, in retirement and throughout life’s most challenging moments.  

We look forward to hearing from the leaders across our industry throughout today.  When we come together as an industry, we form a powerful voice that can influence policy, drive innovation and help millions of Australians achieve better financial outcomes.  

We are excited to be a part of it and for what comes next. 

Thank you. 

Gerard Kerr is Chief Executive of Individual Insurance for Acenda