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Associate Professor Anthony Asher

Associate Professor Anthony Asher

Associate Professor

B Bus Sc (UCT) PhD (Wits) FIAA

Business School
School of Risk and Actuarial Studies

I am a qualified actuary and have divided my working life between professional actuarial and management roles, and teaching and research at university. I have worked as the Chief Actuary of a life insurer, consulted to a range of companies and governments, held various directorships, been a member of investment and audit committees, and held a research and policy role at APRA.

My major actuarial concern has been to protect, research and develop new strategies in meeting the savings and insurance needs of people throughout their lifespan. I have always seen this as a necessary extension to the traditional actuarial roles of product development and risk management. I have contributed to thought leadership in the profession through the development of professional guidance notes, textbooks and hundreds of professional presentations, articles and academic papers as well to government submissions especially on superannuation legislation.

Retired from full time work since October 2020, I continue with research – and currently have a one day a week appointment at UNSW – with an increased my involvement with the Actuaries Institute, where I serve on Council, as Convenor of the Retirement Incomes and Superannuation Low Income Working Groups, and a member of the Retirement Strategy Group. My current research focus is on retirement incomes and related issues in regulation, economics and finance.
Mobile
0424003257
Phone
+61 4 2400 3257
E-mail
a.asher@unsw.edu.au
  • Books | 2015
    Asher A, 2015, Working Ethically in Finance: Clarifying Our Vocation, Business Expert Press, New York,
  • Book Chapters | 2020
    Asher A; De Ravin J, 2020, 'The Age Pension Means Tests: Contorting Australian Retirement', in Muenstermann I (ed.), Who Wants to Retire and Who Can Afford to Retire?, Intech,
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Asher A, 2013, 'The Financial Management of Life Insurance (Revised)', in In WICKENS The Law of Life Insurance in Australia., Thomson Lawbooks,
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Asher A, 2008, 'Conflicted super structures: Are Australian investors being short-changed?', in Pension Fund Governance: A Global Perspective on Financial Regulation, pp. 61 - 96
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Asher A, 2007, 'Smoothing investment returns', in Retirement Provision in Scary Markets, pp. 145 - 160,
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Asher A, 2006, 'Pensions in Africa', in The Oxford Handbook of Pensions and Retirement Income,
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Asher A; Boonen T; Chang L; Khemka G; Roberts S, 2024, 'Heterogeneity in needs and purchases in Australian retirees', Accounting and Finance, 64, pp. 2209 - 2247,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Bartlett AL; Lane A; Chaney B; Escorza NY; Black K; Cochrane A; Minturn J; Bartels U; Warren K; Hansford J; Ziegler D; Diez B; Goldman S; Packer R; Kieran M; DeWire-Schottmiller M; Erker C; Monje-Deisseroth M; Wagner L; Koschmann C; Dorris K; Shih CS; Hassall T; Samson Y; Fisher P; Wang SS; Tsui K; Sevlever G; Zhu X; Dexheimer P; Asher A; Fuller C; Drissi R; Jones B; Leach J; Fouladi M, 2022, 'Characteristics of children ≤36 months of age with DIPG: A report from the international DIPG registry', Neuro-Oncology, 24, pp. 2190 - 2199,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Gerrans P; Asher A; Earl JK, 2022, 'Cognitive functioning, financial literacy, and judgment in older age', Accounting and Finance, 62, pp. 1637 - 1674,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Asher A; Wilcox T, 2021, 'Virtue and Risk Culture in Finance', Journal of Business Ethics,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Bruhn A; Asher A, 2021, 'The primacy of ethics in the provision of financial advice', Accounting and Finance, 61, pp. 3305 - 3327,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Asher A; Meyricke R; Thorp S; Wu S, 2017, 'Age pensioner decumulation: Responses to incentives, uncertainty and family need', Australian Journal of Management, 4, pp. 583 - 607,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kenny DT; Asher A, 2017, 'Gender differences in mortality and morbidity patterns in popular musicians across the lifespan', Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 32, pp. 13 - 19,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Taylor S; Asher A; Tarr J-A, 2017, 'Accountability in Regulatory Reform: Australia’s Superannuation Industry Paradox', Federal Law Review, 45, pp. 257 - 289,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Asher A, 2016, 'Explicitly incorporating virtues into actuarial education', Annals of Actuarial Science, 11, pp. 253 - 285,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Asher A, 2016, 'The justice of Australian tax and redistribution in 2016', St Mark's Review: a journal of Christian thought and opinion, pp. 28 - 43,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Kenny DT; Asher A, 2016, 'Life expectancy and cause of death in popular musicians: Is the popular musician lifestyle the road to ruin?', Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 31, pp. 37 - 44,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Taylor SM; Tarr J; Asher A, 2016, 'Australia’s flawed Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) process', Australian Business Law Review, 44, pp. 361 - 376,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Asher A, 2015, 'Retirement incomes–issues and next steps', Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, pp. 93 - 97,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Earl JK; Gerrans P; Asher A; Woodside J, 2015, 'Financial literacy, financial judgement, and retirement self-efficacy of older trustees of self-managed superannuation funds', Australian Journal of Management, 40, pp. 435 - 458,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Asher A, 2014, 'Factors behind the administrative fees of private pension systems: an international analysis*', JOURNAL OF PENSION ECONOMICS & FINANCE, 13, pp. 113 - 116,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Asher A, 2014, 'Redistribution and capital market impacts of social security retirement systems: principles and scope for actuarial involvement', The Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, 2, pp. 13 - 20,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Asher A, 2011, 'Equity in Retirement: Are All Australians Getting a Fair Deal?', Economic and Labour Relations Review, 22, pp. 65 - 84
    Journal articles | 2011
    Asher A, 2011, 'Salary Linked Home Finance: Reducing interest rate, inflation and idiosyncratic salary risks', Australian Actuarial Journal, 17, pp. 117 - 148,
    Journal articles | 2006
    Asher A, 2006, 'Unfinished Accounting Issues: Incorporating Fair Value and Prudence in Accounting Theory', Annals of Actuarial Science, 1, pp. 271 - 290,
  • Working Papers | 2021
    Asher A, 2021, Supply Side Resistance to Lifetime Annuities, SSRN, ,
    Working Papers | 2019
    Asher A, 2019, Greed: an interdisciplinary mind-map, Actuaries Institute, Sydney, ,
    Working Papers | 2014
    Asher A, 2014, Developing a Harvesting Plan: Optimising Retirement Spending in the Face of Economic, Social and Personal Risk, ,
    Working Papers | 2013
    Asher A; Earle JK; Gerrans P; Asher A, 2013, Investigating the Influence of Cognitive Decline on the Quality of Financial Decision-Making in Older Adults: The Case of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds, ,
    Working Papers | 2013
    Asher A, 2013, Developing Actuarial Judgement, ,
    Working Papers | 2006
    Asher A, 2006, Means Tests: an evaluation of the justice of imposing high rates of clawback on those of modest means, ,
    Working Papers | 2004
    Asher A, 2004, Determining capital: messy targets and smoother dividends, 2004/6,
  • Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Cooney T; DeWire-Schottmiller M; Lane A; Saab R; Bandopadhayay P; Dorris K; Packer R; Kilburn L; Minturn J; Dodgshun A; Parkin S; Goldman S; Sandler E; Greiner R; Gottardo N; Dholaria H; Coven S; Hassall T; Hansford J; Samson Y; Leary S; Bartels U; Fonseca A; Bouffet E; Tinkle C; Monje M; Fisher P; Ziegler D; Chintagumpala M; Wagner L; Koschmann C; Leach J; Jones B; Benito EC; Bond H; Chaney B; Black K; Asher A; Fouladi M; Hoffman L; Warren K, 2022, 'PATTERNS OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID DIVERSION AND SURVIVAL IN CHILDREN WITH DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA: A REPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA REGISTRY', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, Vol. 24, pp. 23 - 24,
    Reports | 2021
    Asher A; Asher R; Nicholls R; Hsu G, 2021, Submission on Strategies for developing the Digital Economy,
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Asher A; Fergusson K, 2021, 'Maturity Transformation is an Oxymoron: Ways to Match Pensions and Long-term Assets', Virtual, presented at GFC 2021, Virtual, 27 May 2021 - 28 May 2021,
    Reports | 2020
    Asher A; De Ravin J, 2020, Submission to the SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND REGULATORY TECHNOLOGY,
    Submissions to Government | 2020
    Asher A; Donald S, 2020, Consultation paper: Retirement income review, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Asher A; Retirement Income Working Group AI, 2020, Developing the Retirement Income Framework, Actuaries Institute, Sydney,
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Lazow M; Fuller C; Lane A; DeWire M; Bandopadhayay P; Bartels U; Bouffet E; Cheng S; Cohen KJ; Cooney T; Coven S; Dholaria H; Diez B; Dorris K; El-Ayadi M; El-Sheikh A; Fisher P; Lombardi MG; Greiner R; Goldman S; Gottardo N; Gururangan S; Hansford J; Hassall T; Hawkins C; Kilburn L; Koschmann C; Leary S; Ma J; Minturn J; Monje M; Packer R; Samson Y; Sandler ES; Sevlever G; Tinkle C; Tsui K; Wagner L; Zaghloul M; Ziegler D; Chaney B; Black K; Asher A; Drissi R; Fouladi M; Jones B; Leach J, 2020, 'NON-DIPG PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE INTERNATIONAL DIPG REGISTRY: HISTOPATHOLOGIC EVALUATION OF CENTRAL NEURO-IMAGING REVIEW', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, ELECTR NETWORK, pp. 154 - 154, presented at 25th Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society-for-Neuro-Oncology (SNO), ELECTR NETWORK, 19 November 2020 - 21 November 2020,
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Lazow MA; Fuller C; Lane A; DeWire-Schottmiller MD; Bandopadhayay P; Bartels U; Bouffet E; Cheng S; Cohen KJ; Cooney TM; Coven SL; Dholaria H; Diez B; Dorris K; El-Ayadi M; El-Sheikh A; Fisher PG; Garcia Lombardi M; Greiner RJ; Goldman S; Gottardo N; Gururangan S; Hansford JR; Hassall T; Hawkins C; Kilburn L; Koschmann CJ; Leary SE; Ma J; Minturn JE; Monje-Deisseroth M; Packer RJ; Samson Y; Sandler ES; Sevlever G; Tinkle C; Tsui K; Wagner LM; Zaghloul M; Ziegler DS; Chaney B; Black K; Asher A; Drissi R; Fouladi M; Jones BV; Leach JL, 2020, 'NON-DIPG PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE INTERNATIONAL DIPG REGISTRY: HISTOPATHOLOGIC EVALUATION OF CENTRAL NEURO-IMAGING REVIEW', in NEURO-ONCOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, pp. 295 - 296,
    Reports | 2019
    Asher A; Knox D; Rice M, 2019, Options for an Improved and Integrated System of Retirement, Actuaries Institute, Sydney,
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Asher A, 2019, 'Greed: an interdisciplinary mind-map', Sydney, presented at Actuaries Institute summit, Sydney, 03 June 2019,
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A; Rajadurai E, 2018, Investing Superannuation for the Public Good: Creating new markets to benefit members & fund necessary investments, The McKell Institute, Sydney, ,
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Asher A; Wilcox T, 2018, 'Virtue Ethics, Risk and Finance', Chicago, USA, presented at Society for Business Ethics, Chicago, USA, 10 August 2018 - 12 August 2018
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A, 2018, Submission to Financial Services Royal Commission, Module 5, ,
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A, 2018, Submission to Productivity Commission: Draft Report: Superannuation: Assessing Efficiency and Competitiveness (May 2018),
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A, 2018, Written Submission by Anthony Asher in response to issues raised in the INTERIM REPORT,
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A, 2018, Written Submission by Anthony Asher in response to policy-related issues raised in the MODULE 5: SUPERANNUATION CLOSING SUBMISSIONS,
    Reports | 2018
    Asher A, 2018, Written Submission by Anthony Asher in response to policy-related issues raised in the MODULE 6: INSURANCE POLICY QUESTIONS,
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Asher A; Roberts S; Khemka G, 2017, 'Enhancing Wellbeing in Retirement: Addressing Negative Shocks', Sydney, pp. 1 - 31, presented at 25th Annual Colloquium of Superannuation Researchers, Sydney, 06 July 2017 - 07 July 2017,
    Reports | 2017
    Asher A, 2017, Submission to Department of Social Services Discussion Paper: Social security means testing of retirement streams., ,
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Asher A, 2016, 'Lifecycle planning: towards a better financial calculator.', Sydney, pp. 1 - 20, presented at 24th Annual Colloquium of Superannuation Researchers,, Sydney, 04 July 2016 - 05 July 2016,
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Asher A; Butt A; Khemka G; Kayande U, 2015, 'Formulating appropriate utility functions and personal financial plans', in On website, OSLO, Norway, presented at IAA Colloquium: PBSS, LIFE and IACA, OSLO, Norway, 08 June 2015 - 10 June 2015,
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Asher A; Wilcox T, 2015, 'Virtue and risk culture in finance', in On webpage, Sydney, presented at IAA Colloquium, Sydney, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015,
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Taylor S; Asher A; Tarr J, 2015, 'Sharpening Regulation in the Australian Superannuation Industry to Ensure Compatibility of Public and Private Objectives', Melbourne, presented at 7th Conference on Financial Markets and Corporate Governance, Melbourne, 15 March 2015 - 16 March 2015,
    Other | 2014
    Asher A, 2014, Book Review: Pension Finance: Putting the Risks and Costs of Defined Benefit Plans Back Under Your Control. M. Barton Waring . Wiley Finance, 2011, ISBN 978-1-118-10636-5, 298 pages., Cambridge University Press (CUP),
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Asher A; Taylor S, 2013, 'Regulatory Capture and Overload in the Australian Superannuation Industry over the Last Decade: Trustees’ Views and a Cost/Benefit Analysis', sydney, presented at 21st Annual Colloquium of Superannuation Researchers, sydney, 09 July 2013 - 10 July 2013
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Asher A; and other members of the retirement incomes working group , 2013, 'Post retirement funding in Australia', in Traverso, L (ed.), sydney, presented at Actuaries Summit, sydney, 20 May 2013 - 21 May 2013
    Other | 2013
    Asher A, 2013, Book review: "Beyond Our Means: Why America Spends While the World Saves." Sheldon Garon, Princeton University Press
    Conference Presentations | 2012
    Asher A, 2012, 'The lifetime harvesting plan: smoothed annuities with sharing of mortality, and averaging of investment', presented at Actuaries Institute Financial Services Forum, Melbourne, 30 April 2012,
    Other | 2012
    Asher A, 2012, Book Review: “The Decline of the Traditional Pension: A Comparative Study of Threats to Retirement Security”, by George A. (Sandy) Mackenzie, Cambridge Univ Press,
    Preprints |
    Asher A, Developing Actuarial Judgement,
  • Media | 2019
    Asher A, 2019, Why overconfidence creates reckless CEOs,
    Media | 2015
    Lorkin J; Asher ANTHONY, 2015, Maintaining integrity: Anthony Asher on an ethical life in finance - BusinessThink,

My current research is focused on the development of appropriate retirement income products, including product design, investment, regulation and personal financial advice. Those interested in financial planning are invited to look at our calculator at in www.draftfinplancalc.com. This is closely related to my position as Convenor of the Retirement Income Working Group of the Actuaries Institute.I am also working on an understanding of greed and justice in society that incorporates recent development in neuroscience and more ancient philosophical and religious approaches - and its consequences for institutional reform - especially market design.

My Research Supervision

Rob Annabel (unsw.edu.au)