Ron Bewley

Ron Bewley

Switzer Expert

Read Ron's Profile

Ron Bewley, PhD, FASSA
Executive Director
Woodhall Investment Research

Ron was Professor of Econometrics at UNSW when he was invited to join the Commonwealth Bank to found a Quantitative Research & Investment Strategy team. After researching across most asset classes in global markets, risk and strategy, he was appointed as the foundation Chief Investment Officer in CBA’s Private Client Services. He retired from the bank in 2009 and formed Woodhall Investment Research the following year.

In his first book, Allocation Models, Ron presents a unified econometric approach for analysing relationships that allocate aggregates across their component parts – as in wealth being allocated across asset classes. He published over 50 academic papers on a variety of theoretical and applied econometric topics. He held a number of visiting academic positions in the US, UK and Europe. Ron was elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 1995. He was also consult to a number of major companies and government departments.

At Woodhall, Ron has combined his academic and markets experiences to produce cutting-edge solutions for implementing investment strategies in equities and other asset classes.

www.woodhall.com.au

Latest Commentary

Are annuities worth their weight in gold?

by Ron Bewley

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At times like this in the share market, many retirees want to duck for cover and take out an annuity to guarantee a future income stream rather that take the volatility swings in the market.

There are many types of annuities. I'm going to focus on one that – in an exchange for a lump sum now – the provider will return a fixed amount each year, adjusted by the consumer price index (CPI) so that inflation cannot erode the income stream. On the death of the holder, the partner (I am assuming that there is one for simplicity), then receives the annuity until his or her death.

Running the numbers

While this might seem to be the way to go, the cost of the annuity must be taken into account. The ASFA Retirement Standard (May 2012) claims that an income of $55,080 per annum is needed for a 'comfortable' living standard for a couple in retirement, assuming that they own their own home.

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