Q&A with Chief Investment Officer, Troy Rieck

Troy Rieck joined LGIAsuper as Chief Investment Officer in September 2019. Troy has significant experience in superannuation and investments. In his previous roles at other major superannuation funds, he oversaw investment programs that reduced investment fees while delivering solid returns for members.

Born in regional Queensland and a local resident for much of his life, Mr Rieck has returned to his roots to lead LGIAsuper’s investment portfolio. We recently sat down with Troy to find out a little more about his background and investment philosophy.

Q: What school did you go to? 

I went to school in Childers, Bundaberg Region – at Isis District State High School and Childers State School.

Q: What was your dream job when you were a child?

I wanted to be Treasurer of Australia – that sounded like a fun job.

Q: What was your first job? 

I picked watermelons in the school holidays, hot work in the middle of the Queensland summer. 

Q: How did you get your start in superannuation investment?

I have always wanted to be in superannuation. I wanted to join the Insurance and Superannuation Commission (eventually became APRA) when I graduated from University in the early 1990s.

Q: What has been the biggest achievement of your career?

I am proudest of my work during the global financial crisis while working at Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC). We ensured that the client base was able to survive the worst market conditions in many years, and be in a position to purchase assets and reinvest into new strategies, knowing that the market risks were well managed.

Q: How do you like to spend your time away from the office?

Reading, family time, and walking my dog.

Q: What is your favourite holiday destination?

I love a beachside holiday with nothing to do.

Q: What is your personal philosophy?

I believe in personal freedom and liberty – everyone should be able to do what makes them happy, provided that they aren’t harming others.

Q: What is the most common mistake you see from people when it comes to superannuation?

Being unrealistic. For example, thinking about 30-year investments with the time frame of 30 minutes.

Q: What would you say to those concerned about their superannuation during these volatile times?

Don’t panic, and please don’t make snap decisions. 

Get informed and ask questions – information fights fear and leads to better decision-making.

Get advice from a trusted financial advisor – advised members tend to have better outcomes.

Also, do your own ‘gut check’ on how you feel when markets fall - this is your risk tolerance.  If you can stay invested during the worst possible times, you are in the right investment strategy.

Q: After COVID-19, what are you looking forward to most for the fund? What does recovery look like?

LGIAsuper is well-positioned to handle the current market conditions, now our job is to extract full value from that opportunity. That is not just within investments, but our connection to the membership, to the employer base, and our understanding of their future needs.

If you would like to discuss LGIAsuper’s investment strategy in detail, you can email Troy and his team at info@lgiasuper.com.au.