The SMSF Association’s Jordan George says that while Labor’s franking credit policy is unfair, people should stop complaining and refocus on the ‘greater rationale’ behind self-directed funds.

Industry heads roundly criticised the Productivity Commission’s $500,000 minimum SMSF benchmark, but were warned that if an agreement wasn’t reached a ‘blunt instrument’ would come.

The head of a representative body for APRA-regulated funds has told SMSF advisers it’s the self-directed superannuant industry’s turn to endure the attention of regulators.

Hayne’s benign take on the separation of product and advice left the door open for conflicts of interest in managed accounts to continue. Not everyone is convinced that this is a problem.

Xplan subscription fees and sponsorship at conferences are among the common examples of opex payments product providers make to licensees, which may continue despite Hayne’s crackdown.

Hayne’s recommendation to end pre-FoFA commissions and fees-for-no-service could generate $3.7 billion in remediation and send $1.1 billion a year flowing back into super balances.

In a world where cash rates have been at record lows for record periods, it should come as no surprise some providers are trying to dress up complex, riskier products as safe yield.

An investment specialist has warned against “running for the hills”. Caution is the order of the day but a late cycle in the market isn’t necessarily a prelude to recession.

The regulator’s annual study highlights just how disaffected shareholders are, with a record number of ‘no’ strikes on remuneration putting the heat on directors to curb executive salaries.

Herman Brodie is conducting a study on whether the big five personality traits are as common in wealthy people as they are to the rest of us. He hopes – and suspects – the answer is yes.

The FPA is weighing up how it can reshape the CFP designation after being blindsided by FASEA, but the review the association announced in December is on hold, for now.

The major licensee has reacted to adviser requests for client engagement tools by recruiting an expert from Griffith University who specialises in systematising adviser/client relationships.