Industry Updates

A review meeting, but not as you know it

Business Health’s Terry Bell explains how advisers can add some shine to client review meetings that aren't quite hitting the mark.

January 30, 2020

Advisers still shy on margin lending

While the data is telling us that advisers are starting to thaw on margin lending, best interest duty concerns and a preference for alternative strategies means most still avoid recommending it.

January 29, 2020

UK pensions scandal sparks Aussie QROPS concern

Almost 2000 UK advisers are being investigated after taking a clip on defined benefit pension transfers, with the scandal threatening to spread to Australian specialist advisers.

January 28, 2020

Future Fund takes risk off the table

Australia’s $168 Future Fund reduced risk across the portfolio in the final quarter of 2019 and raised cash to the highest level in a year amid a “challenging” investment environment.

January 28, 2020

Make clients aware of the Code of Ethics

New research shows the broader population knows very little about advisers’ obligations to the new Code of Ethics, which is a shame because it could help the advice industry with its trust issues.

January 24, 2020

ASIC inches closer to phone tapping advisers

A Bill presented late last year granting the regulator increased powers to intercept adviser phone calls is waiting on amendments before it goes before the house and senate.

January 23, 2020

Downturn to play havoc with pensions

If returns revert to the mean, retirees taking outsized pension payments will face some tough decisions, Jonathan Philpot says. If the market takes a significant, sustained dive the government may once again reduce minimum payments.

January 22, 2020

Almost half of risk clients don’t trust their insurer

Large swathes of consumers don’t believe that their insurer will pay up in the event of a life insurance claim, a new study from Metlife has found.

January 21, 2020

Decline in SMSF assets ‘likely’: Maroney

Demographics may force a slight reduction in investments held within the SMSF sector, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing according to the head of the SMSF Association, John Maroney.

January 20, 2020

Australia’s climate emergency

Amidst the worst bush fires in recorded history, PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds is calling on asset owners to encourage the government to take action on climate change and confront corporate lobby groups.

January 20, 2020

Client numbers almost halved in a decade

A business health analysis looks at the drivers behind a reduction in the average number of clients a firm serves, which is down from 975 in 2009 to only 530 in 2019.

January 17, 2020

Advisers could fund lion’s share of new compensation scheme

Super funds and banks are expected to push back against inclusion in the proposed CSLR scheme because most compensation claims stem from the insolvency of small advice firms.

January 16, 2020