ATO alarming clients with incorrect excess NCC determinations
The Australian Taxation Office has issued a number of incorrect determinations regarding excess non-concessional contributions, alarming clients and resulting in extra work for advisers.
May 09, 2025
FAAA ‘concerned’ about anti-competitiveness in the DBFO
The expansion of intrafund advice in the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes draft legislation has been labelled as anti-competitive by the Financial Advice Association Australia, as options better suited to members would be overlooked by super funds that will only consider products within their fund.
May 08, 2025
BlackRock joins the retirement income fray with Generation Life deal
The world’s largest asset manager has taken a minority stake in Generation Development Group and will partner with Generation Life to deliver a “turnkey” retirement solution for Australian super funds. But solving the “annuity puzzle” won’t be easy.
May 08, 2025
‘Big and close and strong and rich’: Investors ponder Indonesia’s rise
The end of a US-led world order won’t see China alone take its place but rather “a number of powers” will emerge, including Indonesia, according to defence expert Hugh White. The Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University has argued the nation will be among the four biggest economies by the middle of the century.
May 08, 2025
Balancing the separation of upfront and ongoing fees
How to communicate the cost of upfront and ongoing fees is the prerogative of the adviser, as some businesses opt to charge nothing until the client has committed to receiving advice and others prescribe an onboarding fee at the first meeting.
May 07, 2025
FAAA pushes back on intrafund advice expansion in DBFO
The Financial Advice Association Australia has further pushed back on the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes draft legislation, arguing retirement advice is too complex to be collectively charged and has referred to the new class of adviser as the “new class of provider”.
May 07, 2025
Licensee spend on compliance in decline: Research
Licensees are cutting back on their spending with planned expenditure on internal and external compliance support decreasing, according to the 2025 Compliance Trends Survey by law firm Holley Nethercote. Despite the reduced spend, the report found breach reporting and cybersecurity were among the top compliance concerns.
May 06, 2025
Bigger isn’t necessarily better for AI models
HUB24’s Innovation Lab has been experimenting with smaller AI models as they are easier to keep track of, allow for more transparency and have a lower energy consumption. The platform provider’s AI strategy also includes forming partnerships and fostering academic collaboration to advance innovation.
May 06, 2025
Reaping the potential benefits of commercial real estate debt
It is possible to earn income from commercial real estate without buying a stake in property, writes Metrics Credit Partners managing partner Andrew Lockhart.
May 06, 2025
Debt versus equity to unlock commercial property returns
Population growth, low unemployment and a demand and supply imbalance are behind the improving outlook for commercial property in Australia. Investors seeking exposure to the sector should consider both debt and equity financing, according to Metrics’ Andrew Lockhart.
May 06, 2025
Associations call for ‘rapidly finalising’ advice reforms
Following Labor's win in the federal election on the weekend, associations have called for the rapid movement of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms. However, any changes to the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort remain uncertain until Labor names a successor to Stephen Jones as the industry awaits the outcome of Treasury’s review into the scheme.
May 05, 2025
Different journeys to profitable growth
Private wealth advisory LGT Crestone, investment platform Netwealth and collaborative capital partner firm Merchant are all very different businesses but share a number of things that have contributed to their success. On a panel at the recent BlackRock Wealth Symposium, the groups’ leaders provided insights into the drivers of profitable growth.
May 05, 2025
