Inspired by the Terminator – great ideas from outside the financial planning ‘bubble’
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has announced six keynote speakers to take part in two TED Talk-style keynote sessions at its 2015 Professionals Congress. The speakers include the founder of Australia’s only motorcycle business; someone inspired by the Terminator movies to use robotics for the benefit of amputees; a magician and entrepreneur of the year; and
September 30, 2015
Rubinsztein quits Commonwealth ahead of move to UniSuper board
Nicolette Rubinsztein is to leave her position as general manager, retirement, at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and join UniSuper’s board as an independent director from December 1, 2015. She will succeed Melda Donnelly, whose term ended in August, as the third independent on the board, bringing with her a skill set in retirement
September 28, 2015
FoFA reforms required little adjustment for this Tasmanian planning practice
For all the controversy they attracted, the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms have caused minimal disruption to many financial planning businesses, according to David Allen, principal of Hobart firm Sky Advisers. It is now a little over two years since FoFA was introduced on July 1, 2013. Despite a protracted period of uncertainty and
September 25, 2015
Financial planners and fund managers joining forces to create better solutions for clients
A desire to create better investment portfolios for clients is driving more financial planning firms to harness the expertise of professional fund managers to provide investment insights and portfolio construction analysis. While product manufacturers grapple with the issue of producing solutions that meet the needs of the growing segment of the population approaching and moving
September 25, 2015
AFA Excellence in Education Finalists Announced
The winner of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) 2015 Excellence in Education Award (the Award), supported by Asteron Life, will be announced on Monday 26 October at the AFA National Adviser Conference in Cairns. The Award recognises advisers who are continually investing in themselves, their staff and their businesses, to raise professional standards through
September 25, 2015
AMP Horizons strengthens adviser education program in partnership with Griffith University
AMP has made further steps in its commitment to increase professional standards in financial advice, announcing a new program with long-term partner Griffith University, to deliver its Adviser Academy course through AMP Horizons. The partnership is part of a re-design of the AMP Horizons education pathway, which includes the introduction of more flexible study options
September 24, 2015
‘Live’ from Canberra: Professional Planner at the 2015 PHAROS annual conference
On September 24 and 25, Professional Planner is attending and reporting from the 2015 PHAROS annual conference in Canberra. PHAROS is the holding company for a number of financial services businesses, including the Madison Financial Group financial planning dealer group. (Day One coverage can be found at the end of the Day Two coverage) DAY
September 24, 2015
If you’ve dismissed Japan as a place to both visit and invest, you’re wrong on both counts
When I first went to Japan in 1987, the economy was flying, the grounds of the Imperial Palace were estimated to be worth more than the whole of California and everything from making a phone call to buying a coffee was eye-wateringly expensive. Back in Tokyo for a family holiday in August almost everything was
September 24, 2015
Who is the real hero in your licensee’s story of financial planning?
When CoreData first started measuring the performance of Australia’s financial planning licensees in 2001 there was a broad belief that businesses operating independently would soon be gone. The consensus was that they would be crushed by the scale of the bank- and life insurance-backed channels that would use resources to pay, support and train planners
September 23, 2015
Wealthsure Pty Ltd enters voluntary administration as PI claims mount
Wealthsure Pty Ltd (WPL) has been placed into voluntary administration, with control of the company passing to Melsom Robson Chartered Accountants as of Monday September 21. WPL is a separate entity to Wealthsure Financial Services (WFS), which was acquired by Sentry Group in April 30 this year. Prior to this, the two Wealthsure Group entities
September 23, 2015
FPA has an idea worth spreading and breaks from convention with congress keynotes
The Financial Planning Association 2015 Professionals Congress will break from convention this year with two keynote sessions restructured to reflect the hugely popular TED Talk format. The keynote sessions will each feature three leaders from business and the professions along with financial planning practitioners to provide insights into the issues that will shape the direction of
September 23, 2015
