SMSF Association believes property spruiking inside self-managed super is overblown
Rates of borrowing inside self-managed super funds (SMSF) are continuing to decline, suggesting property spruiking-related activity is quite low, according to an annual SMSF Association study. The study, conducted by researcher CoreData on behalf of the SMSF Association and NAB, covered 1,000 Australian consumers including 468 SMSF trustees and 532 APRA fund members. It also
July 28, 2015
Increased demand for specialist accreditation underpins the SMSF sector’s credibility
The growing number of individuals seeking to provide advice on self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) is generating increased demand for the provision of specialist accreditation, accroding to the chief executive officer of the SMSF Association, Andrea Slattery. Slattery told the association’s state technical conference in Sydney yesterday that there has been a spike in the interest
July 28, 2015
Planners should imagine themselves in clients’ shoes when considering mobile technology
It doesn’t have to be costly or complicated for financial planners to leverage mobile channels of communication with their clients, according to Dr Rebecca Sheils, director, Beddoes Institute. Beddoes recently collaborated with the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and Zurich in compiling Connected Convenience – a cross-generational report into the uptake of mobile technology by
July 26, 2015
New White Paper assesses the five key mega-trends affecting SMSFs and their advisers
The Self Managed Superannuation Fund Association (SMSFA) begins its state technical conference road show on Tuesday, opening in Sydney, and then traveling through Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. To coincide with the technical conferences, Professional Planner and technology provider Bravura will progressively release a seminal white paper on the SMSF sector. The white paper, authored
July 26, 2015
Results of the Professional Planner reader survey are in, and we have a winner
Thank you to everyone who participated in Professional Planner’s recent reader survey. We received a lot of information and ideas, and it has taken us quite some time to sift through it all. There was an iPad or a charitable donation as a prize for one lucky reader; the winner has been identified and we’ll
July 26, 2015
Shifting focus from markets to clients can build a more valuable financial planning practice
A key element in shifting an advice proposition from being market-centric to being client-centric is to prove to advisers that they can create greater enterprise value in their advice practices by changing, according to Russell Investments’ managing director of capital markets insights and US private client services, Tim Noonan. Noonan says a business model built
July 23, 2015
Self-Managed super fund clients are a doubled-edged sword for financial planners
New research on self managed super funds (SMSFs) has identified areas of opportunity for financial advisers, particularly around SMSF trustees’ ongoing perceptions of advice deficiencies. While the report showed negative perceptions of advisers persist, SMSF specialists who can win trustees’ confidence may find opportunities to fill the gaps in SMSF advice needs. More than 60 per cent of SMSFs still
July 23, 2015
The 2015 financial year in review: the outlook remains unpredictable
Despite a range of economic and market “challenges” during the year, markets have delivered good returns, especially for global shares and Australian listed property investors. Central bank policy stimulus remained an important influence and source of support for asset prices around the world. Several central banks, including the Bank of Japan and the European Central
July 23, 2015
No plans to drop risk premiums as upfront commissions decline
BT Financial Group is not intending to reduce its premiums in line with falling commission liabilities resulting from the Life Insurance Framework (LIF). “Our behaviour today is that we don’t intend to [reduce premiums]…but we’re obviously looking at a whole of industry approach,” says Scott Moffitt, national manager – life insurance products, BT Financial Group.
July 21, 2015
The Life Insurance Framework has a fatal flaw – but here is how to fix it
The Life Insurance Framework (LIF) announced recently by the Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg put forward a new model of maximum life insurance commission payments and potential clawbacks to be implemented over the coming years. If you closely examine the model’s planned commission and clawback rates, you can’t help but come to the startling conclusion that
July 21, 2015
More acrobatics as the AFA backflips again on risk reforms
A pattern is starting to develop as attempts at a self-regulatory response to conflicts within the life insurance advice sector roll on. The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) took an early role in efforts to address the concerns raised publicly by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which ultimately led to the latest proposed
July 21, 2015
Why consistent research governance is critical for licensees and advisers
A breakdown in investment research protocols can spell disaster for Australian Financial Services licensees, as demonstrated by the ongoing investigations into IOOF. Conflicts of interest, including investment manager recommendations that lacked reasonable bases, are among some of the allegations leveled at IOOF, which employed its own research team. While the dealer group may have had
July 19, 2015
