Truly robust smart beta solutions should be grounded in the real economy, says AXA IM
Research launched today from AXA Investment Managers’ (AXA IM) Rosenberg Equities team has identified new ways to consider investment in smart beta within the context of the equity earnings cycle. “Risk premia investing – using the earnings cycle to design robust strategies” will be presented by AXA IM at a series of roundtables for Australian
November 02, 2015
Chant West joins Enzumo in marriage of research and technology
Chant West is pleased to announce its acquisition by Enzumo Limited in a move that brings together two highly complementary financial services firms. Chant West’s research-driven services in the superannuation and pension markets, combined with Enzumo’s expertise in financial technology, will open up fresh opportunities across the combined group’s client base, which includes the majority
November 02, 2015
Paraplanning and compliance staff can name their price in the current marketplace
Demand for financial planning compliance staff has spiked again after reaching peak levels throughout the transition to Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) regulations, according to recruitment firm Robert Walters. “In 2013 and 2014, we saw a fairly significant amount of hiring in regulatory compliance functions, [as financial planning dealer groups] embedded a framework for FoFA.
November 01, 2015
Risk advisers continue to mobilise against the LIF
Large sections of the risk advice community appear to have accepted the Life Insurance Framework (LIF) as almost a fait accompli, including the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA). The latter organisation held a series of roadshows throughout August and September to clarify the proposed changes and help its members
November 01, 2015
Mitigating the risk of Australian investors’ overexposure to banks and property
Australian retail investors are over-exposed to banks and other companies involved in financial services, according to Tim Mackay, principal, Quantum Financial Planning This belief has been reflected in the adjustments Mackay has made to his clients’ investment portfolios, which over the last 12 months have gradually increased their exposure to US equities. “The two key
November 01, 2015
NAB’s divestment of its retail risk business could be a sign of the times
Selling off 80 per cent of its life insurance business may provide NAB with an early-mover advantage over other banks, ahead of the Life Insurance Framework (LIF) and Financial System Inquiry (FSI) reforms. “This will be the first bank that does it. They had a real focus on insurance for a while, and that sort of
October 29, 2015
Claims surrounding CBA’s advice review program beg the question: how many strikes before you’re out?
How many chances should an organisation have to prove it’s sincere in its actions and in its approach to fixing a massive, devastating problem of its own making? If testimony at the most recent public hearing of the Senate Economics References Committee’s scrutiny of financial advice inquiry is to believed – and at this stage
October 29, 2015
‘Making a difference’ means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?
I enjoyed an interesting exercise when working recently with a small financial advice business. The principal of the business wanted to explore the beliefs and values of his team. I facilitated a conversation that started with a simple question for each person: “What’s important to you about working in this business?” It quickly became evident
October 29, 2015
SuiteBox Launches new financial services virtual advice innovations
Auckland and Sydney-based Afiniation member and showcase technology award winner SuiteBox has launched several new features specifically targeting the development of virtual financial advice. The new features now enable the SuiteBox online collaboration solution to be used by any financial adviser in Australia and New Zealand including simple meeting set up and the ability for
October 29, 2015
Australia could capture more global infrastructure spend: Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and Perpetual
A survey of major global and Australian investors by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) and Perpetual has revealed there is a significant amount of money available to invest in Australian infrastructure, but more work is required to capture it. The first study of its kind in Australia, the IPA Perpetual Australian Infrastructure Investment Report was created
October 28, 2015
Market Vectors ETFs receive Lonsec ‘Recommended (Index)’ rating
Market Vectors ETFs, the exchange traded fund business of Van Eck Global, today announced that Lonsec has assigned a ‘Recommended (Index)’ rating to three of its ETFs: Market Vectors Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX code: MVW), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX code: GDX) and Market Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX code: MVB). Arian Neiron,
October 28, 2015
Partners Group Global Value Fund added to Netwealth and retains Lonsec ‘Highly Recommended’ rating
Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, has had its Partners Group Global Value Fund accepted onto the Netwealth platform whilst also maintaining its ‘Highly Recommended’ rating from Lonsec. The Partners Group Global Value Fund is an open-ended managed fund that provides investors with immediate exposure to a mature private equity portfolio of over
October 28, 2015
