FEATURE: Mercer and CFA Institute report underlines the global role of financial planning
A report by Mercer and the CFA Institute has underlined the increasingly important role that financial planning and advice plays in developing best practice in retirement systems around the world. The report, An ideal retirement system, contains 10 principles for both developed and emerging retirement systems (see box). The principles are designed to guide CFA
October 05, 2015
The US Fed’s September stance puts focus on companies that can innovate
After all the speculation that September would host the first rate rise in the US since 2006, the Federal Reserve kept investors waiting again. Holding off was certainly not an easy option. “No change” risks making the US central bank look seriously worried. It is why Fed chair Janet Yellen was at pains to make
October 05, 2015
SPIVA Report: Over half of Australian equity funds underperformed, bond funds worsened
The results of the Australia mid-year 2015 S&P Dow Jones Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVA®) Scorecard has been released today. The report, issued semi-annually, tracks the performance of actively managed funds in Australia against their relevant S&P DJI benchmarks. Attached please find the full report. Data as of Jun. 30, 2015 reveals: Although large-cap equity funds performed better than
October 02, 2015
CBA review highlights the time and cost of chasing paper trails
The weight of numbers already generated in Commonwealth Bank’s Open Advice Review are staggering – and not only in terms of the scale of compensation paid out. Some of the key numbers: more than 930,000 customer advice files; 350,000 affected households; and 23,000 customers who expressed an interest in the program. The program has paid
October 01, 2015
International diversification the key to portfolio growth
Market movements in recent times have reinforced the need for portfolio diversification, both within asset classes and by geographic region, said David Bryant head of Australian Unity Investments. In recent weeks investors with a diversified portfolio and an appropriate investment strategy, would have seen the benefits the discipline of this brings. “The big losers from
October 01, 2015
Financial advice model convergence will determine the industry’s winners and losers
At the Afiniation finance technology showcase last week, at least half of the event’s 31 presenters outlined new technology platforms and tools for the wealth management and financial advice industry. It put the spotlight on what financial advice will look like 10 years from now, and how clients will be receiving it. When you look at the financial advice
October 01, 2015
Madison Financial Group to slash its APL but grow adviser numbers slowly in the coming 12 months
Madison Financial Group will aggressively cut the number of products on its approved product list in coming months, but has modest targets for growth in adviser numbers in the year ahead as it becomes increasingly selective about the type of adviser it will take on. Speaking at the Pharos annual conference in Canberra last week,
October 01, 2015
Advisers embrace new fintech client engagement tool
Financial planning practices aligned to 17 of the top 50 dealer groups nationally have integrated an innovative new budgeting and cashflow management solution into their advice processes, following a successful pilot program by dealer group RI Advice late last year. Moneysoft, the new cloud-based wealth management service launched by entrepreneur, accountant and former financial planner
September 30, 2015
ASK Crowe Horwath new FinTech platform launched
Findex, one of Australasia’s largest accounting and financial advisory groups today announced the launch of online platform, ASK Crowe Horwath. ASK Crowe Horwath, an obligation-free, online financial problem solving service for business and individuals, allows questions to be posed by the general public and answered by Crowe Horwath advisers. There are no boundaries to the questions that can
September 30, 2015
Market Vectors ETFs added to AMP approved product lists
Van Eck Australia today announced that two of its ETF funds are now approved for AMP licensees – AMP FP, Charter FP and Hillross. Market Vectors Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX code: MVW) and Market Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX code: MVB) have been added to the AMP Approved Product List (APL). “We are delighted
September 30, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: Life is short – why adviser infidelity is on the rise
You probably all know that the “Life is short. Have an affair” website, Ashley Madison, was hacked recently, revealing to the world the names and email addresses of millions of people who had paid their money and registered their intention they wanted find someone other than their wife or husband to finagle with. Like me,
September 30, 2015
