Alpha Fund Managers add AllianceBernstein global equities fund to portfolio
Global asset manager AllianceBernstein (AB) announced today that multi-manager Alpha Fund Managers has become the initial investor in the AllianceBernstein Global Equities Fund. “We are delighted to join Alpha Fund Managers’ strong and distinguished line-up of managers,” said Jen Driscoll, AB’s Chief Executive Officer—Australia. “We look forward to complementing their offerings with our differentiated approach
August 04, 2015
Self-managed super fund White Paper: Part 6 – What does it all mean?
In an exclusive six-part series developed especially for the SMSF Association state technical conferences, Darren Stevens, Bravura Solutions’ director of product management and strategy, explains how social change and technology are driving the evolution of superannuation platforms. Based on Stevens’ presentation to the conference, the series identifies the five key trends having the greatest impact
August 03, 2015
YBR launches new multi-manager equities solution
Yellow Brick Road Holdings (ASX:YBR) has today launched its YBR Protected Equities Fund, to give everyday Australians access to sophisticated investment solutions which are usually reserved for high-net-worth individuals and wealthy family funds. The YBR Protected Equities Fund adds to the suite of existing in-house fixed-income products, including active cash and higher income strategies which
August 03, 2015
Capstone and BGL form business partnership to deliver online AFSL authorisation solutions for accountants
Capstone Financial Planning, one of Australia’s leading national independently owned Licensees has formed a strategic business partnership with BGL Corporate Solutions, Australia’s leading supplier of SMSF administration solutions, to deliver an online AFSL Authorisation solution to BGL clients. From 1 July 2016, accountants wanting to provide any financial advice, including advice relating to SMSFs will
August 03, 2015
Sometimes it’s just too hard for a planning licensee to say goodbye
Financial planning licensees that effectively impose exit penalties on departing practices are counter-productive to businesses seeking to retain good planners, according to Grahame Evans, managing director, GPS Wealth. “They’re making it all but impossible for people to accept transfer agreements,” Evans says. Payments linked to professional indemnity (PI) insurance run-off cover and requirements for positive
August 02, 2015
A band-aid is not enough to improve the long-term wellbeing of the profession
One day “financial planning” will be accepted as a worthwhile profession, “financial adviser” will be considered a worthwhile title, and both will be held in high regard. However, we all need to accept that this is not an overnight shift – it will take a decade or longer to iron out the embedded culture of
August 01, 2015
AMP Capital to invest $750m in Garden City Shopping Centre redevelopment
AMP Capital has lodged a development application with the City of Melville for the $750 million redevelopment and expansion of Perth’s iconic Garden City Shopping Centre. Garden City is owned by investors in the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF), a $4 billion portfolio of prime Australian office, industrial and shopping centre assets. The new
July 31, 2015
‘Fat and happy’ platforms in the line of fire with fintech disruption set to escalate
Technology that equips self-managed super fund advisers to compete effectively with larger institutional players will be a major source of disruption in the advice industry over the next few years. Darren Stevens, director of product management and strategy for Bravura Solutions, told the SMSF Association state technical conference earlier this week that platform providers underestimate
July 30, 2015
Fintech not thintech: The growing demand for flexible technology
Given that financial services revolves around trading information and counting money, digital technology would seem like a natural fit. Yet many of our larger financial institutions are not taking advantage of the accounting and communications edge that the rapidly evolving digital world is providing. It is ironic to see an industry driven by time and
July 30, 2015
State Street Investor Confidence Index weighed down by sharp decrease in North American sentiment
State Street Global Exchange today released the results of the State Street Investor Confidence Index (ICI) for July 2015. The Global ICI decreased to 114.6, down 12.5 points from June’s revised reading of 127.1. Confidence among North American investors decreased with the North American ICI falling 20.6 points to 122.6, down from June’s revised reading
July 29, 2015
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
