A new kid on the block takes the planning software fight to XPLAN, Coin
New home-grown financial planning software provider Adviser Intelligence claims it can help planners become up to four times more efficient – just as ASIC begins policing compliance with the controversial opt-in provisions. It launches the first of its three major modules next week, starting with the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) module. This will be
June 30, 2015
Closing the behavioural gap in life insurance advice
Financial planners focusing on risk advice – and life insurers themselves – should heed developments in the direct life insurance space. While much of the recent reporting on life insurance advice has focused on advice and how planners are remunerated for this, retail life insurers also need to up their game, as Professional Planner wrote earlier this
June 30, 2015
ETF growth is outstripping the momentum of unlisted funds
The global market for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will soon top $US3 trillion ($3.7 trillion), having exceeded $US2.9 trillion at the end of the first quarter, 2015. While this is overwhelmingly concentrated in North America – some $US2 trillion resides in the US – almost $US120 billion of this total is held in the Asia-Pacific region. ETFs
June 30, 2015
Australian business and investor groups in strong call for climate action
Organizations working with the world’s most influential businesses and investors today have been heartened by news out of Australia that an unprecedented alliance of Australian business and industry groups have joined with NGOs to urge for national and international consensus and action on climate policy. “We welcome the news from The Australian Climate Roundtable –
June 29, 2015
Innovative global equity company will change young Australian’s lives
Fund manager and philanthropist Geoff Wilson today announced the launch of listed investment company (LIC) Future Generation Global Investment Company Limited (FGG), which will operate under a dual mandate to create shareholder wealth and make a sustainable social impact. FGG will be the first internationally focused LIC to provide shareholders with diversified exposure to selected
June 29, 2015
Dealer group expansion underpins an ambitious growth plan for Linchpin
Linchpin Capital, comprising a financial planning dealer group, multi-sector institutional investment management firm and research house, is embarking on an ambitious growth plan, according to executive director Paul Nielsen. The firm’s financial services division, The Financial Link Group (TFLG), currently owns Australian Financial Services licensees Beacon Group and Risk and Investment Advisors Australia (RIAA), which
June 28, 2015
Should the flavour of a superannuation fund affect the approach to its governance?
What is the preferable governance structure for a superannuation fund? Is it one where all the trustees of the fund are members, or one where no more than two-thirds of the trustees are members? The answer is: it depends on what flavour of fund we’re talking about – self managed super funds (SMSFs) regulated by
June 28, 2015
Centrelink and a matter of (private discretionary) trusts
Years ago, there was great sport in reducing assets to qualify for social security – and discretionary trusts were at the top of the playlist. However, all good things come to an end, and legislation was changed in 2002 to capture income and assets from private discretionary trusts. The flexible nature of discretionary trusts made
June 28, 2015
Spring FG to Launch Fintech Platform, Backed by Yodlee from US
Financial services company Spring FG Limited (Spring FG, ASX: SFL) today announced its Spring247 digital wealth management and advice platform will launch next month. Ahead of the launch it has entered into an agreement with US-based Yodlee Inc. (NASDAQ: YDLE) for access to the Yodlee financial cloud-based data platform. Yodlee provides bank-level security and encryption
June 26, 2015
Industry hails ‘sensible outcome to complex reforms’ as Frydenberg backs retail life insurance proposals
A revised package of life insurance reforms endorsed yesterday by the Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been described by key industry players as a practical and workable compromise to satisfy the interests of competing groups. “This is a sensible outcome to what are quite complex reforms,” says Mark Rantall, chief executive officer of the FPA.
June 25, 2015
COVER STORY: Commissioned to create a united industry response, was the Trowbridge report a stitch up?
The divided reaction to the release of the Trowbridge Report’s final recommendations has perhaps been best illustrated in the way the Financial Services Council (FSC) and Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) have responded. Despite having jointly formed the Life Insurance and Advice Working Group (LIAWG) – headed by high-profile actuary John Trowbridge – in response
June 25, 2015
Risk advisers will now face the same challenges as other small businesses
Risk practice principals will become more like other small business owners if the proposed changes to life insurance advice are enacted, says Michael Rice, chief executive officer, Rice Warner. “In a way, it’s similar to any other business: you put the work in at the start, and only get the return later on. They’re going
June 25, 2015
