The journey to successful financial planning begins with a specific, measurable step
The achievement of core financial and lifestyle goals is often a measure of a successful financial planning experience by clients. This may often be an ongoing journey, whereby needs, desires, values and tolerances change as the client’s relevant circumstances change. An adviser’s value proposition to a client is being there to navigate the client through
March 25, 2015
$55.2bn rise in funds under management during 2014
Overall Masterfund business increased 9.8%, or $55.2bn during 2014 to stand at $620.2bn; they climbed $23.1bn, or 3.9% in the December quarter alone on the back of buoyant, if at times nervous and wobbly, investment markets that in turn were supported by unprecedented stimulatory low interest rate policies of governments worldwide. Masterfund Inflows of $149.9bn
March 24, 2015
STOXX opens office in Australia
STOXX Limited, a leading provider of innovative, tradable and global index concepts, today announced the expansion of its presence in Asia/Pacific with the opening of a new office in Sydney. Jonathan Morgan has been appointed STOXX regional director and will head the new Sydney office, with responsibility for STOXX operations in Australia and New Zealand.
March 24, 2015
GBST signs agreement with SAP to deliver financial transaction tax processing technology
GBST (ASX:GBT), which provides software for capital markets and wealth administration, today announced that it has signed an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with SAP (NYSE:SAP). Through the agreement, GBST will integrate and offer the in-memory computing capabilities of the SAP HANA® platform with its financial transaction tax product, GBST Syn~FTT. The bundled solutions are
March 24, 2015
MetLife pioneers new program to help long-term claimants resume an active life
In a first for the Australian life insurance industry, MetLife Insurance Limited, the Australian arm of one of the world’s largest insurers, has backed a ground-breaking holistic rehabilitation program to accelerate the path to recovery and wellness for claimants with debilitating psychological and physical conditions. MetLife announced today that it will roll out the Reactivate
March 23, 2015
Upfront commissions are unfairly blamed for deficient risk advice, argues Clearview
High upfront life insurance commissions and instances of non-compliant financial advice have not been accurately correlated by ASIC or the FSI, according to the chief actuary of ClearView, Greg Martin. “No one’s made a link between cause and effect. Why does a high upfront commission mean someone can’t do a proper Statement of Advice (SoA)?,”
March 23, 2015
Early adoption of higher education standards builds a professional foundation
In the second part of a series on notable CFPs, Crowe Horwath associate adviser Amy Early discusses the role that higher educational standards play in the development of a professional career. After Amy Early finished university in 2007, where she studied economics and politics, she emerged with no specific professional direction in mind. Financial planning
March 23, 2015
Advice is under-appreciated in the financial services value chain
The fact the financial planning industry hasn’t been able to separate advice from financial products goes a long way to explaining the high cost, and therefore the low uptake, of planning. Advice is one part of the financial services value chain. It’s inextricably linked to a bunch of financial products including insurance, superannuation, investments and
March 23, 2015
Financial planners’ days as quasi-investment managers are numbered
Managed portfolio implementation within the BT Panorama platform is part of a broader shift in the scope and delivery of investment advice, according to a number of senior stakeholders in the sector. BT Financial Group announced the first stage of its Panorama roll out on Wednesday. Having invested $500 million in the new platform, the
March 20, 2015
Nominees sought for 2015 Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) scholarship
Nominations for the 2015 BlackRock/PortfolioConstruction Forum Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) scholarship close on March 30. The CIMA program is co-ordinated by the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), and is widely recognised as a top qualification for individuals engaged in researching retail investment products and constructing portfolios for retail investors. The 2014 scholarship was won
March 20, 2015
Australian Ethical funds continue to lead most Mercer Survey performance categories
The recent release of the February Mercer Survey for managed funds and super shows Australian Ethical’s funds continue to lead in most investment categories. David Macri, CIO, Australian Ethical was extremely pleased with the results as they continue to demonstrate the strength of Australian Ethical’s investment philosophy and processes, which have allowed its investors to
March 19, 2015
Emerging Market debt markets offer value and diversity
There are significant pockets of value in emerging markets debt with a wide variety of options for investors to access fixed income assets at a low cost, according to Francis Rodilosso, Senior Investment Officer for Van Eck Global’s Market Vector’s fixed income exchange traded funds (ETFs). Mr Rodilosso said rising demand for emerging markets debt
March 19, 2015
