Can inherent dishonesty be put right by higher education standards alone?
In the past six months a plethora of articles and news releases have focused on the need to raise the level of education within the financial services industry, to solve the apparent ethics problem within. It is hoped that Australian financial advisers will become more aware of their ethical responsibilities. But is higher education actually
March 16, 2015
Shortlist of who can police industry and set standards gets shorter by the day
Last week the chief executive officer of Infocus Wealth Management, Rod Bristow, wrote about the danger the financial planning profession faces from losing its “social licence” – that is, the privilege granted to it by the public to occupy a particular position of trust and respect in the community. One of the issues undermining the
March 16, 2015
Standard Life Investments: MADE IN INDIA
Standard Life Investments, the global investment manager, believes that India could overtake China as the fastest growing Asian economy if the new government successfully implements a series of structural reforms. The latest edition of Global Perspectives examines whether India will realise its economic potential by implementing wide-ranging reforms to change India’s growth model, or if
March 13, 2015
CFSGAM becomes largest Australian asset manager to adopt CFA Code of Conduct
The Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct (the Code) was developed by CFA Institute to provide a universal framework for asset managers to assess the quality of their business policies, practice and conduct, covering all key aspects of an investment management business which adopters of the Code commit to meeting. The Code sets a credible
March 13, 2015
Moving house: how growth opportunities drove Plenary Wealth licensee switch
From start to finish, it took the North Sydney-based financial planning business Plenary Wealth about three months to complete a move from one Australian financial service licensee (AFSL) to another. Plenary co-founder Julian Nowland says that while the move from Financial Wisdom to Fortnum Financial Group has gone about as smoothly as it could be
March 13, 2015
Why owning your own licence makes you master of your destiny
There are many types of adviser practices that have obtained their own licence and run a successful advice practice and business, from larger multi-adviser practices to single adviser operations, from general financial planning practices to those that specialise in say SMSFs or particular investment strategies. What the successful ones have in common is they
March 13, 2015
IN FOCUS: Pioneering protection products for the looming retirement boom
In recent years, the first of Australia’s baby boomers have hit retirement age. They have done so amid a surge in market volatility. That combination has triggered a renewed focus on the provision of innovative retirement and longevity products that give retirees a stable income, but also address a range of complex risks. “We’re seeing product innovation in this space and demand is emerging,” says MLC
March 12, 2015
Total risk market inflows up 11.1% over the year to $14.2bn
Inflows into the Lump Sum sub-market grew by 6.6% with most companies reporting at least some increase in business. Among the market leaders, TAL (6.4%) and OnePath (6.3%) experienced the highest percentage increases in their Inflows year on year. Risk Income Inflows increased 5.8% over the past year. Among the better performers in percentage terms
March 12, 2015
Macquarie Life recognised at AFA / Plan for Life – Life Company of the Year Awards 2014
For the second consecutive year, Macquarie Life has received three prestigious accolades at the AFA / Plan for Life – Life Company of the Year Awards. Recognised for its outstanding service to advisers and their clients, Macquarie Life was awarded all three of the Association of Financial Advisers¹ 2014 Client Service Team Awards, named Underwriting
March 12, 2015
TAL winner of Life Company of the Year Awards 2014
TAL has won the Plan For Life / AFA Life Company of the Year 2014 overall Platinum Award. Award winners were announced at a black-tie premier event held at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on Wednesday 11th March 2015, recognising Life Insurance Company excellence in the provision of products and service to financial advisers. Zurich
March 12, 2015
IRESS launches SmartHub
IRESS, the leading supplier of financial markets, wealth and mortgage management systems, today announced the launch of SmartHub. SmartHub is a trade messaging hub designed to connect financial market participants locally and across the globe, covering FIX and other trading communities. SmartHub will create an enhanced offering which dramatically reduces financial services firms’ point to
March 12, 2015
Commonwealth Bank invests to make quality advice accessible and affordable to more Australians
Commonwealth Bank Wealth Management Advice (WM Advice) has today announced an agreement to extend its use of IRESS wealth technology solutions – currently deployed by Count Financial and the Commonwealth Bank’s Business and Private Bank – to all WM Advice licensees including Commonwealth Financial Planning, Bankwest Financial Advice and Financial Wisdom. Executive General Manager Advice,
March 11, 2015
