Australian Ethical Investment Limited funds under management reaches $1 billion
Australian Ethical has today announced that funds under management (FUM) as of 26 November 2014 has reached one billion dollars. The announcement is a significant milestone in the ethical superannuation and investment fund manager’s 26-year history. It follows strong growth over the past year that defies industry averages. “We’re extremely proud of Australian Ethical’s performance
December 10, 2014
Inflexibility, low service standards drive movement between AFS licensees
There is a surge in the number of institutionally owned financial planning practices moving into the non-aligned and independent space, according to businesses providing external licensee services. “We are receiving at least a few calls each week from advisers who are institutionally-aligned, and they call us asking whether they should look at self-licensing,” says Simon
December 10, 2014
Ten years of promoting professionalism for planners around the world
If you’re a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), you’ll be familiar with the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). And if you are on track to become a CFP – or even if you’re at that stage of your career where you reckon you might want to become one – then you should become familiar with the
December 10, 2014
The year in review: Another good year for share market investors
World share markets produced solid returns in 2014. This was despite geopolitical issues, concerns over the durability of the global recovery and the prospect of quantitative easing (QE) in the US ending, all of which contributed to bouts of market volatility. By the end of November, global shares had produced a hedged return of over
December 10, 2014
AMP Capital’s outlook for real assets in 2015
AMP Capital, a long-term investor in real assets, expects further demand for prime real estate and infrastructure assets in 2015 as institutional investors such as global pension funds, insurers and sovereign wealth funds continue to search for more consistent income and capital preservation. AMP Capital expects the real assets sector – incorporating listed and direct
December 09, 2014
Zenith identifies reasons for global managers underperforming benchmark
Global Active fund managers have delivered excellent returns for investors over the past few years. However, many have done so whilst consistently underperforming their benchmarks says Zenith Investment Partners in their 2014 Global Sector Review launched last week. To help put that in perspective, for the three year period ending 30 September 2014, global equities,
December 09, 2014
AIA Launches Accelerator Program to support innovation
AIA Group Limited has announced the launch of a 12-week accelerator program to support innovative business and entrepreneurs on their paths to delivering break-through innovations and technologies. The initiative is a collaborative effort between AIA and Nest, a Hong-Kong based investment incubator led by angel investor Simon Squibb, aiming to create opportunities for innovators across
December 09, 2014
AMP Capital joins mFund service
AMP Capital has today joined ASX’s mFund Settlement Service. This takes the number of partners connected to mFund to 10 issuers representing 70 funds and 23 fund managers, nine distributors, and nine registrar service providers. Ian Irvine, Managed Investment Services Manager at ASX, said momentum had picked up over the last two months following the
December 08, 2014
Hands-on best for teaching kids money smarts
· Most parents say the home is the best place to teach children about money · Only a fraction of parents say schools do a good job teaching children to be money smart · Only 1 in 10 believe financial literacy comes with age Australian parents believe home is the best place to teach children
December 08, 2014
FSI keeps up pressure on planners to lift standards, education and disclosure
The final report of the Financial System Inquiry (FSI), released yesterday, is no game-changer for the financial planning profession, but it continues a clear course set by recent regulatory reforms and singles out risk commissions, education and ownership disclosure for special attention. If there was any lingering doubt as to who holds the whip hand
December 08, 2014
Platform dominance under threat from direct investment channels
Financial planners are increasingly turning away from large-scale centralised investment platforms in favour of more flexible, cheaper direct channels, according to the head of Bell Direct. “I think as a general trend, and not just in financial services, the world of clients and intermediaries are moving to business models and service models that are open
December 08, 2014
There is a lucky country, but it might not be who you think it is
Australians like to think they live in the “lucky country” but that label is surely better applied to the US today. You could hardly envisage a more benign backdrop for the US economy and stock market than the current environment of tumbling energy prices, low inflation, narrowing deficits, competitive industry, a popular currency and, consequently,
December 08, 2014
