New Adviser Ratings website attracts 850 Advisers and 13,000 visitors
The free online Adviser Ratings service has signed up 850 advisers across the country and attracted 13,000 visitors to its website, just three weeks after launching. The service is already helping advisers promote their service, be rated on their performance and credentials, as well as monitoring their clients’ satisfaction levels and behaviour. The Adviser Ratings
November 06, 2014
Waning central bank influence puts investors on notice
“Gone are the days when central banks could pull the levers and set global economies on the right course. Their actions still have an effect, but they have clearly failed to resolve many of the fundamental problems facing world economies post GFC.” This is the view of John Birkhold, Partner at global investment manager, Origin
November 06, 2014
Finding the financial planning graduates your practice needs
Demand for financial planning talent is traditionally skewed towards experienced candidates, but the rising bar of education standards means graduates are in high demand. “How do we get people coming in with a base level education, and an interest in the right reasons for being in the industry, without just expecting someone to come in
November 05, 2014
The biggest risk for retirees is when planners mistake risk for uncertainty
As the focus of retirees shifts ever-further towards objectives-based outcomes, those entrusted with achieving those objectives will have to rethink a traditional approach to managing money involving risk and return trade-offs. Speaking at the Fiduciary Investors Symposium (FIS) at Harvard University last week, Abdallah Nauphal, chief executive and chief investment officer of Insight Investment, a
November 05, 2014
Japan provides a compelling reason why deflation must be avoided
If European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi needed confirmation of why Europe should do all it can to avoid deflation, Japan has provided it. Digging yourself out of a downward spiral of stagnation and falling prices is difficult – and expensive. The co-ordinated response to the stalling of Abenomics is radical stuff. Shifting the
November 05, 2014
Bank of Japan update: Pump it up
For the second time in consecutive years, Governor Kuroda of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) has surprised the markets with the aggressiveness of his monetary policy easing. While there was some concern in markets over the post- consumption tax hike path of the economy and inflation and some speculation that a further expansion of the
November 04, 2014
The financial adviser register is no game-changer, says Minter Ellison partner
The government’s enhanced adviser register will not have a profound effect on financial planners or consumers, according to Richard Batten, partner, Minter Ellison. He spoke with Professional Planner just days after the Government’s last red tape “Repeal Day” of 2014, which ended on 29 October. “This would seem to have all the hallmarks, no doubt
November 03, 2014
When choosing an AFS licensee is too difficult, partner up instead
A desire to be unhindered by conflicts and sales targets led to a partnered Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensing approach at MultiForte Financial Services. The Sydney-based business has a head office in the central business district and a satellite location in the northern beaches suburb of Manly. Under co-directors Kate McCallum and Tony Clark, MultiForte is
November 03, 2014
What are clients actually receiving for the fees they’re paying?
Are your clients being served? Ray Henderson reflects on the Business Health business diagnostics and client survey work undertaken throughout 2014. We’re extremely fortunate to have many Australian practices use our various tools and diagnostics to help them run their practices more profitably. We are grateful of their support and hope that they are all
November 03, 2014
Good news for borrowers: cash rate likely to drop soon after it peaks
While Australia’s biggest Reserve Bank Survey shows no change expected to the cash rate on Tuesday, borrowers can expect rates to rise next year followed by a downward cycle as soon as 2017, according to one of Australia’s biggest comparison websites finder.com.au. All 33 leading experts and economists in the finder.com.au Reserve Bank Survey –
November 01, 2014
SPAA warns members ahead of a quality review program update
The Self Managed Super Professionals Association of Australia (SPAA) has warned members to act only within their business boundaries and ensure they hold appropriate licenses for all activities. “Make sure you stick to what your core business is, whether that’s self managed fund administration, financial planning or the accounting practice. “And if that’s what you’re
October 31, 2014
Town and country provide contrasting experiences for financial planners
There’s nowhere to hide when working as a financial planner in a regional centre versus a capital city, says the director of Newcastle-based practice JSA Financial Planning. Andrew Shakespeare refers to the relative anonymity of being just one business among many that can be a feature for some working in big cities. This is something
October 31, 2014
