New FPA chair focuses on quality of advice, personal commitment to professionalism
Neil Kendall has been a board member of the Financial Planning Association for four years, so he expects his transition to the position of chair will be about as seamless as such a transition can be. Kendall formally succeeds Matthew Rowe when Rowe’s term expires at the FPA Congress in Adelaide on November 19. Under
October 22, 2014
van Eyk liquidation puts spotlight on quality of research and structure of providers
Creditors of research group van Eyk Research voted yesterday to liquidate the business, again putting the spotlight on how investment research in Australia is conducted, how it is funded, and how research businesses are structured. The provision of high quality research is fundamental to the role that financial planners play in creating effective and robust
October 22, 2014
The little-known rule with huge implications for self-managed super funds
Imagine a self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustee that signs a pension agreement with a member stating that the trustee will start paying a pension to the member now and that later, when the member dies, the pension will automatically continue to be paid (that is, revert) to the member’s spouse. The trustee makes resolutions
October 22, 2014
Praemium wins inaugural Lonsec SMA Platform award
Praemium is pleased to announce that its SMA platform has been selected as the SMA Platform Winner of this year’s inaugural Lonsec Awards held on Tuesday 14 October. Presented by Lonsec and SuperRatings, the inaugural Lonsec Awards used a mix of qualitative and quantitative measures to identify high achieving funds managers and investment products that
October 21, 2014
FIIG says Aussie dollar could fall below 75 cents: USD bonds offer potential to gain
The Australian Dollar could be heading well below 75 cents against the strengthening US dollar, according to analysis by FIIG Securities. FIIG Head of Markets Craig Swanger said investors who had already invested in the USD were up 8-9% in the past few months but the problem for many was that USD bank accounts earn
October 21, 2014
Folkestone Maxim A-REIT Securities Fund 4-star rating
Folkestone Maxim Asset Management is pleased to announce that the Folkestone Maxim A-REIT Securities Fund has been awarded a ‘Superior’ 4 out of 5 star rating from SQM Research which is an upgrade from 3.75 stars. SQM Research’s rationale for the upgrade was: “The ratings upgrade has been driven by the skills and experience of
October 21, 2014
Zenith rates Perpetual Equity Investment Company Limited
Perpetual Equity Investment Company Limited is a newly incorporated listed investment company (ASX:PIC) whose General Offer opens to the public on 21 October 2014. The Company is seeking to raise a minimum $150 million and maximum $600 million under the Offer (includes oversubscriptions with free attaching Options on a one-for-one base exercisable before 10 June
October 21, 2014
AMP Capital launches Global Infrastructure Fund
AMP Capital has launched its Global Infrastructure Fund and has attracted a significant commitment from global private equity and infrastructure investor Pantheon into its global infrastructure platform. AMP Capital has created the platform by converting its successful Strategic Infrastructure Trust of Europe (SITE) from an open-ended to a closed-ended European fund and launching the Global
October 21, 2014
Life insurance risk market Inflows climb 11.1% in 2013/14 to $13.4bn
The Life Insurance Risk Market is comprised of both Individual Risk Lump Sum & Risk Income Insurances plus Group Risk Insurance. Overall Risk Inflows continued to grow strongly up by a further 11.1%. Virtually all of the main participants in the Risk market reported higher Inflows with MetLife (95.0%), TAL (25.8%), AIA (20.1%) and BT
October 20, 2014
Asking clients the toughest question of all, so they talk before they walk
It takes a brave financial planning business to ask its client whether they’re thinking about severing the relationship. If a client has been thinking of doing that, then merely asking the question can be the catalyst to making it happen. But it’s a particularly stupid business that doesn’t ask the question. Often the first sign
October 20, 2014
If you think longevity is a risk for your clients, consider the alternative
In the 1960s, French actor Maurice Chevalier quipped that old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative. How times have changed. The financial services industry today seems to believe that the alternative – death – is almost as bad as running out of money in old age. And judging by the multitude of
October 20, 2014
Does this mean we’re breaking up? Tips for ending a client relationship without tears
It is starting to become apparent to some advisers that the revenue they receive from some clients, combined with the risk and demands of keeping these clients, is simply not in the best interests of both parties. ASIC has made it clear that it will not tolerate advisers who collect revenue from clients and provide
October 17, 2014
