The nine-step portfolio health check every financial planner needs to perform
After an extended period of globally low interest rates and a flood of liquidity being pumped into the financial system, there is a heightened probability that credit and share markets will experience a correction in the medium term. There are a number of concerning signals including: – The signal by the US Federal Reserve that
October 03, 2014
Investor confidence rises in September by 3.8 Points to 123.9
State Street Global Exchange today released the results of the State Street Investor Confidence Index® (ICI) for September 2014. The Global ICI increased to 123.9 in September, up 3.8 points from August’s revised reading of 120.1. Investors in both North America and Asia displayed lower risk appetite, with the North American ICI falling 5.1 points
October 01, 2014
Mentoring those seeking their own AFSL is a priority for boutique planners’ group
There is strength in diversity, but leading a self-described “bunch of rugged individualists” has its challenges, too. Dacian Moses, recently elected president of the Boutique Financial Planning Principals Group (BFPPG), should know this: as a director of financial planning firm Waterfall Way, Moses is one of the very individualists the BFPPG represents. But despite the
October 01, 2014
Independent licensee eyes expansion of its “liberating” advice model
The head of Sentinel Wealth, Justin Hooper, wants to prove a point. Scaling up the business and replicating its philosophy is important to him in silencing the doubters. Co-founded by Hooper in 2004, Sentinel will celebrate its first decade in December, a particularly important milestone for an independent financial planning business that has lived through
October 01, 2014
Part man. Part machine. All adviser. Robo-advice – the future of financial planning?
At an initial glance, the value proposition of online automated advice and investment management is twofold: lower fees; and cost-effective access to professional portfolio management. But it is deeper than this. “Robo-advice” models seek to engage customers who are disinterested in or dissatisfied with traditional financial services and advice. In addition, they seek to interact
October 01, 2014
Investment Trends 2014 Australia CFD Report
Key findings of the Investment Trends 2014 Australia CFD Report: – Contrary to the global trend, the Australian CFD market grew in trader numbers despite low volatility in 2014 – Usage of mobile trading surged among frequent traders – Overall satisfaction eased at an industry level but remains high – IG’s improved mobile trading, CMC
September 30, 2014
Insync’s Global Titans Fund launches on mFund today
International equities manager, Insync Fund Managers, has made its Global Titans Fund available on the ASX mFund settlement service (mFund). “The growing demand for international investment by all Australian investors including SMSFs spurred us to bring our flagship fund onto mFund allowing direct investment access via the ASX. The fund aims to grow wealth through
September 30, 2014
Risk-adverse investors abandon the chase for high returns
An independent survey by CREATE-Research, commissioned by Principal Global Investors, has revealed a fundamental shift in the mind-set of investors. The priority for investors is now focused on adopting goal-oriented approaches that mitigate unrewarded risk, rather than chasing the highest potential returns. As markets continue to defy previously held investment logic, investors understandably remain cautious.
September 29, 2014
Inflows on the rise for US dollar ETF
A growing number of investors are looking to capitalise on a potential further decline in the Australian dollar with trading data from BetaShares, a leading exchange traded fund (ETF) provider, showing significant inflows into its US Dollar ETF in September. With the Australian dollar hitting seven month lows against the US dollar, BetaShares has seen
September 29, 2014
Fee for service outweighs asset based remuneration by two-to-one
Flat-fee structures outnumber asset-based remuneration models within Australian financial planning practices, according to research from Elixir Consulting. The study was conducted in August this year, surveying a cross-section of almost 300 financial planning practices around the country. It found that around twice as many of those who responded charged a flat fee for service as
September 29, 2014
The real debate on managed accounts is about incumbents versus niche providers
There appear to be two main competing views about the use of managed accounts. One perspective is that the incumbent platform providers have been slow to add managed account functionality which has allowed niche providers using modern technology to forge closer relationships with advisers, particularly those who deal with high net worth clients and self-managed superannuation
September 29, 2014
A reasonable assumption: The financial planner’s guide to super forecasts
There are a number of ways a financial adviser can educate their clients about how much money they may need to achieve their objectives in retirement. One such way is to conduct a superannuation forecast. According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulatory Guide 229, clients who receive some form of superannuation forecast are
September 29, 2014
