Hedged Infrastructure funds worth considering, says Zenith
Hedged infrastructure funds may be a better option than their unhedged counterparts according to Zenith Investment Partners Infrastructure Sector Review released this week. “Investors need to consider many factors when making the decision between hedged and unhedged listed infrastructure investments”, says Jonathan Baird, Investment Analyst with Zenith. “Volatility is definitely a key consideration. During periods
July 10, 2014
Appetite for international investments grows year on year
The proportion of Australian investors planning to increase their exposure to overseas assets is higher this year compared with the same time last year, according to the Certitude Global Investing Index (CGIII). The CGIII, which collates the views of over 500 actively engaged leading investors and measures their net demand for global investments, increased over
July 10, 2014
Labor calls for Senate inquiry into financial advice, wants ‘certainty’ for planners
The Opposition has called for a Senate inquiry into financial advice, focusing on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its executives, and has called on the Government to table its proposed regulations for the Future of Financial Advice reforms to allow the Senate to vote on them as soon as possible, to bring certainty to regulation
July 09, 2014
Next-gen financial planners have big mountains to climb
Australia’s next generation of financial planners have “a fairly big mountain ahead” in overcoming negative perceptions of the industry and boosting its professionalism, says Erin Shields of Dixon Advisory. At just 25 years of age, Shields (pictured) became the first recipient of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award late last month. Named after a late pioneer
July 09, 2014
In regulation and compensation, remember the ‘services’ bit in ‘financial services’
Let’s not forget a simple fact. The estimated $1.7 trillion sitting in superannuation accounts does not belong to banks or fund managers or to industry funds or to financial planners. It’s worth mentioning this every now and then, because more and more often it seems that a conga line of financial institutions, financial planners, advisers
July 09, 2014
Introducing Venus – Why are we still talking about women?
Yes, we’re still talking about women: women in business; and in particular, women in financial planning. And yes, we still feel the need. Women are, of course, mainstream. We are 50 per cent of the Australian population and are evenly represented in tertiary education and the workforce. But in so many ways we are still
July 09, 2014
$1.7 billion of new money flows into exchange traded products
The Australian exchange traded fund (ETF) market continued its rapid growth over the first half of the year according to the BetaShares Australian ETF Review – Half Year 2014, with funds under management increasing by $1.7 billion (17%) to reach a new record high of $11.6 billion. Significantly, virtually all the growth in the half
July 08, 2014
Investec Australia launches bonus points credit card offer for IFAs
Specialist bank Investec Australia is ramping up its holistic banking offer to financial planners, offering 100,000 Qantas Points to new credit card clients who are approved for an Investec Signature Card during the month of July and spend over $15,000 within 3 months. For clients who take out a Platinum credit card in July, Investec
July 08, 2014
Award-winning licensee joins managed account movement
Melbourne-based advisory firm Moran Howlett Financial Planning has become the latest boutique to launch a managed discretionary account (MDA) solution, which will ultimately see it phase out traditional wrap platforms and clunky SMSF administration software. The firm, which has approximately 350 clients and $160 million in assets under advice, has signed a deal to integrate
July 07, 2014
Exclusive:“Shock and rage” at Financial Planning Association ultimatum to CBA
Financial planners from Commonwealth Bank-owned dealer group Financial Wisdom (FWL) are angry about the ultimatum the Financial Planning Association (FPA) has issued to the bank, says Greg Cook, former head of the FWL Adviser Forum. Describing the sentiment among his peers regarding the CBA’s announcement on Thursday, Cook, who is also chief executive of FWL-licensed
July 07, 2014
Misleading or deceptive conduct and the financial adviser
The term “misleading or deceptive conduct” is part of the vernacular of most people and it is arguable that the majority of the population has some understanding of its meaning. The below list contains examples of the factors that may be considered if an allegation of misleading or deceptive conduct is made against a financial
July 07, 2014
Principal interests of financial planners
The Professional Planner Dealer Group Summit 2014 heard that making the right connections will create an environment where a profession can flourish, where the quality of advice will improve, and where high-calibre new entrants are encouraged to see financial planning as a long-term career. Creating or improving links between different parties in the financial planning chain
July 07, 2014
