Tracking an emerging trend
Bronwen Moncrieff examines why global emerging markets have underperformed relative to developed markets. Over the 12-month period to November 30, 2013, investors in global equities (including emerging markets) enjoyed strong absolute returns. The MSCI World ex Australia ($A) Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Free ($A) Index rose by 45.04 per cent and 18.34 per
March 13, 2014
Call for united front for associations to better represent financial planners
The principal and founder of a boutique funds management firm has called on associations that represent financial planners to form a united front that is focused on consumer outcomes and quality of advice. Andrew Fairweather, principal and founder of Winston Capital Partners, says the range of associations representing different segments of the financial planning industry
March 12, 2014
Service really matters when it comes to fees for service
If a client asks you how much you’re going to charge them next year, what is your answer? Probably it’s something like: “It depends”. It may depend on what services the client needs over the course of the year – but it might also depend on whether you charge a fee for service or you
March 12, 2014
Sign one of these without due care and attention, you’re certifiable
As the popularity of placing real property inside an SMSF grows, so too does the lenders’ choice to adopt the use of financial advice certificates. For those who have been asked to sign a financial advice certificate, it can be a source of stress and anxiety given the short amount of time to prepare these
March 12, 2014
Australian Ethical hires new head of ethics
Australian Ethical Investment is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Stuart Palmer to the position of Head of Ethics. Dr Palmer’s role will include working with the company’s ethical advisers CAER and the investment team to further develop the company’s ethical investment frameworks, which govern the way Australian Ethical interprets its Ethical Charter. He
March 11, 2014
Anne Moal joins Perpetual Investments’ credit and fixed income team
Perpetual Investments today announced the appointment of Anne Moal to its credit and fixed income team. The new credit analyst position has been created to support the growing capability of the team which currently manages $5.2 billion in fixed income assets (as at 31 December 2013). Ms Moal brings to Perpetual Investments more than 15
March 11, 2014
A date with Roger Federer: the key to winning business from the rich
Last month, I conducted client interviews with investors who have more than $US500 million in assets. I spoke to an Englishman – living in America and in the hotel business – about how he was choosing his service providers. At the time he had seven hotel projects on the go, mostly in China and America,
March 07, 2014
What are the accountants up to?
Regular readers may recall a series of columns in 2012 devoted to the accounting profession, including a discussion of the draft standard APES 230, Financial Planning Services, in light of the principles stated in the FPA Code of Ethics. Readers may not be aware of an interesting development in the accounting profession’s governance standards relating
March 07, 2014
Build a good business and the exit strategy will follow
Focus on building the business and then the right exit strategy should follow was the broad consensus among panelists at the AVCJ 11th Annual Private Equity & Venture conference being held in Sydney this week. Tim Martin, a Partner at Crescent Capital Partners, told delegates “that building the best business is the way to go.
March 07, 2014
Why financial planners really are the doctors of the finance world
Advocates of professionalism are fond of drawing parallels between doctors and financial planners. And opponents of professionalism, or those resisting doing the hard work and restructuring that professionalisation requires, are just as fond of pointing out where the analogy falls down. But Dr Adam Tucker, with a foot firmly in both camps, says comparisons between
March 06, 2014
The evolution of advice and a focus on objectives
In corners of the financial planning community, savvy advisers are increasingly replacing advice models based on risk profiling and traditional strategic asset allocation with objectives-based advice. As the name suggests, objectives-based advice, also called outcomes-based advice, requires an in-depth understanding of an individual client’s short-, medium- and long-term needs and objectives. These objectives determine how
March 06, 2014
Unhinged share markets and the fear of missing out
Global share markets today are becoming bit unhinged in the same way that they did in the late 1990s. The evidence for this is mounting up in the form of sky-high valuations for loss-making businesses and new issues where investors clamour for stock that they believe is overvalued but which they expect to go up
March 06, 2014
