Griffith business academic presented with industry award
Associate Professor Mark Brimble from the Griffith Business School has been presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). Chair of the FPA Board Matthew Rowe said Dr Brimble has “helped enormously to develop plans for the future of the industry” when he presented the award at a function
February 26, 2014
OneVue purchases MAP Funds Management
Wholesale SMSF solutions provider OneVue has purchased super trustee MAP Funds Management, a move OneVue has described as a strategic transaction ahead of its proposed listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) this year. MAP chief executive Jenni Erbel said MAP and OneVue have been collaborating on the development of various products and investment options
February 26, 2014
Australian Unity records interim profit of $6 million
Financial services, healthcare and retirement living company Australian Unity Limited (Australian Unity) has reported a profit after tax of $6.1 million for the half-year ended 31 December 2013, compared to a profit of $11.3 million for the same period last financial year. Revenue and other income for the half-year was $587 million, an increase of
February 26, 2014
ClearView announces 1H FY14 results and equity raising
– Underlying NPAT of $9.1 million, representing growth of 7% on the prior corresponding period – In-force life insurance premiums growth of 38%; $74 million in-force premiums; Life insurance underlying NPAT up 18%; – FUM net inflows of $5 million; 14% FUM growth and total FUM of $1.63 billion; Combined wealth management and financial advice
February 26, 2014
Findex adds a third arm as it takes financial planning online
Fresh from its successful bid for financial planning business Centric Wealth, Financial Index Wealth Accountants (Findex) has launched an online advice offering. Called Movo, the launch gives Findex presence in three key advice market segments: the high-net-worth segment through Centric; the mid-market through the Findex brand, which includes a telephone-based client service capability; and the
February 25, 2014
Don’t lose sight of who regulation is ultimately meant to serve
There’s an emerging trend in the debate about regulation of financial services around the world. It demonstrates that some people have apparently learned nothing from history, and are so blinded to what they should have learned that they are likely (and quite happy) to wreak the same havoc on investors and taxpayers next time around.
February 25, 2014
Avoid investment bandwagons if you don’t know where they’re going
Emerging markets represent 13 per cent of the value of the world’s stock markets today and a third of global economic output. That compares with just 1 per cent of market capitalisation and 18 per cent of global GDP 30 years ago. The developing world is no longer a niche interest for adventurous investors –
February 25, 2014
SFG Australia delivers solid 1H14 results
SFG Australia Limited (SFGA or Group) today announced a strong 1H14 result with Operating EBITDA of $28.4m, up 25% on the prior corresponding period (pcp), and underlying NPAT of $19.2m, up 23% on pcp. Growth is attributed to rising equity markets, improvement in margin and increased client activity along with contribution from acquisitions. – Increase
February 25, 2014
Sending out fee disclosure statements on December 19 was not a waste of time
They say in business, timing is everything. Rob Ferguson explains that when you get the timing completely wrong, that saying really hurts. For a variety of reasons, we decided to send out a significant batch of our fee disclosure statements (FDSs) on December 19, 2013. As many would appreciate, the preparation and execution was costly
February 25, 2014
Treasury invites input on how to deregulate SMSF sector
Treasury has invited the self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) industry to provide views and ideas on reducing the regulation of the sector, as part of the government’s philosophy of reducing the regulatory burden on business. Rob Heferen, executive director of the Australian Treasury revenue group told the 2014 SPAA SMSF National Conference that “the broad philosophy
February 23, 2014
It’s financial product advice, not property, that worries ASIC
ASIC commissioner Greg Tanzer says ASIC has “no particular problem” with SMSFs investing in real property but it is concerned that advice to invest in property is being improperly provided to trustees. “People provide a financial service if they provide financial product advice,” Tanzer told the 2014 SPAA SMSF National Conference in Brisbane. Financial product
February 23, 2014
Pick me! Pick me! How pitching properly can be a financial planner’s greatest skill
Learning how to connect and engage with clients and potential clients is a crucial weapon in the financial planner’s armory that is too often overlooked in favour of technical skills and compliance issues. Andrew Klein, MC of the 2014 SPAA SMSF National Conference and director of presentation skills at Spike Presentations, says whether it’s a
February 23, 2014
