Australian super funds have highest 10 year growth rate in the world
Australia’s superannuation assets have experienced the highest growth rate of 14% per annum, when compared to the world’s thirteen largest pension markets over the 10 year period 2003 to 2013 according to the latest Towers Watson Global Pension Assets Study. It remains the world’s fourth largest pension market valued at US$1.6 trillion and, relative to
February 06, 2014
DomaCom open for business
After a two year development DomaCom Limited CEO, Arthur Naoumidis, has announced that DomaCom are “open for business” with an innovative fractional property investment product called the DomaCom Fund. “Today we have accepted the first application into the DomaCom Fund and with over 18,000 properties on our platform, investors will now have the ability to
February 06, 2014
No distinction between fee types in renewed tax-deductibility bid
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has put the issue of tax deductibility of financial planning fees firmly back on the agenda in its pre-Budget submission to Treasury. In its submission, the FPA argues that under the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) regime, fees paid by clients to financial planners are explicitly non-conflicted. And where there
February 04, 2014
Financial planners challenged by collision of the Great Australian Dreams
The Great Australian Dream is to own one’s home. But increasingly, that dream is colliding with what’s been called the Second Great Australian Dream – to retire in comfort. Matt Lawler, chief executive officer of Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management (YBR), says there’s growing evidence that Australians are taking out mortgages later in life, taking
February 04, 2014
Centrepoint appointments continue mission to lift practices’ efficiency by 50 per cent
Listed financial services group Centrepoint Alliance has continued on its strategy of improving its financial planners’ productivity with the announcement yesterday of four key appointments, spanning distribution strategy and marketing, life insurance, research and a regional manager for Queensland. Centrepoint, the parent company of Professional Investment services (PIS) and Associated Advisory Practices (AAP), has appointed Neil
February 04, 2014
Zurich launches iPad communications mix simulator
Zurich today announced the launch of a communications mix simulator, designed to enable financial advisers to assess the effectiveness of their client communication strategy. Designed in partnership with the Beddoes Institute, the net reach simulator is an interactive iPad app which calculates the effectiveness of a communications mix based on the generational profile of an
February 04, 2014
BT’s Phil Hay: Addressing the insurance image gap a virtue borne of necessity
Many improvements to the customer experience have been borne out of one simple necessity: to improve the life insurance industry’s reputation. It’s no secret that our industry has an image problem. Many people either don’t trust life insurance providers or they don’t see the value in obtaining cover. To reverse this perception, the industry has
February 03, 2014
FPA members urged to get involved in Ask an Expert Week
Today marks the start of Ask an Expert Week – a seven-day period when members of the public can have questions about their finances answered free of charge by members of the Financial Planning Association. The week is designed to showcase the expertise of financial planners, and to increase the number of people use the
February 02, 2014
Removal of ‘safe harbour’ improves best interests certainty: Sinodinos
The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, says the government has ditched the so-called “safe harbour” step in the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) legislation because of its potential to undermine the other six steps underpinning the best interests duty and to make financial planners too risk-averse in the advice provided to clients. “The best interests
February 02, 2014
Retention key to acquisitions as Findex offers financial planners an alternative to institutions
The days of Financial Index Wealth Accountants (Findex) flying under the radar are long gone. An acquisition reportedly worth $130 million will tend to do that. Over the past 10 years, Findex has averaged four to five acquisitions a year. The Findex team has become adept at identifying potential targets, negotiating deals, integrating businesses and
January 30, 2014
An association with teeth is a step towards self-regulation
With the release of draft legislation to amend the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) legislation – and a three-week consultation period – it seems as though the end might finally be in sight for this regulatory saga. I know, I’ve said that before. But this time it might be true. The changes seem to have taken
January 30, 2014
What the past can teach us about the current emerging turmoil
Hang around for long enough in investment markets and you’ll see it all roll around again. As Sir John Templeton pointed out, it’s never really different this time. This week’s developing world turmoil is familiar territory to anyone who showed an interest in financial markets in the 1990s. Emerging markets toppling like dominos as the
January 30, 2014
