Total recall: the data necessity
The absence of efficient client relationship management (CRM) systems and processes will dramatically lower the value of a business. Brokers who are asked to value a financial planning or accounting practice will typically discount the sale value if the principals don’t have accurate client records sitting on a modern CRM platform. Most buyers understand that
November 01, 2013
Commitment and skills for super
People often talk about self-managed super funds (SMSFs) being time-consuming or requiring particular skills. Whether or not this is true depends on how much of the work trustees intend to do themselves. Pretty much anything can be outsourced, but of course each time you pay someone else to do something for you, the costs increase.
November 01, 2013
In Focus: taper time for mining sector
Global investors have been fretting about the impact of a possible US Federal Reserve tapering. But a new report from PIMCO warns that Australian investors should be factoring in the fallout from another form of tapering: the tapering of mining investment in Australia. Full In Focus feature, Taper time for mining sector, available here. In a
November 01, 2013
In Focus: Think offshore to smooth the retirement path
The growing trend towards so-called “objective-based” investing is encouraging financial planners to rethink allocations to global equities as a way of achieving a better risk-reward trade-off. Full In Focus feature, Think offshore to smooth the retirement path, available here “The first thing is to define an investor’s objective,” says Don Ezra, the co-chair of global
November 01, 2013
FPA seeds research grants
The Financial Planning Association will provide seed money to fund a number of research grants to university academics as part of efforts to deepen its relationship with the higher education sector. The Financial Planning Education Council, in conjunction with the Financial Planning Association, will award the first round of grants in March 2014. The size
October 31, 2013
Global investor confidence slumps
Investor confidence slumped in October, pushed down by extremely negative sentiment in North America, according to State Street Global Exchange. The State Street Investor Confidence Index fell 5.6 points to 95.7 points in October, despite a surge of confidence in Europe. Asian investors stayed their courses, recording only a modest increase in positive sentiment. State
October 31, 2013
Active management to smooth volatility
State Street Global Advisors, one of the world’s largest index managers, believes active stock selection will deliver better results in the current environment, with the domestic share market up over 40 per cent since September 2011 and valuations now stretched. SSgA also offers a range of actively managed investment products including the Australian Managed Volatility
October 29, 2013
Advisers and accountants: increasingly faithful
A growing number of accountants are referring their self-managed superannuation fund clients to one adviser rather than spreading the love around, according to a new report. Approximately 28 per cent of accountants have an exclusive relationship with one advice firm, up from 22 per cent in 2012, based on the OneVue/Investment Trends 2013 SMSF Accountant
October 29, 2013
