Watchdog eyes the choices platforms make
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will review its regulatory approach to investment platforms as part of broader efforts to promote investor confidence in the sector. ASIC is especially interested in how platform operators select financial products for inclusion given that the sector is attracting significant funds.
March 15, 2012
VIDEO: Van Eyk warning on portfolio construction
Stephen van Eyk and prominent US academic Tobias Moskowitz have urged financial advisers to consider alternative investment strategies that reduce tail risk without necessarily diminishing returns. To hear from van Eyk, click on the video below.
March 13, 2012
Professional Planner podcasts
Do you know what makes your clients really tick Why do some clients listen to what you say and stick with the plan, while some never seem to really buy in to the process? The reason it pays to know a client’s money “personality” is that it gives you an insight into why clients behave as they do when it comes to making decisions about money.
March 06, 2012
Global equities win battle of the asset classes
Fidelity’s global equities portfolio manager, Amit Lodha, has won the Sydney leg of the fund manager’s Battle of the Asset Classes, being awarded the bout on points from Fidelity’s Australian equities portfolio manager, Kate Howitt
March 06, 2012
Legislation – not markets –
will impact super most
Louise Biti reviews superannuation in 2011, looks ahead to how potential legislative changes will affect advice strategies in 2012, and concludes that legislation is likely to have a greater impact on super this year than investment markets.
March 06, 2012
New rules to lead services increase
The Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) regulations are tipped to lead to an increase in the demand for independent licensee services as growing numbers of financial planners consider the best way to provide advice to clients.
March 01, 2012
Valuation confidence in FoFA compliance
Business valuations under the FoFA regime see significant change, write Stephen Prendeville and Steve Murray, but there is every reason for continuing confidence. The first recommendation for maintaining or improving business value is to move your business to a fee-based model at the earliest opportunity
February 28, 2012
Social media crucial to communication for planners
Yesterday, dealer group Australian Financial Services (AFS) launched a mobile application that will enable it to communicate more effectively with its own advisers, and announced plans for phase two of the project, which will empower its advisers to communicate with clients.
February 23, 2012
ETFs demand a different set of planner skills
Analysing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) requires different skills from analysing traditional managed funds, and using ETFs in client portfolios places a greater responsibility on financial planners, according to the US-based head of research firm AltaVista Research.
February 21, 2012
Will PIIGS in space come down to Earth?
Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain (the so-called PIIGS) are all suffering from financial Euro-fatigue It’s understandable why investors and voters are fed up with democratically elected politicians Technocrats have little credibility when it comes to the euro
February 21, 2012
FoFA delays possible says Shorten
The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, has given the clearest indication yet that the government will delay the implementation of its Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms past July 1 this year.
February 21, 2012
Trio investors get day in sun after collapse
Compensation payments to more than 5300 superannuation fund members with investments in the Trio Capital Limited (Trio) managed investment scheme, the Astarra Strategic Fund, began this week. According to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), Trio invested some assets of the funds into a managed investment scheme, Astarra Strategic Fund.
February 09, 2012
