Lead or get out of the way
Congratulations to the Financial Planning Association on turning 20 last month, celebrated by a five-city tour featuring technical workshops and recognition of the association’s best and brightest. More importantly, congratulations on the massive transformation the FPA board has achieved, and is in the process of continuing, for the association’s 10,000 members. To download a full
December 13, 2012
An open discussion on professionalism
Professional Planner’s editorials and cover story on the role of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) in professionalising financial planning prompted a significant response from readers. Many responses have been in the form of private correspondence with the authors. Not all responses are fit for publication, but where a respondent
December 13, 2012
2012: The year in review
What would a year in financial planning be without a healthy dose of regulatory uncertainty, complaints about the regulator and the banning of a handful of financial planners? The year just past is no different in this respect, but it was also a year when the industry demonstrated its remarkable resilience – when great businesses
December 13, 2012
Bulletproof financial planning in a FoFA world
The future of financial advice is almost here Professional Planner and the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) have produced a series of videos on “Bulletproof financial planning” – a financial planner’s guide to complying with the new FoFA rules, and how adhering to the FPA’s code of professional practice can help negotiate a potential minefield.
December 12, 2012
Lawyers and FoFA: answers to curly questions
Can dealer groups retain volume bonuses under the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms Do you need to be a mind reader to figure out what the Australian Securities and Investments Commission wants in terms of Codes of Conduct Can you keep paying commissions under FoFA? So straight answers is what we will be giving them.”
December 10, 2012
A plunge worth taking
Lemmings go over cliffs though economies needn't Not if the cliff can be avoided. Yet it seems markets will tread warily over the coming weeks, awaiting political developments on the US fiscal cliff. Taking the plunge
December 10, 2012
No demand for SRIs but is season changing?
Financial advisers play a key role in ensuring investors get the message on socially responsible investing but changing mindsets has been slower than expected. An industry roundtable event last week revealed the frustration that many campaigners for environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy feel at SRI remaining a fringe, altruistic issue rather than a driver of investment decisions.
December 03, 2012
Dec 2012 – Jan 2013:
Digital content
A guide to the Professional Planner December 2012 - January 2013 edition and links to authors and additional content. 04 - from the CEO Lead, or get out of the way 05 - from the editor 08 - planner profile
December 03, 2012
APES 230 could harm risk advice industry
The Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board (APESB) financial planning standard will negatively impact advisers with links to accounting firms, by increasing advice fees and reducing client affordability.
November 29, 2012
Financial planning defined in “national interest”
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has welcomed the government’s release of the draft legislation for enshrining the terms financial planner and financial adviser in Australian law. The draft legislation, released today (November 28), follows extensive consultation with the financial planning industry.
November 28, 2012
“Irrational exuberance” behind bond bubble?
Last week MLC’s Brian Parker made the case for bonds as part of a diversified investment strategy Investment bubbles are hard to spot The former chairman of America’s central bank famously warned in December 1996 that stock market investors were displaying “irrational exuberance”
November 27, 2012
Healthy advisers winning battle of the bulge
According to a survey, advisers are exercising more than the average, getting more sleep and are actively putting healthy habits into practice. The AIA Australia Healthy Living Adviser Index was applied to over 70 advisers attending the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) conference on the Gold Coast in late October, collectively achieving a Healthy Living Index score of 65 out of a possible 100. Super-charged advisers
November 27, 2012
