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
Yellow Brick Road: the Wizards of Oz?
Walking down the Yellow Brick Road worked out well for Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and now financial advisers will have a similar opportunity courtesy of Mark Bouris. A path to the Emerald City is not for everyone, but Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management believes there are enough fellow travellers “disaffected by the system” to join its crusade.
November 26, 2012
Do bonds still have a place in a diversified portfolio?
The JGB market was the second largest bond market in the world and having no JGBs at all was a very brave call for a bond investor to make, and would also have turned out to be a wrong call Whither bonds?
November 22, 2012
Investors reveal mixed feelings on FoFA, advice
Regulatory initiatives such as the Future of Financial Advice reforms may initially be counterproductive as they scare off the retail investors they are designed to protect. A global investor study by the State Street Centre for Applied Research (CAR) has found that a significant number of Australian investors believe they will be forced to bear extra costs arising from the changes.
November 13, 2012
Commonwealth adviser banned; Storm rages on
ASIC has permanently banned a former Commonwealth Financial Planning financial planner in its latest action against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia subsidiary. In June, ASIC accepted an enforceable undertaking from former CFPL employee, Joe Chan, following an investigation into the advice provided by several Commonwealth financial advisers.
November 12, 2012
