Investors sweat as Spaniards protest austerity
Spain’s centre-right government has announced fresh austerity measures as a response to its deepest economic crisis in decades, reigniting the austerity-versus-growth debate For investors, the whole eurozone crisis must appear to be frustratingly circular
May 15, 2012
FOS says stick to code ‘lock, stock and barrel’
Working to the FPA’s code of practice would not necessarily stop clients complaining about advice, Maynard said, but in Melbourne she told the roadshow that “if you follow the code lock, stock and barrel, you will never have a problem at FOS”. Guidance on codes of practice Code consulting
May 10, 2012
Rate cuts raise questions around cash positions
Zurich’s Patrick Noble ponders the new dynamic of banks trying to manage the expectations of politicians and mortgage holders and wonders if cash is still the answer for investors. Can cash carry it? Is cash still the answer
May 08, 2012
FoFA-consistent codes take time, says Kell
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released guidelines on how signing up to a professional code can, in theory, exempt advisers from the opt-in obligation. We have had the power to approve codes under the Corporations Act since 2000, under s1101A
May 03, 2012
Consumers can’t tell good advice from bad
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) shadow shopping research has uncovered an alarming inability among consumers to differentiate between good quality and poor quality advice. A critical part of the shadow-shopping survey was 60-minute interviews with each of the shadow shoppers after they had received advice and reported back to ASIC.
May 01, 2012
Tax extension arrives
… at speed
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to extend the exemption granted to financial advisers who also work as tax agents. The exemption from the taxation-agent services regime will now run until 30 June 2013.
May 01, 2012
May 2012: Digital content
Please note: This case study is to be read in conjunction with Assyat David's article, "Determining the right investment structure for clients", on pp 28-29 of the May 2012 edition of Professional Planner.
April 30, 2012
Are Aussie super funds
overweight equities?
Over the last few months, there has been a significant amount of discussion about how exposed default superannuation funds are to equities If Australians are too heavily invested in equities, now is a less than ideal time to do anything about it. No guarantees for equities
April 26, 2012
In Focus: Gearing up for the rebound
Margin lenders are keen to remind planners that by the time markets are soaring again it may be too late to get clients set.
April 23, 2012
Does froth and bubble mean turmoil and trouble?
Schroder’s Andrew Fleming compares Australian equities with their global peers and finds that while the trends are clear, the answers are not. Amid global froth and bubble, and then turmoil and trouble, the past decade has been a consistently blessed period for corporates and consumers in Australia
April 19, 2012
Independents lose out as confidence remains stalled
A majority of Australians continue to rely on their own judgment when it comes to financial matters and those who make use of professional advice are increasingly unlikely to be getting it from a non-aligned financial planner. Four in 10 respondents (42.1 per cent) feel financially insecure, up slightly from 41.0 per cent in the last quarter.
April 12, 2012
Can equities lure investors from 1990s funk?
Zurich Investments’ Patrick Noble says the performance of equity markets over the first quarter has confounded investor sentiment. According to the survey, a paltry 5 per cent think now is a good time to invest in shares, levels not seen since the 1990s.
April 10, 2012
