How the last AFA president re-discovered his mojo post-merger
Following an “existential crisis” after finishing up with the AFA in the wake of its merger with the FPA last year, it took former AFA national president Sam Perera a few months to regain match fitness and re-integrate himself 100 per cent into his advice business Perera Crowther. While Perera’s role in the merger left him exhausted, his advice to his peers is to get involved with the new organisation.
September 04, 2024
Cbus faces SIS Act breach if CFMEU board seats remain vacant
The $94 billion Cbus super fund may breach the SIS Act if three employee-representative vacancies on the board of its trustee, United Super, are not filled within 90 days. The risk has emerged following the forced administration of controversial trade union the CFMEU, and APRA-imposed licence conditions on United Super and BUSSQ.
September 04, 2024
Zurich Australia appoints chief risk officer
Zurich has appointed David Wainwright as its chief risk officer for Australia and New Zealand.
September 04, 2024
Former ASIC Commissioner to chair Insignia trustee board
Insignia Financial has appointed former ASIC Commissioner Danielle Press as chair and non-executive director of the Insignia Financial trustees.
September 04, 2024
Fitzpatricks appoints CEO
Fitzpatricks Financial Group has appointed Andrew Fairweather as chief executive.
September 04, 2024
Asset consultants outpacing licensee researchers for adviser satisfaction
Adviser satisfaction with licensee research teams is improving but remains the lowest of all key groups of licensee staff. Advisers who run fast-growing practices, which also tend to be the most common users of asset consultants, express greatest satisfaction with licensees that offer open Approved Product Lists.
September 03, 2024
Financial advisers once again collateral in regulatory overreaction
The government’s “response to PwC” by legislating eight new ethical obligations for tax advisers has been another example of collective punishment for minnows in the professional services sector due to the sins of the top end of town, Tom Ravlic writes. The government can’t expect smaller financial advice practices that offer tax advice to take ownership of new regulations targeted at the wrongdoing conducted by big accounting firms.
September 03, 2024
Impact investors weigh up big opportunities and costs in AI revolution
Artificial intelligence technology is accelerating medical innovation and can assist with meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals, but also poses a significant energy generation dilemma for the planet. T. Rowe Price portfolio manager Hari Balkrishna says impact investors in equity markets have a unique ability to positively influence companies on a range of megatrends from AI to healthcare.
September 03, 2024
Anti-obesity drugs offer a solution to the ‘food trilemma’
Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) such as GLP-1s will play an unquestionable long-term role in balancing the “food trilemma”. But their advent may also have broad implications that alter public attitudes towards food and obesity.
September 03, 2024
Getting under the hood of impact investing funds
Evaluating the merits of an impact fund goes beyond relying on green scores and it’s important to review the underlying thesis behind how and why the strategy will make a positive difference in the world, researchers and advisers say. This is particularly the case when it comes to emerging investment themes like healthcare and AI.
September 03, 2024
It’s time for adviser professional judgement to be recognised
Regulators, politicians, lawyers, compliance teams, and the media all have a strong opinion about how financial planning should be conducted, but Paul Moran writes the views of financial planners seem to be forgotten as part of the conversation.
September 02, 2024
Ponzi scheme director receives 11-year prison sentence
Former Courtenay House director Tony Iervasi has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for criminal charges relating to the operation of the firm’s Ponzi scheme.
September 02, 2024
