Bell FG closes 2015 on a high
Bell Financial Group shareholders are ringing in the new year on a positive note, after the group posted a 165 per cent rise in pre-tax profits.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Bell FG announced that the businesses were expected to provide an unaudited pre-tax profit in excess of $22 million for 2015, underpinned by strong revenue growth in equity capital markets.
The group reported its funds under advice exceeded $32 billion last year, the majority of which had been placed in CHESS sponsored holdings, with a further $900 million was in cash deposits, $500 million in superannuation assets, $300 million in marginal equity loans, and $2 billion on its Portfolio Administration Service platform.
"All business divisions were profitable, with most exhibiting strong revenue and profit growth:
- Institutional Broking and Equity Capital Markets revenues increased 50 per cent to $41 million. Profit before tax (unaudited) was $10.2 million, a 450 per cent improvement on the previous year.
- Futures & Foreign Exchange revenues grew by 30 per cent to $13.8 million, profit before tax (unaudited) was $2.1 million, 37 per cent ahead of 2014.
- Full Service Retail Equities revenue rose by four per cent to $102 million, with profit before tax (unaudited) up 130 per cent to $8 million.
- Revenue in Bell Direct, our 56 per cent owned online broking subsidiary, increased by 18per cent to $10.1 million, profit before tax (unaudited) was $1.2 million, a 200 per cent improvement on 2014.
- Bell Potter Capital net revenue and profit before tax (unaudited) remained steady at around
- $6.5 million and $1.4 million respectively," the group said.
Recommended for you
The FSCP has announced its latest verdict, suspending an adviser’s registration for failing to comply with his obligations when providing advice to three clients.
Having sold Madison to Infocus earlier this year, Clime has now set up a new financial advice licensee with eight advisers.
With licensees such as Insignia looking to AI for advice efficiencies, they are being urged to write clear AI policies as soon as possible to prevent a “Wild West” of providers being used by their practices.
Iress has revealed the number of clients per adviser that top advice firms serve, as well as how many client meetings they conduct each week.