Count Financial FUA declines
Accountancy-based financial planning dealer group Count Financial has seen its funds under advice decline by 24.6 per cent over the past 12 months and has further trimmed back its profit guidance.
The company announced to the Australian Securities Exchange today that following the continued market downturn since the group’s annual general meeting guidance in November, it now expected its 2008-09 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be down marginally more than 20 per cent.
However, the dealer group said it remained well-positioned to benefit when markets resumed their long-term growth as a result of its trust and long-standing accounting-based franchise network.
“Count’s sound research and compliance policies have assisted Count to avoid the major investment failures,” it said. “Count maintains prudent gearing ratios for client portfolio exposures. Margin lending only accounts for less than 3 per cent of Count’s total funds under advice, which is in contrast to the current reported industry problems.”
Recommended for you
There could be changes ahead for how ASIC requires licensees to handle conflicts of interest as the corporate regulator announces it will be meeting key stakeholders next year to update guidance.
Proper recordkeeping has been described as the “mortar between the bricks” of the advice process and critical to an FSCP decision as an adviser is suspended for failures in this area.
As investors increasingly seek to embed ESG considerations in their portfolios, a specialist adviser has offered tips for financial planners who may feel overwhelmed in tackling these complex topics with clients.
Global investment consultancy bfinance is expanding into offering services for wealth managers as they seek advanced investment strategies for their clients.