compliance

Superannuation

Rules regarding membership, compliance and administration of self-managed superannuation funds (SMFs) are well on the way to being clarified....

Financial planning

There’s paraplanning gold in them there hills

If the burgeoning sector evolving around employing and outsourcing paraplanners is to be believed, there’s a gold rush going on. “Good people” are talked of in hushed ton...

Financial planning

A lemming’s leap of faith

Everyone knows what a lemming is. They’re small, cute, rodent-like creatures who live far up north in very cold climates. Every few years or so, they run like mad at a cl...

Financial planning

Colonial gets wise and rationalises banner groups

Colonial is to rationalise its banner groups from four to two — Financial Wisdom and Colonial Financial Services — following last year’s take-overs....

Financial planning

Making the choice selection

At the time of writing this article only one of the three forums on administration systems (wraps and master trusts) had been held. ...

Financial planning

Costello takes Ralph advice on board

The financial services industry breathed a collective sigh of relief following the the announcement by Treasurer Peter Costello that the government will take Ralph Review...

Financial planning

RISK – Stay focused or face the threat of legal action

As dealer groups and advisers face a spreading threat of legal action from clients, planning sector experts are becoming more concerned about the growing dangers planners...

Financial planning

Recruitment – Window of opportunity opens even further

Judging from recent publicity and a sampling of the positions vacant columns, demand and rewards for financial planners and associated support staff is growing strongly. ...

Financial planning

Wallis stocktake: was it value for money?

A little under two years ago, the Wallis inquiry handed down its 700-plus-page stock-take on the financial system. So it’s appropriate to take stock of what has happened ...

Financial planning

Point of View – All signs show we can party like it’s 1999

As we are still in the first month of a new year, it’s appropriate to wish all financial planners a happy and prosperous 1999. However, recent evidence suggests that such...

Financial planning

Stamping out the bug: Planning firms scuttle into action – and count costs – over Y2K

With 1999 already tipped as the year of the millennium bug, companies around the world are scrambling to get ahead of the problem. And some Australian financial planning ...