financial planners

Financial planning

'Phoenixing Bill' too tame on financial planners?

While industry bodies support the Government's proposed regulatory amendments to accelerate the wind-up of so-called 'phoenix' companies and claim the issue is not a majo...

Financial planning

Financial planners more willing to recommend industry super funds

New research reveals growing numbers of financial planners willing to recommend industry super funds, while NAB/MLC emerge as top brand....

Financial planning

Accountants and financial planners must be well matched

It is important when establishing a referral relationship between accountants and financial planners that they are properly matched - or there is the risk of the relation...

Policy & Regulation

FOFA effectively shortens opt-in

The Government needs to significantly amend arrangements around the fee disclosure requirements contained in the FOFA legislation to eliminate anticipated fees, and finan...

Financial planning

Intra-fund changes fall short of level playing field

Changes to the delivery of intra-fund financial advice preclude recommendations to consolidate superannuation accounts or move from one fund to another, but still fall sh...

Financial planning

Women put off seeking financial advice

Women often lack knowledge on financial products and are frequently focused on household expenses before they consider seeking financial advice....

Financial planning

Financial planner education needs consensus

As debate heats up over the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC's) proposed educational guidelines for financial advisers, training providers argue t...

Editorial

Australia's financial planners set to pay a heavy price for euro crisis

The political clock is ticking and, as Mike Taylor writes, global economic reality may overtake the Government’s policy agenda before it can deliver proof of a Budget sur...

Editorial

Financial planners take the brunt of a tough year

As 2011 draws to a close, it is worth reflecting upon what a challenging year it has been for Australian financial services generally and financial planners in particular...

Policy & Regulation

Hope emerges for FOFA changes

The PJC has recommended key changes to Government legislation, providing hope it might act similarly on FOFA....

Financial planning

Unbundling services suits fee-for-service financial advisers

Fee-for-service financial advisers will be more likely to find value in unbundling services rather than using an all-in-one wrap, according to Sharesight executive direct...

Policy & Regulation

Banks to carry BOLR can as FOFA drives out financial planners

Buyer of Last Resort arrangements entered into decades ago are returning to haunt some of the major financial services institutions as growing numbers of older financial ...

Financial planning

FOFA uncertainty and industry consolidation takes its toll on financial services

The tortuous progress of the FOFA reforms and ongoing industry consolidation has defined 2011 for the financial services sector, write Tim Stewart and Milana Pokrajac....

Editorial

The cost of playing by FOFA's rules

The second tranche of the Government's Future of Financial Advice legislation has laid out the remuneration and best interests ground rules for financial planners but, as...

Editorial

Financial planners end 2011 as they began it - uncertain

Australian financial planners seem destined to end 2011 in much the same fashion they ended 2010 - uncertain about the fine detail of the regulatory regime that will unde...