financial services industry

Financial planning

Putting vertical integration into perspective

It’s time to put the vexed question of financial advice and vertical integration into perspective, writes David O’Reilly....

Editorial

Coalition begins delivering on expectations

It was probably inevitable that within two months of gaining office and with a minimum of fuss, the Coalition Government has sought to undo some of the last legislative a...

Financial planning

Call for financial planner passport scheme

The Commonwealth Bank is calling for the introduction of a financial planner passport scheme, similar to the one operating in the United States. ...

Life/Risk

Dealer group imposes insurer standards

Fortnum Financial Advisers is requiring the major risk insurers to meet a higher set of standards before they can be admitted to the group’s APL as “preferred insurers”....

Financial planning

Single-office AFSLs set to flourish

Single-office Australian Financial Services Licensees that design and deliver their service in line with best advice objectives will be successful in the future, accordin...

Financial planning

Sinodinos outlines Govt FOFA objectives

Sinodinos confirms Government’s intentions and timetable on FOFA changes along with moratorium on major change during Financial Systems Review....

Policy & Regulation

Industry welcomes tax announcement

The financial services industry has broadly welcomed the Government’s move to abolish the proposed tax on super earnings over $100,000....

Superannuation

Govt acts on super earnings and self education

Industry welcomes Government's changes to self education expenses and the tax on superannuation earnings over $100,000. ...

Funds management

Regulation roadblock in SIV program

The Significant Investor Visa (SIV) program may significantly improve the net flow position of the local asset management industry – but the current regulatory environmen...

Editorial

ASIC’s wait and see approach draws fire

Does ASIC really only act when complaints about particular schemes or issues “reach tsunami level”? ...

Financial planning

How financial planners can make social media work for them

Social media has been heralded as the next big thing for some time now, but to make it work in their industry planners need to approach the medium differently, writes And...

Editorial

FPA/Cbus deal signals a new approach for planning industry

Mike Taylor writes that the FPA’s referral arrangement with big industry fund Cbus represents yet another indicator that, having lost the war prosecuted by the industry f...

Financial planning

Advice still major cause of complaints

Financial advice has remained the major issue in almost all areas of investment-related complaints filed with the Financial Ombudsman Service. ...

Editorial

Is a ‘Son of Wallis’ review of financial services looming?

A close reading of the submissions so far lodged with the Senate Committee investigating the operations of ASIC suggests the newly-elected Abbott Government will be right...