FOFA

Financial planning

Financial services appears set to lose Bill Shorten to higher duties in today's expected Cabinet reshuffle....

Financial planning

Industry super funds KO financial planners

If Industry Super Network has ended 2011 as the industry's big winner, it came at the expense of the financial planning industry....

Policy & Regulation

Key accounting bodies back FOFA's opt-in arrangements

Australia's three major accounting bodies have backed the two-year opt-in arrangements contained in the Government's Future of Financial Advice arrangements, describing t...

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...

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...

Financial planning

Shorten announces exclusions to intra-fund financial advice

The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, has announced a number of topics that will not be permitted in intra-fund financial advice....

Policy & Regulation

FOS warns FOFA may disadvantage unwitting clients

The Financial Ombudsman Service has told the Parliamentary Joint Committee that the FOFA bills may need to be amended to prevent clients of financial advisers being unwit...

Financial planning

Merger threat to investment platform FUM

Industry consolidation, particularly involving large dealer groups, has the potential to shift large volumes of funds under management from current investment platforms i...

Policy & Regulation

ISN urges PJC to leave FOFA intact

The Industry Super Network (ISN) has urged the Parliamentary Joint Committee to leave FOFA intact and lamented Government concessions on risk in superannuation and annual...

Policy & Regulation

Christmas is D-Day for FOFA clarity: Barrett

The costs of implementing FOFA will double for ANZ if clarity around implementation dates is not received before Christmas because the group will have to prepare for mult...

Financial planning

van Eyk acquires Encore Group consulting

Van Eyk has acquired financial services consulting firm the Encore Group for an undisclosed sum....

Policy & Regulation

PIS warns PJC on dangers of FOFA tranches

Professional Investment Services (PIS) warns that Shorten's approach of introducing FOFA in tranches has inherent dangers....

Policy & Regulation

Investment Administration Services credits FOFA for growth

IAS has credited groups looking to integrate their services prior to FOFA with driving $150 million of inflows into its managed discretionary account service in the past ...