interest rates

Editorial

Fund manager performance: market uncertainty makes for testing times

Although they haven’t exactly broken out the champagne, life has become a lot easier for fund managers over the past 12 months. Janine Mace examines the implications for ...

Financial planning

Ensuring the long-term success of your financial advice practice

Just like any other business, financial advice practices need to think about sustainability. Marc Fabris explains how to make sure your business enjoys many happy birthda...

Editorial

Why investors should consider alternatives to residential property

As interest rates fall, making cash and term deposits less attractive to investors, there’s an increased level of interest in property. However, a stampede back into the ...

Financial planning

TAL returns healthy profit and increased business growth

Interest rate decline bites TAL’s underlying investments - but new business pushes ahead ...

Superannuation

SMSFs leave cash but still opt for safety

Self-managed super fund trustees have shied away from cash due to falling interest rates but stayed close to defensive and low-risk assets, shifting funds into fixed inte...

Superannuation

Endowment bond product launched with an eye to SMSF market

A new financial product known as Endowment Bonds has been proposed as an annuity alternative by the Endowment Bond Exchange. ...

Financial planning

Low-cost bond product offered as retirement income alternative

Annuities offer a retirement solution but are often expensive to buy – and don’t adequately tackle the focus the Australian financial services market has on accumulating ...

Financial planning

Index reveals less consumer stress

Consumers are displaying less signs of stress in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data released by Dun & Bradstreet as part of its Consumer Financi...

Editorial

Are there still good reasons to invest in fixed interest?

With yields at record lows and negative returns on bonds being an absolute certainty, is there really a point to investing in fixed interest? Aman Ramrakha from CBA Wealt...

Editorial

Market volatility sparks interest in alternative investments

Market conditions are driving a renewed interest in alternative investments, but a number of practical limitations may be limiting allocations in the retail space. Bela M...

Superannuation

Cash investment still a value proposition

While experts appear to be urging SMSF investors away from cash, CANSTAR's Chris Groth believes there may be more to that ‘long-term marriage' with cash than people might...

Editorial

Why low interest rates are here to stay

While the Australian economy has been expected to be affected only tangentially by fiscal problems experienced elsewhere, at an investment level there are strong effects ...

Financial planning

Tyndall sees Aussie dollar remaining strong

Tyndall Asset Management has suggested that the Australian dollar is likely to remain strong over the short to -medium term, generating implications for monetary policy a...

Financial planning

Mixed signals on health of financial services

Roy Morgan data points to strengthening business confidence among financial services and insurance firms, but eFinancialCareers claims retrenchments are the order of the ...