investment advice

Financial planning

Licensees beware of crowd-funders: The Fold

AFSLs need to be wary of equity-based crowd-funding platforms that may want to piggy-back off them as a temporary home, The Fold said....

Financial planning

Regulation stifling advice sector innovation

Current regulatory mechanisms are too process-driven to facilitate innovative business models in the financial services sector, The Fold said....

Accounting

Bulk of accountants providing SMSF advice not RG146 compliant

Only 15 per cent of accountants in providing advice on SMSFs are authorised to provide investment advice while a further 13 per cent are only RG146 compliant....

Superannuation

Providing sustainable long-term advice

A recent study commissioned by IOOF found that greater activity by financial advisers does not necessarily translate into a greater perception of value from clients, writ...

Superannuation

Accountants top planners as SMSF service providers

Self-Managed Superannuation Fund service providers with origins in accounting tend to be bigger and more profitable than those that started out as financial planner or ad...

Financial planning

Japan ties open new doors for fund managers

The FSC said Australian funds managers will gain cross-border access, and the financial services sector will benefit from the Japan Australia Economic Partnership Agreeme...

Policy & Regulation

Govt’s FOFA changes tighten up on conflicted rem

The planning industry has welcomed the Government’s FOFA changes most of which will be imposed via regulation but which include a tougher approach to conflicted remunerat...

Policy & Regulation

Cormann moves to impose FOFA changes

The Federal Government has moved to impose much of its FOFA changes by almost immediate regulation but with significant tightening around conflicted remuneration....

Funds management

AWI provides first seed funding to online ETF provider

Australasian Wealth Investments’ subsidiary invests $250,000 into online investment advice and managed funds supplier...

Policy & Regulation

FSI not best place to debate FOFA changes

FOFA should be given time to settle before further changes, according to Minter Ellison....

Financial planning

FSC welcomes Japan free trade deal

The FSC has applauded the Japan-Australia free trade agreement as offering big opportunities for export expansion in financial services....

Financial planning

Investment advice website relaunches with former leaders

Investment 'supermarket’ InvestSmart has restored its two founders to the helm, who say they have revamped the website to “trumpet the virtues of diversification”....

Editorial

Detecting the self-interest in criticisms of FOFA changes

Based on recent media coverage, it would be easy to believe that the Abbott Government was quite recklessly setting about dismantling all the consumer protections contain...