research and ratings

Life/Risk

APRA June quarter life insurance data has laid bare the problems impacting the major insurers....

Financial planning

An Investment Trends survey conducted two months before FOFA came into effect revealed only 23 per cent of financial planners felt ready....

Superannuation

SMSF contributions down

Average SMSF contributions were down in the last financial year, according to a survey conducted by Multiport. ...

Superannuation

Retiree costs tick up

ASFA’s latest data shows increasing costs in some areas have been offset by cheaper costs in other areas, leading to a modest increase in the cost of funding retirement. ...

Superannuation

Growth funds return to positive form in superannuation

Median growth fund returns 19.3 per cent for one year and 6.8 per cent over 10 years....

Funds management

Long-term investors rewarded

Over the 30 years to 30 June 2013, major asset class indices have returned between 8.2 per cent and 11.6 per cent per annum, led by Australian shares, Vanguard’s 2013 Ind...

Life/Risk

Rehabilitation key to ensuring business productivity say AIA

A lack of rehabilitation and early intervention programs could be negatively impacting the productivity of Australian businesses, a new report by AIA has claimed. ...

Financial planning

Non-banks using brokers to attract borrowers

Non-aligned mortgage brokers now provide around 23 per cent of all home loans to borrowers, according to the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA)....

Funds management

EM equities deliver long-term performance

Following on from poor performance in 2011, emerging markets (EM) equities delivered strong returns over the 2012 calendar year, with the sector expected to grow in promi...

Financial planning

Financial services executive salaries subject to claw-back

A new survey reveals how financial services companies are ensuring they can actually claw-back salaries from executives....

Financial planning

Sentiment collapses post-FOFA as sharemarket falls

Planner sentiment has taken a dive over the last three months and there is more than one reason for it, according to Wealth Insights....

Funds management

Listed property performance unlikely to continue

High-level investment team turnover in the listed property funds management sector is likely to affect return performance over the next 12 months, according to Zenith Inv...

Financial planning

Boutique planners revisit ownership concerns

Industry body Boutique Financial Planners has called for clear disclosure of licensee ownership after Roy Morgan research revealed a large percentage of consumers were no...