Editorial

Enshrinement of 'financial planner' - an improvement but not a panacea

The Government’s introduction of the legislation necessary to enshrine the term ‘financial planner/adviser’ coincided with the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds, r...

Editorial

Are clients getting value for money from investment products?

Many investors are paying active fees and ending up with index-like returns, writes Jonathan Ramsay....

Editorial

Positive signs on the horizon for financial planners

Australian financial planners have faced some of their most troubling years, but Vanguard’s Michael Lovett suggests a bright outlook is beginning to emerge – something wh...

Editorial

Are Australian equities returning to form?

With term deposit rates falling and bond yields at historic lows, investors are finally ready to listen. Janine Mace reports things are looking good for the Australian eq...

Editorial

A calm year ahead for world equity markets

A pendulum has to swing both ways before returning to a centred equilibrium. Does this mean the next few months will see calm world markets? Fidelity’s Betty Ng writes....

Editorial

Will Australian investors pay a heavy price for home bias?

International experts have warned home bias could prove detrimental to Aussie investors, reports Janine Mace....

Editorial

ING DIRECT profits down despite super growth

ING DIRECT has posted a decrease in profits for 2012 despite strong growth in its low-cost superannuation product....

Editorial

A presumption of guilt without evidence?

“If you don’t think financial advice on life insurance is a problem area for ASIC and for industry, please think again.” ...

Editorial

Much ado about churning

With the Australian Securities and Investments Commission having fired a shot over the bows of the industry on the question of churn, the Risk Store’s Sue Laing argues th...

Editorial

Why gold still makes sense for long-term investors

Dominic McCormick argues gold exposure in a diversified portfolio still makes very good sense for most long-term focused investors....

Editorial

Government offers its final FOFA concession

Few people in the financial planning industry will have failed to notice, via draft legislation released by the Treasury, that the Federal Government has delivered what w...

Editorial

Tapping into the benefits of variable annuities

The ‘variable annunity’ in vogue overeas is neither entirely variable nor an annuity – so what is it, and what could it do for Australian retirees? Andrew Barnett explain...