financial advice

Financial planning

Accountants cautious on financial planning alignments

The independence of accountants who align their businesses with financial planning dealer groups could be called into question, according to RSM Bird Cameron principal Pe...

Policy & Regulation

FOFA flaws outlined in FPA letter to independents

The FPA has written to the key independents outlining the flaws in the FOFA bills and seeking support for amendments....

Financial planning

How financial planners can get into tune with their clients

Mental accounting can help financial planners harmonise their client’s money by acting as their financial conductors, writes Barry Wyatt....

Superannuation

Superannuation following Stronger Super

Freya Purnell takes a closer look at what life after Stronger Super might bring to the superannuation sector....

Financial planning

The risky business of financial advice

For financial advisers, the need to be able to assess their clients’ risk is assuming far greater importance, according to Gabriel Carey....

Life/Risk

Synchron accuses FSC of misrepresenting churn figures

Dealer group Synchron has accused life insurance companies and the Financial Services Council of deeming all discontinued life policies as churn, and presenting figures a...

Editorial

The trouble with industry super funds

There are several reasons why many financial planners avoid recommending industry super funds. Cameron Darrow outlines a few....

Policy & Regulation

FOFA lobbying intensifies

Financial planning industry awaits announcements from Financial Services Minister, Bill Shorten, while lobbying around FOFA amendments intensifies....

Policy & Regulation

FOFA and MySuper cannot be considered in isolation

The Financial Services Council has warned against the Government considering FOFA, MySuper and the Productivity Commission review in isolation....

Policy & Regulation

ISN's David Whiteley backs flexible implementation of FOFA

The Federal Opposition has warned of Parliamentary force on FOFA changes, while the ISN's David Whiteley has backed the flexible implementation of FOFA....

Life/Risk

Policy proposals to combat insurance churn

Different policy proposals are being suggested by the insurance industry to combat churn, but they have not been universally accepted. Who should be responsible for effor...

Life/Risk

Risk insurance defies gravity

The risk insurance industry has defied all odds and continued to experience strong growth amid economic uncertainty. However, that is not to say the sector has managed to...

Policy & Regulation

Industry laments PJC's FOFA failure

The financial services industry has turned its attention to the parliamentary independents in the wake of the failure of the PJC reviewing the FOFA bills....

Policy & Regulation

Shape of FOFA bills in hands of independents

The divide between Government and Coalition members of the PJC reviewing the FOFA bills means their fate resides with the independents....

Editorial

Challenges ahead for financial services

The Australian financial services industry is facing some serious challenges through 2012 – something which Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden pointe...