financial advice

Policy & Regulation

Key accounting bodies back FOFA's opt-in arrangements

Australia's three major accounting bodies have backed the two-year opt-in arrangements contained in the Government's Future of Financial Advice arrangements, describing t...

Financial planning

Intra-fund changes fall short of level playing field

Changes to the delivery of intra-fund financial advice preclude recommendations to consolidate superannuation accounts or move from one fund to another, but still fall sh...

Financial planning

Women put off seeking financial advice

Women often lack knowledge on financial products and are frequently focused on household expenses before they consider seeking financial advice....

Editorial

Handling financial planning clients during periods of market volatility

How do you keep financial planning clients engaged for the long-term in an age of instant gratification and continuing market volatility? The answer may lie in the client...

Editorial

Financial planners take the brunt of a tough year

As 2011 draws to a close, it is worth reflecting upon what a challenging year it has been for Australian financial services generally and financial planners in particular...

Financial planning

Shorten announces exclusions to intra-fund financial advice

The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, has announced a number of topics that will not be permitted in intra-fund financial advice....

Policy & Regulation

FOS warns FOFA may disadvantage unwitting clients

The Financial Ombudsman Service has told the Parliamentary Joint Committee that the FOFA bills may need to be amended to prevent clients of financial advisers being unwit...

Financial planning

ASIC gives retirement forecasts class order relief

ASIC allows superannuation funds class order relief to provide superannuation/retirement forecasts....

Policy & Regulation

ISN urges PJC to leave FOFA intact

The Industry Super Network (ISN) has urged the Parliamentary Joint Committee to leave FOFA intact and lamented Government concessions on risk in superannuation and annual...

Policy & Regulation

Christmas is D-Day for FOFA clarity: Barrett

The costs of implementing FOFA will double for ANZ if clarity around implementation dates is not received before Christmas because the group will have to prepare for mult...

Policy & Regulation

PIS warns PJC on dangers of FOFA tranches

Professional Investment Services (PIS) warns that Shorten's approach of introducing FOFA in tranches has inherent dangers....

Policy & Regulation

Investment Administration Services credits FOFA for growth

IAS has credited groups looking to integrate their services prior to FOFA with driving $150 million of inflows into its managed discretionary account service in the past ...

Policy & Regulation

Hope emerges for FOFA changes

The PJC has recommended key changes to Government legislation, providing hope it might act similarly on FOFA....

Policy & Regulation

Standard form disclaimers not enough for FOFA

A new legal analysis of the FOFA reforms suggests financial advisers will have to go further than simple disclaimers in seeking to provide limited advice....

Financial planning

ASIC reaches another Westpoint settlement

A group of Westpoint investors is likely to receive $1.39 million in compensation from Queensland-based Strategic Joint Partners, as ASIC reaches another settlement regar...