financial advisers

Policy & Regulation

Govt so far unmoving on TASA extension

Govt appears unmoved by industry efforts to extract a further extension of the TASA arrangements....

Financial planning

AQR Capital Management adds unit class to trust

AQR Capital Management has announced the introduction of new unit class within its AQR Global Risk Premium Trust....

Superannuation

Industry welcomes budget without drastic changes

Despite comments by the Prime Minister Julia Gillard some weeks ago that “everything was back on the table” when it came to superannuation, the financial services industr...

Financial planning

AFA set to launch mentoring program

The AFA will soon be rolling out its revamped mentoring program in an effort to bridge the gap between its GenXt and more experienced advisers....

Editorial

ASIC's RG 146 training requirements - tidying up the loose ends

ASIC has established new competency standards around RG 146, but Cecilia Storniolo writes that there are many loose ends that need to be resolved before the ground rules ...

Policy & Regulation

ATO to seek explanations for offshore tax arrangement

ATO to ask individuals and advisers to explain offshore tax structures. ...

Life/Risk

Medical exams when making an insurance claim - the role of advisers

When making a risk claim, clients will often be asked to undergo an independent medical examination. Col Fullagar explains the adviser’s role in ensuring the client is tr...

Financial planning

Praemium builds on SMA platform

Praemium has added nine new model portfolios to its separately managed account (SMA) platform....

Financial planning

Colonial First State upgrades platforms

Having just emerged as the highest-ranked provider in the Wealth Insights research into service levels, Colonial First State (CFS) has announced a range of upgrades to it...

Financial planning

Topdocs cautions on SMSF documentation

Specialist documentation provider Topdocs issues caution on appropriate documentation within SMSFs....

Editorial

Have platforms reached their use-by date?

Many advisers feel it’s time the investment train pulled away from the platform, but what sort of ride are they in for? Benjamin Levy reports....

Editorial

Growing on merit – not by compulsion

An important statistical snippet came to light during the hearings into legally enshrining the terms ‘financial planner/adviser’ – nearly 50 per cent of planners/advisers...

Editorial

Can limited licensing be a win-win for accountants and planners?

There has been plenty of debate around the implications flowing from the limited licensing arrangement for accountants, but Greg Holman argues it can be a win-win for acc...

Financial planning

SFG merger with WHK off, for now

SFG may make another merger bid if WHK can restore its balance sheet....

Financial planning

Macquarie urges advisers to educate on heart disease

Advisers should use Heart Week to educate their clients about the costs of heart disease and the need to take preventative measures, according to Macquarie Life....