financial advisers

Superannuation

SMSF trustees might have to acknowledge risks

ASIC signals a push to have SMSF trustees acknowledge the existence of a higher level of risk....

Life/Risk

Insurance claims – why financial planners and insurers must meet in the middle

Insurers and financial advisers must work together throughout the emotion-charged insurance claims process if they are to truly benefit the client and avoid the the frust...

Financial planning

Lonsec's new approach to rating index funds

Ratings house Lonsec has changed its research process for index funds and will now use separate criteria to rate index managed funds and exchange-traded funds....

Financial planning

Financial planners missing a trick on software

Many independent financial planners are not taking full advantage of the capabilities of their financial planning software, contributing to practice inefficiency and miss...

Financial planning

Instreet targets stockbroker acquisitions

An increased focus on direct investments, particularly from self-managed super fund (SMSF) clients, has led Instreet Investment to target the acquisition of private clien...

Financial planning

Financial planners get the business they deserve

Based on their intentions, actions and results, financial advisers get the new, repeat and referral clients they deserve. David Penglase explains....

Editorial

Profitability up and financial advisers optimistic

Although revenues continue to trend down, financial planning practice operating profitability has actually risen in the past year, while advisers also indicate they are o...

Financial planning

Platforms should take haircut on fees

Consensus is building in the wider financial services industry that platforms and asset managers should shoulder the burden of lower financial advice fees being demanded ...

Financial planning

Good financial advisers keep clients realistic

Clients respect financial advisers who keep their expectations realistic in the face of market gyrations....

Life/Risk

'Churning' should be addressed at the underwriting stage

In order to address the issue of 'churning' in life insurance, the responsibility should fall on the underwriter to determine whether to continue with an insurance policy...

Policy & Regulation

Mathias Cormann pays tribute to AFA and reiterates FOFA opposition

Opposition Financial Services spokesman Mathias Cormann has paid credit to the Association of Financial Advisers's role in FOFA negotiations and reiterated his opposition...

Financial planning

Financial advisers turn to video calling to enhance the client experience

Voice chat software such as Skype allows financial advisers to add more value to the service they offer to A and B clients, according to Zurich Financial Services. ...

Editorial

Removing the accountants' exemption

The industry is still waiting on an announcement from the Government following the decision to remove the accountants' exemption on providing advice on SMSFs as part of F...

Editorial

FOFA - signed, sealed ... delivered?

With the FOFA, Stronger Super and MySuper reforms finally taking shape, the financial services industry has a clearer picture of what the future holds, writes Chris Kenne...

Financial planning

Financial advisers shift to fixed income: PIMCO survey

Financial advisers have significantly increased their allocations to fixed income investments in the past 18 months and are likely to increase that further, according to ...