financial planning industry

Financial planning

Queensland financial planning practice joins AFS Group

The Australian Financial Services (AFS) Group has bolstered its presence in Queensland, with the Brisbane-based financial planning practice Alps Network deciding to align...

Financial planning

van Eyk acquires Encore Group consulting

Van Eyk has acquired financial services consulting firm the Encore Group for an undisclosed sum....

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

Banks to carry BOLR can as FOFA drives out financial planners

Buyer of Last Resort arrangements entered into decades ago are returning to haunt some of the major financial services institutions as growing numbers of older financial ...

Financial planning

FOFA uncertainty and industry consolidation takes its toll on financial services

The tortuous progress of the FOFA reforms and ongoing industry consolidation has defined 2011 for the financial services sector, write Tim Stewart and Milana Pokrajac....

Editorial

Financial planners end 2011 as they began it - uncertain

Australian financial planners seem destined to end 2011 in much the same fashion they ended 2010 - uncertain about the fine detail of the regulatory regime that will unde...

Financial planning

Structural separation the answer: Premium

The current round of reforms attempt to manage conflicts of interest in the industry, but they won't be eliminated unless there is a structural separation of product and ...

Policy & Regulation

Industry buffeted by FOFA and debt crisis

As 2011 draws to a close, 4 minutes takes a look back at some of the major events that have shaped the financial services industry over the past 12 months....

Editorial

Financial planning professionalism comes at a price

The moment members of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) voted to become a professional association, and in doing so, dispense with the organisation's long-standing...

Financial planning

FPA most influential group, says Shorten

The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Bill Shorten, says the Financial Planning Association has been the most influential financial planning body i...

Financial planning

Rob McGregor named Financial Planner of the Year runner-up

Rob McGregor scored the Money Management Financial Planner of the Year Award runner-up spot in what was a very close race to the top, writes Milana Pokrajac....

Financial planning

Financial Planner of the Year finalists

George Flack has continued to demonstrate his continued commitment to financial planning while William Johns is part of a new generation entering the profession....

Financial planning

ASIC asks research houses to manage conflicts

An ASIC consultation paper has proposed that research houses improve transparency and clearly separate their business units in order to manage real or perceived conflicts...

Superannuation

Calls for greater superannuation transparency

Tasmanian Liberal Senator David Bushby recently called for increased transparency in the handling of superannuation funds by APRA amid widespread concerns in the financia...

Editorial

FOFA impasse unlikely to be resolved

Much attention has been directed towards the manner in which a Parliamentary Joint Committee will handle the Government's Future of Financial Advice legislation but, as M...