global financial crisis

Funds management

Window closing for LM First Mortgage victims, says Slater & Gordon

Australians who lost money investing in the now-collapsed LM First Mortgage Income Fund have limited opportunity to recoup losses due to bad advice, Slater & Gordon has w...

Funds management

ASIC increases focus on managed funds sector

ASIC has released a consultation paper that aligns with international standards on risk management for the managed funds sector, it said....

Financial planning

Wall of cash begins to crumble

New research suggests financial planner sentiment has returned to levels not seen since before the global financial crisis....

Editorial

Why gold still makes sense for long-term investors

Dominic McCormick argues gold exposure in a diversified portfolio still makes very good sense for most long-term focused investors....

Editorial

Tapping into the benefits of variable annuities

The ‘variable annunity’ in vogue overeas is neither entirely variable nor an annuity – so what is it, and what could it do for Australian retirees? Andrew Barnett explain...

Financial planning

Planners failing to seek client feedback

Eight-five per cent of financial planning practices do not formally ask their clients for feedback, according to Business Health director Terry Bell....

Financial planning

Financial planning salary survey 2013 - making a good job of it

Will the renewed optimism in the financial services industry bring on more jobs and higher salaries? What can financial planners hope for in terms of career opportunities...

Editorial

Bad advice is just bad advice

It would seem that in the mind of the Minister for Financial Services, Bill Shorten, accountants need to shoulder none of the responsibility for investors being burned by...

Editorial

Is the bond market a bubble?

Historically low interest rates in developed countries have helped government bonds become star performers, but is this all about to change?...

Financial planning

Handling the client handover

Planning firms need to get better at transitioning clients to a new adviser when the original adviser retires, says Equity Trustees head of private wealth Geoff Rimmer....

Superannuation

SMSFs need to overcome GFC 'risk hangover'

When moving beyond ongoing high allocation to cash and fixed income, trustees of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) should consider the benefits of diversifying in...

Editorial

The benefits and challenges of taking investors off-platform

Several years ago, Andrew Jones from Eureka Financial Group moved some clients off-platform. He now shares his experience and the reasons why his practice decided to retu...

Superannuation

Financial planners struggle to keep up with superannuation changes

With constant regulatory change impacting on the superannuation sector, financial planners are finding it difficult to focus on clients’ retirement needs, writes Bela Moo...

Editorial

The behavioural traps investors need to avoid

Darren Cunneen outlines six key behavioural traps to be aware of when investing, and some tips for helping clients to sidestep them....

Editorial

Is now the time to get out of low-risk assets?

Many investors haven’t made changes to their investment portfolios since the global financial crisis (GFC). Is now the time to get out of low-risk assets? Craig Keary wri...