government

Editorial

Independent financial planners can weather the storm

An almost inevitable consequence of the Commonwealth Bank's acquisition of Count Financial is that some of Count's financial planners have signalled they feel uncomfortab...

Financial planning

Auditor registration could reduce questionable SMSF auditors

A proposal to introduce a registration requirement for accountants who audit SMSFs could reduce not just the number of auditors performing a small number of audits each y...

Accounting

Announcement close on accountant regime

After months of negotiations, the Federal Government is likely to replace the so-called 'accountant's exemption' with a limited, non-product licensing regime....

Financial planning

Auditor registration could reduce questionable SMSF auditors

A proposal to introduce a registration requirement for accountants who audit SMSFs could reduce not just the number of auditors performing a small number of audits each y...

Financial planning

FPA points to hypocrisy on superannuation funds and fees

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has warned of the hypocrisy of allowing superannuation funds to bundle scaled financial advice costs into an over-arching adminis...

Financial planning

Accountants urge income clawback relief

The Institute of Public Accountants is calling for the Government to enable small businesses to clawback revenue losses against a previous year's income....

Policy & Regulation

Government placed on notice to answer FOFA questions

The Opposition is demanding the Government reveal the costs and benefits of its FOFA legislation....

Financial planning

ISN/Rice Warner study highlights need for independent research

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) and Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) question the validity of research commissioned by a party with a vested interest....

Editorial

Is FOFA an unbridgeable divide?

Mike Taylor reports that the likelihood of a bipartisan report and meaningful amendments emerging from the Parliamentary Joint Committee reviewing the FOFA bills is becom...

Editorial

Running for insurance cover

Many Australians take a 'she’ll be right' attitude to the risks they may face during their lifetime, but in doing so they run the risk of paying a very high price should ...

Financial planning

ISN/Rice Warner study highlights need for independent research

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) and Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) question the validity of research commissioned by a party with a vested interest....

Superannuation

MySuper bill 'mandates flipping', warns Colonial First State

Colonial First State has warned that a section of the MySuper bill, as currently drafted, actually mandates 'flipping' to higher cost super arrangements....