government

Financial planning

Financial planning groups dig in against opt-in

While the industry funds laud the FOFA legislation, the key financial planning groups maintain their rage against opt-in....

Financial planning

More fees to pay for ASIC market supervision

The Government has announced the proposed new fee model to raise around $18 million to have the industry fund ASIC's market supervision activities....

Policy & Regulation

Journalists to facilitate tax forum

The Government has announced its October Tax Forum will be facilitated by economic commentator and founder of ipac securities Paul Clitheroe, along with Fairfax journalis...

Policy & Regulation

Financial planning confidence takes hit as FOFA looms

The Government's proposed FOFA reforms have delivered a body blow to financial planner confidence with the majority expecting their businesses to be worse off as a result...

Financial planning

Government cracks down on payday lenders

The Government has moved to place limits on the fees payday lenders can charge to 'small amount' borrowers, inviting comment on draft legislation....

Editorial

Superannuation celebration guaranteed

The financial services industry has celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Superannuation Guarantee and, as Mike Taylor reports, the industry funds have more to celebrate...

Editorial

Government needs to re-examine superannuation legislation

While it is clearly not high on the current Federal Government’s agenda, at some point it will need to revisit legislation covering the operation of superannuation funds ...

Superannuation

Grim modelling on risk commission ban in superannuation

Research house DEXX&R has released sobering modelling around the impact of a total ban on risk commissions inside superannuation....

Financial planning

Returns hampered by high intermediation

The retail funds management space in Australia is highly intermediated, resulting in high costs to the end investor - something that fee-for-service advice could help red...

Policy & Regulation

Higher SG more important than carbon tax

Mercer expert David Knox says the Government should lift the superannuation guarantee because it is more important than a carbon tax....

Financial planning

LMI fact sheet will provide greater education for borrowers - Genworth

Mortgage insurer Genworth Financial has supported a government move to introduce a fact sheet to educate homebuyers on home loans with lenders mortgage insurance (LMI)....

Superannuation

Government under fire over industry superannuation favouritism

The Government's apparent favouritism of industry superannuation funds is attracting increased criticisms from the financial planning industry including, most notably, th...

Policy & Regulation

Confidence waning as FOFA looms

The Government's Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) proposals combined with the long delays in delivering the actual legislation have served to drive down confidence among...

Financial planning

Insto demand elevating practice values

Institutions desperate to meet profit expectations in the face of lost legacy business are desperate to snap up increased distribution, artificially elevating financial p...