government

Editorial

Assistant Treasurer, Bill Shorten, has pointedly excluded the Association of Financial Advisers from those who convinced the Government to concede ground on risk commissi...

Editorial

Why financial planners must reassure their clients in hard times

If Australian financial planner sentiment is to follow the patterns of the past decade, the global markets meltdown experienced in the opening days of August is likely to...

Policy & Regulation

Accountants alarmed by carbon tax impacts

A new survey has revealed accountants are alarmed at the potential impact of the carbon tax on small business clients. ...

Policy & Regulation

FOFA doubts and criticisms continue to mount

The admission by Federal Treasury that no international comparison modelling has been done on the Government's proposed FOFA reforms has added to concerns surrounding the...

Superannuation

Volatility reinforces value of super fund advice: ISN

Recent market volatility has highlighted the importance of being able to receive advice from your superannuation fund, according to the Industry Super Network (ISN)....

Editorial

SMSF eligibility rules and your responsibilities

Too much attention on the details can mean forgetting about the fundamentals. David Court traces the intricate eligibility rules applying to SMSFs and the consequences of...

Superannuation

Valuations a burden for SMSFs

Self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees should not be forced to do a full valuation on direct property holdings every year, according to the Self-Managed Super Fund Profe...

Superannuation

SMSFs called on to embrace new SuperStream measures

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have been called to embrace new data transfer standards for rollovers and employer contributions, which will be introduced as part of the...

Superannuation

SMSFs called on to embrace new SuperStream measures

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have been called to embrace new data transfer standards for rollovers and employer contributions, which will be introduced as part of the...

Superannuation

Govt coffers filling with ECT breaches

The latest data on excess contributions tax revenues reveals the Government is the only winner....

Policy & Regulation

Lack of comparison undermines FOFA

The Federal Treasury has admitted it has not done a complex international comparison of the Government's proposed Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) changes and experience...

Financial planning

Govt told: ‘fix default funds now’

Both the Financial Services Council and the Federal Opposition have sent the Government a clear message that they will not accept any delay in referring the status of def...

Financial planning

FSC moves to reduce churn

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has moved to reduce churn in the life insurance industry via a uniform approach to commissions....

Superannuation

Industry backs Shorten concession on risk in super

The financial planning industry organisation has welcomed a signal from the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Bill Shorten, that the Federal Govern...

Policy & Regulation

FOFA legislation timing drifts further

The first draft of the legislation flowing from the Government’s proposed Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) changes is now not likely to be made available until nex...