treasury

Financial planning

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co makes surprise bid for Perpetual

While there has been some speculation that Perpetual would be the next logical takeover target in a rapidly consolidating Australian wealth management industry, few expec...

Editorial

Financial planners locked out of FOFA consultations

As the Federal Treasury reaches the final stages of its consultation process around the Future of Financial Advice reforms, the debate has seemed closed to the very peopl...

Financial planning

Platform neutrality questioned

New generation platform providers have criticised the ‘preferential programs’ initiated by their peers, claiming they have the potential to bias the advice gi...

Policy & Regulation

Shorten releases discussion paper on proposed income tax laws

The Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister, Bill Shorten, has released a discussion paper around the proposed changes to income tax laws....

Financial planning

Over 90 per cent of advisers say no to opt in

The majority of advisers surveyed by Radar Results believe it is likely they will lose clients as a result of the opt in for continuing advice reform....

Policy & Regulation

Time for solutions to FOFA concerns

The industry needs to move beyond telling Treasury why opt-in requirements and banning volume rebates won’t work and start offering solutions to the problems, accor...

Financial planning

Opt in immutable

The Government is not likely to budge on the implementation of an opt-in provision but is flexible on how it is achieved....

Financial planning

Inspector general seeks abolishment of oral rulings

The inspector general of taxation has recommended the abolishment of the oral rulings system to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), in view of the continuing low level ...

Life/Risk

Insurers sweating on Treasury feedback

Insurers including Zurich, Asteron and ING have called on Treasury to reveal some of its intentions concerning commissions for life insurance....

Superannuation

SPAA recommends SG opt-out

The SPAA has recommended an ‘opt-out’ from the superannuation guarantee as a way for people with multiple employers to avoiding incurring significant tax pena...

Financial planning

Tax agents regime postponed for financial planners

The Treasury has deferred the application of the National Tax Agent Services regime to financial planners until 1 July, 2011, a move which has been applauded by financial...

Financial planning

FOFA reforms roundtable

The Future of Financial Advice reforms will see the end of commissions and the introduction of fee-for-service for planners. Mike Taylor hosts a roundtable to discuss wha...

Financial planning

Price pressures rising

Financial Planning Association chief Mark Rantall has warned against the pricing pressures created by “over regulation”, resulting in an inflation of the cost...

Life/Risk

No Govt decision on insurance commissions

Treasury officials confirm that insurance commissions are outside of scope of FOFA reforms....

Financial planning

Banks have a right to comment, says ABA

Curbing the banks’ ability to comment on their funding costs and interest rate intentions would result in a one-sided public debate, the Australian Bankers’ A...