Response to the FPA’s proposed changes

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So, the FPA has announced big changes to their membership structure and professional standards and I have to say this is good start to the reforms that have been needed... Read more continue reading

Women still doing it tough in financial services

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Women are still doing it tough in financial services. I attended two seminars this week focusing on managing women’s careers and the messages remained very similar. Things haven’t changed since... Read more continue reading

Investing responsibly

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Investors like to make money and for many years, the companies yielding the best returns may not have always been responsible corporate citizens. History is littered with shining examples of... Read more continue reading

So what really is ‘Best Practice’?

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While the Australian financial services sector is huge in monetary terms, it is substantially influenced by a relatively small number of larger players (product manufacturers, platform providers and dealers alike),... Read more continue reading

Australia’s “wall of money” towers over traditional yield managers

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A $70 billion flood of post-GFC cash into bank term deposits in 2008-9 – termed the ‘wall of money” has cast a long shadow over traditional fixed income, mortgage and... Read more continue reading

Ramifications of the proposed FOFA changes to advice

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Greetings Thanks for the feedback on the AFA advertising initiative. Like many practioners I am trying to work through the potential ramifications of the proposed FOFA changes to advice. While... Read more continue reading

Learn the lessons of 2010 to build wealth in 2011 says leading technical expert Strategy Steps

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Spread the risk between Australian and international shares Generate income safely while managing longevity risk Return to gearing but be responsible Avoid ATO penalties while maximising super contribution strategies Avoid... Read more continue reading

How do you move beyond “vanilla” investments in an SMSF?

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As SMSF trustees and advisers become more familiar with the flexibility of the SMSF structure, attention is being focused on just what different types of assets can be used within... Read more continue reading

Removing the roadblocks to quality financial advice

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There are numerous legal and ethical risks related to the provision of financial advice to Australian consumers, all of which may impact on the quality of financial advisory outcomes that... Read more continue reading

How to build organisational resilience to ethical risk using integrity based mechanisms and culture

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Whilst tactics to remain competitive in a modern commercial environment often influence the belief that behaving ethically is not profitable, I like to think that a series of global financial... Read more continue reading