China’s currency devaluation increases certainty

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China’s surprise currency devaluation sparked a debate on whether it was part of the country’s ongoing financial reform or a measure to boost flagging exports. The plot thickens, as the... Read more continue reading

Benefits over cost for life insurance

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When looking around for life insurance, it can be easy for consumers to focus solely on cost, rather than the benefits of different policies, and they can lose out as... Read more continue reading

Commodities – supply has arrived but where is the demand?

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There has been plenty of focus on the increased supply of Australia’s mining and energy exports following the tremendous investment in this sector over the past decade. The unprecedented investment... Read more continue reading

Social security and pension treatment of insurance bonds

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An insurance bond might help with meeting income-related thresholds for some government benefits. But Bond alone ownership cannot increase eligibility for the Age Pension. When a person directly owns insurance... Read more continue reading

Asian small cap stocks are an untapped opportunity for Australian investors

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Small cap stocks in Asia present a real and often untapped opportunity for Australian investors, says Paul Quah, head of research (Asia) at Acorn Capital. “Many of the obstacles that... Read more continue reading

Crying wolf

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“Greed, for lack of a better word is good. Greed is right, Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of evolutionary spirit” Gordon Gecko (Wall St) These... Read more continue reading

Life Insurance Direct: Protect our firefighters

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A Bill recently introduced into the Queensland Parliament[1] has highlighted the need for Australia to commit to better protecting firefighters, according to LifeInsuranceDirect.com.au. “While the Bill is a step in... Read more continue reading

Taking stock – Still the only game in town

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The only game in town continues to play for Australian Equity investors. Over the past year the ASX200 index is flat, but Resources and Energy are both down 25%. Every... Read more continue reading

RIAA benchmarking report confirms strong performance of ethical investment

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Australian Ethical has welcomed the outcome of the latest Responsible Investment Association of Australia (RIAA) benchmarking report, saying the results reflect an increasing demand for responsible investment products. The report... Read more continue reading

Zurich partners with risk advisers to design ‘LIF readiness blueprint’

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Financial advisers see product and process innovation as vital if the changes driven by the new Life Insurance Framework (LIF) are to result in better consumer outcomes. This is one... Read more continue reading