Education costs outstrip wages growth and inflation

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Education costs have increased by 81 percent over the past 15 years* and have outstripped wages growth and inflation over the same period, research by Lifeplan Funds Management has shown.... Read more continue reading

Consument sentiment still being impacted by negativity around the Federal Budget

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Consumer Sentiment – June Consumer sentiment rose by a small 0.2% in June but is 8.8% below year its year ago level Confidence is still being adversely impacted by the... Read more continue reading

Federal Court declares Fair Work Commission Expert Panel invalid

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The Full Federal Court last week upheld a challenge by the Financial Services Council and determined that the Fair Work Commission Expert Panel for the selection of MySuper default funds... Read more continue reading

New low for first-time buyers; Confident businesses

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Latest economic data; Chinese inflation; Weekly Petrol The number of new owner-occupier housing loans was largely unchanged in April but the share of first-time buyers in the market equalled the record... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – week ending 6 June, 2014

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets mainly rose over the past week on the back of further monetary stimulus from the European Central Bank.... Read more continue reading

FPA says professionally assured co-regulatory model the right way forward

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Australia’s peak professional financial planning body today revealed evidence that a co-regulatory system will promote better outcomes for consumers and help restore trust in Australia’s financial advice system. Mark Rantall... Read more continue reading

Perspective: The week ahead

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The ECB cut rates and introduced aggressive expansionary measures to lift EZ growth. The US payrolls data tonight will likely set the tone for markets next week. The US and... Read more continue reading

Exports to China hit new highs

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International Trade Trade swings back into deficit: Australia’s trade accounts moved back into the red in April, recording a deficit of $122 million. But the March trade surplus was revised... Read more continue reading

Fortnum appoints national sales manager

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Fortnum Financial Group has appointed Joel Taylor to the newly-created role of national sales manager. Taylor joins Fortnum from NAB Wealth & MLC where he was business growth manager for... Read more continue reading

AFA and Zurich announce new chapter in Adviser of the Year Award

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The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and foundation award partner Zurich yesterday announced a new chapter in the Adviser of the Year Award Program (the Award program), with the best... Read more continue reading