Consumer confidence hits 13-week high

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Weekly Consumer Confidence; Reserve Bank Governor Speech Consumer confidence rebounds: The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating rose by 4.4 per cent to a 13-week high of 113.5 in the week to... Read more continue reading

Report finds many ASX200 companies failing to comply with ASX gender diversity reporting recommendations

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78% of ASX200 companies’ gender diversity reporting is perfunctory or worse, according toBlackRock. BlackRock’s review of the 2013 annual reports of companies included in the Standard & Poor’s/ ASX200 stockmarket... Read more continue reading

Association Chairman announces appointment of Trevor Folsom as new Director to the Board

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SME Association of Australia (SMEA) Chairman Craig West has announced the appointment of Trevor Folsom as a Director of the Association’s Board. In welcoming Trevor Folsom to the SMEA Board Craig... Read more continue reading

Inquiries put retirement income products up for debate

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 The Financial System Inquiry and Government Pension Review have the potential to open up the availability of “relevant and appropriate” retirement income products, Jordan George, Senior Manager, Technical & Policy, of... Read more continue reading

Investment outlook after another solid financial year

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Key points The past financial year saw solid to strong returns from most asset classes drive good returns from balanced and growth oriented investment strategies, including from super funds. Investors... Read more continue reading

Enhanced financial planners register seen favourably by SPAA

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SPAA is encouraged by the Government’s move to improve professional standards in the financial planning and retirement sectors, says the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) CEO Andrea Slattery. She... Read more continue reading

BT Financial Group calls for tougher central register of financial planners

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BT Financial Group Chief Executive Brad Cooper has called for a radical overhaul of consumer access to information on Australia’s financial planners. “We think all Australians should have access to... Read more continue reading

Consumers and AFA Members to benefit from Adviser Registration

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The establishment of a central register of financial advisers, which was included in the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) amendments deal announced last week by the Coalition, with the support... Read more continue reading

FPA welcomes CBA response

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The Financial Planning Association (FPA) welcomes the announcement from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) about measures to improve adviser education and training, increase transparency in adviser quality and support... Read more continue reading

Commonwealth Bank raises educational standards for financial planners

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Commonwealth Bank has announced new minimum education standards for Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited (CFP) financial planners, supervisors and managers of planners. Since 2011 the Bank has transformed the CFP business.... Read more continue reading