SPAA says competency test for trustees ‘elitist’

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The notion that SMSF trustees should have a “competency test” as suggested by the visiting European financial literacy specialist Robert Holzmann has been rejected by the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia... Read more continue reading

RBA: Cautious optimism but in wait and see mode

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RBA Board minutes Reserve Bank Board minutes: Minutes of the November Board meeting confirm that the Reserve Bank is assessing developments before deciding the next move in interest rates. “it was... Read more continue reading

AMP appoints Natasha Fenech new Managing Director AMP SMSF

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AMP has appointed Natasha Fenech as Managing Director of its SMSF business commencing February 2014. The newly created role will report to AMP Chief Customer Officer Paul Sainsbury who will... Read more continue reading

Australian Unity Investments proposes property fund merger

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Australian Unity Investments (AUI) is seeking approval from investors in the Australian Unity Fifth Commercial Trust (FCT) to merge the trust with the larger, more diversified, Australian Unity Office Property... Read more continue reading

ASIC speeding up licensee complaints process

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Recent changes to Regulatory Guide 165 (RG165) mean Australian Financial Services Licensees (AFSL)s must now acknowledge client complaints immediately, regardless of the form in which they are given, and resolve... Read more continue reading

Investec Australia launches new financial adviser offering

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Expands tailored personal banking within professional services markets Specialist Bank Investec Australia has broadened its position in catering to niche professional clients with the rollout of a bespoke personal banking... Read more continue reading

Sydney adviser removed from financial services

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ASIC has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from Sydney financial adviser Gabriel Nakhl which permanently prevents him from providing financial services. As part of the EU, Mr Nakhl has also... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – 15 November 2013

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Key events of the past week and implications The past week saw a bit of nervousness in investment markets early on regarding the prospects for a Fed tapering in December,... Read more continue reading

Investment Trends August 2013 adviser product and marketing needs report

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Key findings of the Investment Trends August 2013 adviser product and marketing needs report: Growing investor and planner confidence has seen money start to flow from cash into growth assets... Read more continue reading

TAL grows strongly and delivers more claims benefits

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Australia’s leading specialist life insurer, TAL, has increased its premium and other revenue by 15% to $1.1 billion in the six months ending 30 September 2013, compared to the prior... Read more continue reading