It seems everyone has experienced a code of conduct or business ethics training session that is unmemorable, generic and fails to resonate. Read more

Time and again, the courts hear cases concerning vulnerable elderly people who have been taken advantage of financially by their own family members. This paper examines the circumstances in which the court will set aside 'gifts' from elderly ... Read more

Chances are you are reading this paper on an electronic device. You may have used the same device to video-chat with others, message your team and create or send documents-in the last hour. Navigating the device and its various software tools can be ... Read more

The search for yield is proving to be an endless challenge for investors during the market crisis brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more

High-grade sovereign (or government) bonds remain as relevant as ever in an uncertain and complex market environment. Today's bond yields are indeed low, and some investors may be finding it difficult to justify a portfolio allocation to high-grade ... Read more

Benchmarks are commonly used to measure performance. However, this paper explains why this approach may be problematic in fixed income investing and how to track performance and find returns when investing in bonds. Read more

Closed-ended investment entities such as listed investment companies (LICs) or listed investment trusts (LITs) have a fixed capital. When investors seek to reduce their investment in a LIC or LIT, they sell their shares/units on an exchange like the ... Read more

A fellow advice professional I met recently said he avoids the term 'budget' when meeting with clients as they see it as a dirty word. He went on to explain that if you ask clients to complete a budget, they will think that they are going to ... Read more

As the global health and economic crises continue to roil equity markets, adviser-led investment strategies need to be actively monitored and managed not only to survive - but to thrive - in a post-COVID-19 world. Read more

The Financial services industry continues to undergo significant change. With the Australian economy now in a recession, many clients are looking for advice and reassurance. However, as the number of financial advisers continues to dwindle and a substantial ... Read more

As at 30 June 2020, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) had received 80,546 complaints, of which 78% were closed, and $258.6 million paid in compensation. Complaint areas and associated numbers were Read more

In times like these, can a business be confident that it will continue to comply with its obligations where it has outsourced certain functions? Read more

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is reshaping the global business landscape, giving rise to new consumer attitudes and behaviours that are expected to have a lasting impact. Read more

Legislation has passed allowing employees with multiple employers to opt out of receiving superannuation guarantee payments to avoid unintentionally breaching their concessional contributions cap. This paper examines how to avoid exceeding your annual ... Read more

Many people generously leave gifts to charities in their Wills to support the community or important causes. Unfortunately, these gifts sometimes run into issues when the charities named in the Will amalgamate with other charities, are wound up, or ... Read more

Capacity can be an emotionally charged topic, especially in relation to dementia or Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative conditions. This paper discusses how a Will might be challenged on the basis of mental capacity and why this is such an important ... Read more

Running a business means taking all sorts of risks, many of which can be difficult to control: economic ups and downs, increased competition and changing consumer behaviour, to name a few. Read more

Advisers are often asked whether or not a client should own their total and permanent disability (TPD) policy individually (self-owned) or have it structured via a superannuation fund where they are a member. When comparing the pair, the answer may ... Read more