This paper addresses some of the key issues and benefits of altern at give investments from SELECT's perspective. We hope that it will assist advisers and investors in better understanding alternative investments and, importantly, how to incorporate ... Read more

What is a CFD? A contract for difference, also commonly known as a CFD, is defined as an agreement between two parties to exchange the difference between the opening value and the closing value of a contract, with reference to the underlying security ... Read more

I was standing in a corner store queue in South Africa during a recent trip to see my family. While I was waiting my turn to pay, a sign hanging above the checkout caught my eye: "It is with great sadness and re gret that we inform you of the passing ... Read more

Financial planning in its broadest terms is now in the spotlight as it draws interest from a wide range of groups, including consumers, regulators, government, the financial services industry, accountants and most importantly educators. The emergence ... Read more

In 2004 MLC organised a study tour in the US for Australian financial advisers to experience the challenges and opportunities facing financial planning communities in the financial services capital of the world. One of the main themes that emerged during ... Read more

The law expects particular requirements to be met when an adviser is providing personal advice to clients.To summarise, when providing personal advice a financial adviser must follow five basic principles (Section 945A and 945B of the Corporations Act ... Read more

While most practices may not have a written succession plan, many principals would have an idea about how they plan to sell their business. These theories or myths often end up in a disappointing outcome with the reality being very different to the ... Read more

One of the policy objectives of the financial services licensing regime is to ensure the competency of the licensee and its representatives to provide the financial services authorised under an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). This objective ... Read more

Over the past two decades a handful of issues have emerged in Australia which affect the retirement system Read more

There were significant changes to aged care planning that came into effect last year. We look at the opportunities they create. Accommodation bond balances for accommodation bonds paid on entry to low level care (hostels) and extra service places in ... Read more

For clients contemplating establishing a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) one of the key considerations will be whether the trustee should be a company or two or more individuals. We estimate that around 60 per cent of SMSFs have individual trusteeship ... Read more