Investment CHRISTOPHER BURTON , ANDREW KARSH | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 According to Christopher Burton and Andrew Karsh commodities offer significant diversification opportunities which may reduce overall portfolio risk and improve returns. Commodities pay no interest and offer investors no share of any future profits ... Read more MATT CHRISTENSEN | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Matt Christensen is Executive Director of Eurosif which is the premier European think tank and industry association for sustainable investment. Eurosif defines Sustainable Investment as an investment philosophy that combines investors' financial objectives ... Read more DYLAN GREENWAY | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Dylan Greenway provides a brief introduction to agricultural schemes which have recently had such bad press. Greenway argues that agricultural schemes which typically last from 6 to 25 years have low or negative correlation to traditional investments. ... Read more Ethics & Governance DAVID ANDERSON | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Even in these difficult economic times employers are saying that it can be hard work finding quality employees. This important Mercer research presented to us by David Anderson in his paper compares what employers think employees believe is important ... Read more Communications & Marketing SAM AYLETT | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Sam Aylett tells us how to market smarter not harder and proactively not reactively. He details how the AXA Financial Advising Network has developed tools to help their advisers. AXA based advisers are able to develop a "Real Business Plan" ... Read more Applied Financial Planning DEBORAH WIXTED | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 This paper considers some of the key issues financial planners should evaluate if they wish to go about incorporating advice on aged care needs into their financial planning business. Aged care is more than just hostels and nursing homes; it also includes ... Read more HUGH BANNISTER | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Hugh Bannister of Optimo Financial has spent most of his working life building computer software modelling tools for the energy and finance leasing industries. Through the years Bannister has also received personal financial advice that has not served ... Read more Superannuation  ALEX WERNBACHER | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Alex Denham is a well known technical analyst at Challenger. This paper describes what options small fund trustees have when the complying pension they have been paying is not able to get actuarial sign-off as being financially viable. She particularly ... Read more Insurance HELEN MENTIPLAY , PETER RIDDELL | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 Helen Mentiplay and Peter Riddell are lawyers at TurksLegal. In this paper they explore the implications on income protection policies of a 2008 NSW Supreme Court case (Carolyn Philips (née Durrand) v Tower Australia Ltd). The case involved an ... Read more ROSS HIGGINS | SATURDAY, 10 JAN 2009 When Ross Higgins joined Austock, he was asked to develop a new type of Insurance Bond. As Ross points out the Insurance Bond market has been moribund for many years because, "the Life Industry failed to move insurance bonds with the times by introducing ... Read more |
Latest News
Advisers expect growth despite uphill challenges
Despite the current headwinds involving market uncertainties, rapid digitisation and the ageing population, financial advisers remain optimistic about what they can achieve over the next few years, a new report finds. However, the growth will not be captured easily.
Diversa drags Praemium into First Guardian lawsuit
Praemium and its subsidiaries are now caught up in the ASIC-led First Guardian legal saga, having been thrown in the mix by Diversa Trustees.
Poor succession plans expose advice firms to crisis events: Report
Most financial advice practices are ill-prepared to manage the sudden death or permanent disablement of a principal, according to new research, underscoring widespread gaps in succession and contingency planning.
Capstone joins forces with PictureWealth to form $22bn FUA planning network
PictureWealth Group has inked a landmark deal with national advice licensee Capstone Financial Planning, forming a combined business with 360 financial advisers and $22 billion in funds under advice.
Further Reading
Cover Story
Advice with soul
SACHA BURCHGART
FOUNDER AND FINANCIAL PLANNING SPECIALIST
BURCHEART
FOUNDER AND FINANCIAL PLANNING SPECIALIST
BURCHEART
Though she initially tried, Sacha Burchgart couldn't escape the call of a career in financial advice; it just took staring down her own mortality to see what's possible when you do things differently. Jamie Williamson writes.
Expert Feed
The global advice gap: why expat clients are harder to serve than they appear
Many Australians are building wealth abroad before ultimately returning home for retirement.
Genetic testing reform is here. What advisers need to do next
The reform not only eliminates the impact from genetic tests but also the underlying health risks for those that chose to "stay in the dark".
Helping clients stay the course in volatile markets
Fidelity International's recent research shows many investors are maintaining a "long-term" perspective despite recent market turmoil.
How to distinguish strong regional markets from regional growth stories
Regional markets should not be treated as a single investment category when only a select few have the economic depth to deliver consistent performance.
