Applied Financial Planning

Applied Financial Planning Articles

Part two: New social security rules for lifetime income streams

KIM GUEST | Comments | FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019

New legislation passed parliament that changes the social security assessment of lifetime income streams including lifetime annuities. This paper is the second part in a two-part series. In part two ... New ... Read more

Part one: New social security rules for lifetime income streams

KIM GUEST | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 MAY 2019

New legislation passed parliament that changes the social security assessment of lifetime income streams including lifetime annuities. Under the new rules, lifetime income streams purchased on or after ... New ... Read more

Strategies if franking credit refunds stop

GRAEME COLLEY | Comments | FRIDAY, 3 MAY 2019

One of Labor's signature tax reform proposals is to cease franking credit refunds from 1 July 2019, which will impact most individuals and smaller superannuation funds from the 2019/20 financial year. One ... Read more

The value of additional aged care advice

ESABEL THINNAKONE | Comments | FRIDAY, 15 MAR 2019

There is a common misconception that aged care advice is only needed when a client first enters residential aged care and there is no benefit from additional advice after the point of entry. However ... There ... Read more

Total superannuation balance and limited recourse borrowing arrangements

JOSEPH CHEUNG , DANIEL BUTLER , BRYCE FIGOT | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 JAN 2019

If the Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2018 (Bill) becomes law, an individual member's total superannuation balance (TSB) may be increased by their share of the outstanding ... If ... Read more

Non-concessional contributions: Top 10 tips

WILLIAM MOLONEY | Comments | FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2018

It's been over a year since the 2017 superannuation reforms, which included new non-concessional contribution (NCC) rules, came into effect. Legislation implementing the reforms not only introduced a ... It's ... Read more

Transition to retirement income streams

MELANIE DUNN | Comments | FRIDAY, 21 SEP 2018

The superannuation reforms applying from 1 July 2017 made a number of changes impacting transition to retirement income streams and their use by retirees. A transition to retirement income stream (TRIS) ... The ... Read more

Sponsored: Under the microscope Q&A

FINANCIAL STANDARD | Comments | FRIDAY, 7 SEP 2018

We invite readers to send their burning questions on the latest investment trends to underthemicroscope@financialstandard.com.au. In this issue, we talk about AI, cryptocurrencies and international equities. We ... Read more

Maximising First Home Super Saver Scheme benefits

DAVID BARRETT | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 AUG 2018

The maximum value for participants in the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) will generally arise from making voluntary concessional contributions (CCs) to their super fund. A large part of the benefit ... The ... Read more

The planning backbone

JAMIE WILLIAMSON | Comments | TUESDAY, 26 JUN 2018

Having steadily evolved over time, the traditional role of the paraplanner is no more. With advice practices demanding more from support staff, the benefits of outsourcing becoming increasingly apparent ... Having ... Read more

Personal deductible contributions: Tips and traps

JULIE FOX | Comments | FRIDAY, 1 JUN 2018

Claiming personal tax deductions for personal super contributions is a valuable new opportunity, if you don't get caught out by any of the common traps. This article outlines the basic eligibility requirements ... Claiming ... Read more

Total superannuation balance milestones

JOSEPH CHEUNG , WILLIAM FETTES | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAY 2018

The total superannuation balance (TSB) is one of the most important new concepts introduced as part of the major superannuation reforms that broadly came into effect on 1 July 2017. Many superannuation ... The ... Read more

Advice opportunities for retirement and unused leave

STUART SHEARY | Comments | FRIDAY, 20 APR 2018

Employees approaching retirement can have significant leave entitlements. This unused leave can be in the form of annual leave, long service leave and sick leave. Retiring employees have several options ... Employees ... Read more

Triggering your bring forward non-concessional contributions cap post 1 July 2017

DANIEL BUTLER | Comments | FRIDAY, 19 JAN 2018

The eligibility criteria for individuals who wish to bring forward their non-concessional contributions (NCCs) cap post 1 July 2017 is more rigorous and complex than ever before. However, bringing forward ... The ... Read more

The SA457 form and its implications on age care fees

STUART SHEARY | Comments | TUESDAY, 12 DEC 2017

Some age care fees are means tested. A resident's assessable income and assets will determine a resident's liability for: an accommodation payment or accommodation contribution, and a means-tested ... Some ... Read more

BusinessFIT: Navigating towards the advice practice of tomorrow (Part two)

CAITLIN LYNCH | Comments | FRIDAY, 1 DEC 2017

As the saying goes, change is the only constant in life. Whether it's the level of regulatory scrutiny and reporting requirements, the way in which clients choose to engage with advisers, their changing ... As ... Read more

BusinessFIT: Navigating towards the advice practice of tomorrow (Part one)

CAITLIN LYNCH | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 NOV 2017

It seems that barely a day goes by where financial advisers aren't bombarded with media headlines heralding the onslaught of 'fintech': the next gen technology promising to disrupt the traditional ... It ... Read more

Reversionary nominations vs. binding death nominations

YVONNE CHU | Comments | FRIDAY, 17 NOV 2017

With the introduction of the super reforms on 1 July 2017, it is time to revisit the key differences and considerations when deciding whether to have an automatically reversionary nomination, or a binding ... With ... Read more

Transition to retirement income streams: The state of play

CHRISTOPHER CHOW | Comments | FRIDAY, 20 OCT 2017

Once seen as a cornerstone tax minimisation strategy for wealthy baby boomers, the changes to the concessional tax treatment of transition to retirement income streams (TRIS) has significantly changed ... Once ... Read more

Taking flight

JAMIE WILLIAMSON | Comments | MONDAY, 9 OCT 2017

Australia's financial advice industry is evolving and new thought leaders are emerging. Here the 2017 AFA/ANZ Wealth Rising Star of the Year Award finalists share their thoughts on the future of ... Read more

Back to school: what advisers think of the new education standards

JAMIE WILLIAMSON | Comments | FRIDAY, 6 OCT 2017

On 9 February 2017 the Corporations Amendment (Professional Standards of Financial Advisers) Bill 2016 establishing a new education and professional standards framework for the financial advice industry ... On ... Read more

How to thrive in the new advice world

EMILY DUMMETT | Comments | FRIDAY, 21 JUL 2017

The role of the traditional financial adviser is increasingly being performed cheaply by industry super funds and automated advice services. Time is running out for advisers who limit the scope of their ... The ... Read more

Weathering the Storm

ALEX BURKE | Comments | FRIDAY, 13 JAN 2017

If 2016 was the year of the unimaginable, 2017 will be the year of dealing with the unimaginable - and financial advisers will face the difficult task of helping their clients navigate this brave new ... If ... Read more

The platinum bond investment - your own individually managed account

KIERAN QUAINE | Comments | FRIDAY, 13 JAN 2017

The biggest global investors all own bonds. Primarily they are a defensive asset that diversifies away from higher risk asset classes and provides reliable income and capital stability. While the importance ... The ... Read more

Our secret financial insecurities

JIM STACKPOOL | Comments | FRIDAY, 13 JAN 2017

While some are facing their financial fears with bravado, others are keeping them hidden. On one end of the spectrum, younger people are wondering if they'll ever get into the property market, while ... Read more

Risk is in the eye of the beholder

SCOTT LAWRENCE | Comments | FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009

Interest rate risk: The unexplained risk of bond index funds

IAN MARTIN | Comments | FRIDAY, 14 OCT 2016

There has been a great deal of media discussion about what happens to bonds when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again. The broad consensus is that they'll raise, so the questions become ... There ... Read more

The false dichotomy

SANTI BURRIDGE | Comments | FRIDAY, 14 OCT 2016

Much of the discourse surrounding managed accounts in Australia tends to be dominated by assessment of the comparative benefits and features of separately managed accounts (SMAs) and individually managed ... Much ... Read more

Building relationships

KERRIE SYDEE | Comments | FRIDAY, 14 OCT 2016

FS Advice spoke with Fiducian Financial Services head of financial planning, Robby Southall, who believes good financial advice is the result of honest relationships and clear outcomes, with returns ... Read more

Developing financial knowledge

SPDR PRACTICE MANAGEMENT, STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 JUN 2016

Financial literacy is the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage one's financial resources effectively for lifetime security. It is a continuum of abilities that is subject to variables such ... Financial ... Read more

The new recruit to your alpha team

RAEWYN WILLIAMS | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 JUN 2016

'Alpha' as an investment concept is well understood. It is the difference between a portfolio's actual return and the return expected from the portfolio based on its exposure to the market ... 'Alpha' ... Read more

$1.6M balance cap examined: more tax on death benefits

DANIEL BUTLER | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 JUN 2016

The proposed $1.6 million superannuation balance cap will, if introduced, result in substantial changes from 1 July 2017 and is likely to generate significantly more tax on the payment of death benefi The ... Read more

Earning or yearning?

ROGER MONTGOMERY | Comments | FRIDAY, 24 JUN 2016

The S&P/ASX 100 (XTO) is a stock market index capturing Australia's top 100 companies by market capitalisation. It accounts for 63% (at April 2016) of the Australian equity market, however it ... The ... Read more

Low yields change the fixed income game

JOHN DYALL | Comments | FRIDAY, 4 MAR 2016

Traditional fixed income used to be the most boring of asset classes. Sure, there were some funny concepts to get your head around - like the fact that capital values went down when interest rates went ... Traditional ... Read more

From the ground up

PAUL BARRETT | Comments | FRIDAY, 4 MAR 2016

Sitting in the living room of his house in North Curl Curl, Sydney, Paul Barrett had a plan to create one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent dealer groups in Australia - the only ... Read more

Stand on your client's side

VIVIAN CHAU | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

Every financial planner will face objections at some point of the sales process: it is unavoidable. Although objections can create obstacles in connecting with the client on a personal level, facing ... Read more

One million Australians can't be wrong... but SMSFs are not for everyone

CLAIRE MACKAY | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

The future is bright for new SMSF investors. They have joined one million of their fellow Australians in taking control of their family's financial future. But they should never lose sight of their ... The ... Read more

Connecting with clients

BRAD FOX , REBECCA SHEILS , ADAM TUCKER , RICHARD DUNKERLEY | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

Advisers need to find the right mix when they communicate with clients. Communication strategies must be tailored to the age and the profile of each client. Advisers need to find the right mix when ... Read more

The foundation of trust

DAVID RAITS | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

Shadforth Financial Group private client adviser David Raits helps a longtime SMSF client set up a charitable foundation to build a legacy. Shadforth Financial Group private client adviser ... Read more

Adviser fees and business models

KRISTEN TURNBULL , JAMES TAYLOR | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

The biggest challenge facing financial advice businesses today is compliance costs and time. But the industry will have to turn its attention to client service and engagement. The biggest challenge ... Read more

Advising the rising CEO

YIANNI TSIMOPOULOS | Comments | THURSDAY, 10 JUL 2014

Ben started out working as a store man and managed to work his way up to the general manager position of the organisation by the age of 32. During this time, Ben made a lot of connections and was offered ... Ben ... Read more

Navigating through Noah's Ark

LAURA MILLAN | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

In a country that gathers almost all of the world's nationalities and religions, where 25% of its citizens were born abroad, being aware of cultural differences in aged care is almost an obligatio In ... Read more

Caring for older family members in the community

JULIE MCKAY | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

Advisers need to be familiar with the rules related to special residences and how decisions about in-home care might impact the clients' future. Advisers need to be familiar with the rules related ... Read more

SMSF: Planning for the late years

MICHAEL HARKIN | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

Sooner rather than later, SMSF members should take steps to ensure their SMSF may continue to function, should they suffer diminished capacity to attend to their financial affairs. Sooner rather ... Read more

Special residences: granny flats, retirement villages and sale leasback arrangements

CRAIG MELDRUM | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

Quality advice is critical to ensure not only the best financial outcome for aged care residents, but also that they secure a spot in a facility that they are happy with. Quality advice is critical ... Read more

Fair care for all Australians

ELISABETH KIRKBY | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

It is possible to be optimistic about 'old age' care and we should be able to provide outstanding solutions to this multi-faceted problem. It is possible to be optimistic about 'old ... Read more

The aged care reforms

SEAN HOWARD | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

From 1 July 2014, aged care residents will have more choice about how they pay for their accommodation. ... Read more

Providing advice on residential aged care

LOUISE BITI | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

Financial planners and other advice professionals have a responsibility to clients to help raise awareness by proactively raising issues and being business-ready. Financial planners and other advice ... Read more

FoFA has been hijacked!

MARSHALL BRENTNALL | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

What's wrong with the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms is that they have been hijacked. That's right FoFA has been hijacked! I feel like a load has been lifted just saying those words. What's ... Read more

Scoring a goal for the future

JENNIFER BROWN | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

JBS Financial Strategists director Jenny Brown has had the most eventful year of her professional career. In 2013, the Melbourne-based adviser won the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Adviser ... Read more

Facing the daunting prospect of residential aged care

ALEXANDRA WERNBACHER | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

What a daunting prospect it must be for anyone for whom moving a loved one to residential aged care looms on the horizon. There's the guilt, the logistics... and the financial side. What a daunting ... Read more

Featured Case Study: Aged care advice

MARILYN NELSON | Comments | TUESDAY, 25 MAR 2014

Marilyn Nelson spent six years as a generalist adviser and has been advising in aged care and estate planning for the last five at Big Sky, a mutual firm of Australian Unity. 1) Why did your client approach ... Marilyn ... Read more

Creating a nest egg

NAOMI ROSENTHAL | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

Financial planner Naomi Rosenthal helps a single 34 year old woman setting and reaching a savings goal that will give her a sense of security and financial freedom. Financial planner Naomi Rosenthal ... Read more

Social media, a tool for clients and staff

STEVEN MAY | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

Entrant in last year's Smileys talks to Financial Standard about the new things he has discovered in the past year and how social media can be used to find both clients and staff. 1) Tell me why you ... Read more

Social media, a way to make a difference

JENNIFER BROWN | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

Entrant in last year's Smiley's and part of the "Digital Dozen" talks to Financial Standard about how social media can improve your relationship with current clients, and help you find new ones. 1) Tell ... Entrant ... Read more

Housing and mortgage markets: the long and the short run

LUCI ELLIS | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

I would like to start by considering some of the longer-run factors that are shaping outcomes in housing and mortgage markets. The first is that Australia went from being a high-inflation country in ... Read more

Social media, a tool to educate clients

MARSHALL BRENTNALL | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

Entrant in last year's Smiley's talks to Financial Standard about how social media his firm to better communicate with his clients and engage and educate new prospects. 1) Tell me why you decided to ... Read more

Social media, a major driver of new business

CHARLES BADENACH | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

The former winner of the Smileys scholarship talks to Financial Standard about social media and how entering the competition helped him realise his social goals. The former winner of the Smileys ... Read more

Blind spots in financial advice processes

HUGH MASSIE , EAMON PORTER | Comments | TUESDAY, 13 AUG 2013

This white paper raises blind spots in financial advice processes and analyses the tension that any adviser has between increasing revenue and protecting the business. This white paper raises blind ... Read more

Legg Mason real income

ALEX DUNNIN | Comments | WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 2013

Retirees need income to live on but relying on traditional sources like term deposits in a low-inflation low-interest-rate world locks them into downward spiraling income levels even though their costs ... Retirees ... Read more

New fee disclosure rules and the value of advice

LEYLA BANAEI | Comments | WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 2013

Financial advisers can always look at the new regulatory guide on fee disclosure statements as a compliance matter, but it could mean so much more Financial advisers can always look at the new regulatory ... Read more

Advice worth clicking for

JAMES SUTHERLAND | Comments | WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 2013

What happens when a simple fact-finding mission uncovers a $250,000 mistake? One adviser sets things right for two business owners who had no succession plan and desperately needed the right insurance ... What ... Read more

The Age of Income

CHRIS MCNICKLE | Comments | WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 2013

The search for income - already a powerful investment theme - is set to grow in importance over the next decade and beyond. The search for income - already a powerful investment theme - is set to ... Read more

Aftermath of a Storm

AARON BRUHN | Comments | WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 2013

The collapse of Townsville-based Storm Financial in early 2009 provides much food for thought for individuals, regulators and credit providers. The collapse of Townsville-based Storm Financial in ... Read more

Guardian of advice

CHARLES BADENACH | Comments | MONDAY, 9 JUL 2012

This case-study looks at the financial advice given to Tim (20) who when he was just eight years old suffered severe injuries from a car accident in which his mother was killed. While a police investigation ... This ... Read more

Gaining credit from the FOFA reforms: Winning the trust and generating new fee income with clients

SHEHAN WIJETILAKA | Comments | MONDAY, 9 JUL 2012

As the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) reform sweeps through the Australian wealth management industry, it is clear that many clients don't actually understand the details of the financial advice ... As ... Read more

Advice sceptic won over

CHRISTOPHER HEPPINGSTONE | Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

Michael Smith* had a negative experience with the financial planning industry in the 1980's and was extremely sceptical of financial advisers. He had built up a net worth of $1.5 million over the years ... Michael ... Read more

Kicking goals

FINNIAN KELLY , SARAH RIEGELHUTH | Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

Nick* went to see financial advisers Sarah Riegelhuth and Finn Kelly after he had been playing AFL professionally for three years. While he had managed to save some money and intended to purchase a property ... Nick* ... Read more

To downsize or not to downsize?

JADE STACK | Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

Advisers are concerned about providing the best advice for their clients without detrimentally affecting their business revenue. In this article, Stack aims to demonstrate that whilst more calculations ... Advisers ... Read more

Beyond FOFA - five fault lines shaping the 'real' future of financial advice

JAN KOLBUSZ | Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

This white paper contends that the 'real' future of financial advice will be determined by the way participants in Australia's financial advisory sector react to a number of emerging ... This ... Read more

Keeping your foot on the outsourcing control pedal

NATHAN TRAVELL | Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

Regulators globally have expressed concerns over how financial institutions that outsource business-critical functions operate their relationships with third-party service providers. This papers weighs ... Regulators ... Read more

Planning for success

Comments | THURSDAY, 1 MAR 2012

This white paper from CoreData talks to industry leaders about the issues facing planners as a result of the FOFA reforms and the likely trends that are emerging including consolidation and the entrance ... This ... Read more

Insuring for the future

GREGORY COOK | Comments | MONDAY, 5 DEC 2011

Sam, 49, and his wife Lisa, 46, were feeling the pressure to provide for future of their four dependent kids, aged between 8 and 15, without sacrificing their current financial position. With a steady ... Sam ... Read more

Gearing vs savings strategies

JAMES FENWICKE | Comments | MONDAY, 5 DEC 2011

This case study looks at the benefits of a gearing strategy versus a saving strategy from one award-winning financial adviser who offered two different approaches to one couple who want to buy their ... Read more

Australian accounting firms move into the Cloud to administer SMSFs

WOLF SCHUMACHER | Comments | THURSDAY, 17 NOV 2011

This article provides an introduction into the fast developing world of cloud computing for accounting and advice firms, and particularly for those, that administer self-managed super funds (SMSFs). This ... Read more

The presenting issue - duty of care

LINDSAY STODDART | Comments | THURSDAY, 17 NOV 2011

Today, in the financial planning and accounting world, many of our duties will be compliance duties or statutory duties. However, duty of care issues will continue to raise the possibility of litigation ... Today ... Read more

The gift of advice for a family in pain

CRAIG BIGELOW | Comments | MONDAY, 1 AUG 2011

A life threatening illness and building debt had left one family in a state of despair until they met a financial adviser through a pro bono initiative who helped them fight back through bankruptcy ... Read more

Five year plan to golden retirement

STEPHEN ASZTALOS | Comments | MONDAY, 1 AUG 2011

Nick, 55, and Kristina, 54, wanted to retire in five years but when they looked at their finances, they couldn't see an end in sight and felt depressed about their financial situation. Nick and Kristina's ... Nick ... Read more

Golden opportunity for planned retirement

MARC SMITH | Comments | MONDAY, 1 AUG 2011

Uncertain about how to best structure their finances in a difficult climate, James and Kate* were preparing for retirement when they needed the help of financial planner, Marc Smith, who maximised their ... Uncertain ... Read more

Planning a fresh start

CHARLES BADENACH | Comments | MONDAY, 1 AUG 2011

Devastated by her parents' deaths and falling victim to scam artists had left Jenny* feeling isolated and uneasy about her financial inheritance. Financial planner Charles Badenach helped her rebuild ... Devastated ... Read more

Ten strategies for a recovering investment market

KEAT CHEW | Comments | MONDAY, 1 AUG 2011

Ten strategies for a recovering investment market looks at how financial advisers can use the recovering market to improve investment returns. The paper discusses how putting in place appropriate technical ... Ten ... Read more

Higher net worth through good advice

SIMON DOWD | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

Jenny* had been using the services of a financial planner to help get to the financial position she was in, yet it had come to the point in her life that she wanted more from a planner and decided to ... Jenny* ... Read more

Windfall leads to retirement security

NICOLAS D'EMDEN | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

An unexpected cash windfall lead James*, 65, and Angela*, 60, to seek out a financial planner to make the most of their situation. This windfall became the catalyst for what is now a highly profitable ... An ... Read more

Smart advice for a strong position

CANNA CAMPBELL | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

Rebecca*, 62, approached financial planner, Canna Campbell, with not much hope for the future, having just survived a nasty divorce which left her without any real assets or security. When Campbell looked ... Rebecca* ... Read more

Unemployed and struggling: The lack of financial help-seeking behaviour exhibited by male construction workers

Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

The project sought to understand the impact of unemployment on financial help-seeking behaviour. The study surveyed 158 unemployed construction workers with findings indicating that the majority of men ... The ... Read more

The Tides of Changes

RICHARD KLIPIN | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

This white paper and its research talks with financial advisers across Australia to find out which reforms they support, which they reject, and what they see as the best way forward. The AFA, in partnership ... This ... Read more

Simple advice opens new doors

CAROL TAWFIK | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

Lauren Malone*, 57, was recently widowed and retired before she realised that her financial situation was far more complicated then she could handle. After being referred by a long standing client of ... Lauren ... Read more

Financial Advice preparing for Life Events

STEVE SALVIA | Comments | FRIDAY, 11 MAR 2011

Matthew*, 30, and Ashley*, 37, are a de facto couple planning a wedding with a baby on the way who decided that they needed help from a financial adviser to help them deal with their rising debt and ... Read more

Planning after a personal crisis

CHARLES BADENACH | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Peter*, 54, first sought financial advice during a difficult period of his life, after suddenly losing his wife to cancer. During this period of time, he found it difficult handling his financial responsibility ... Peter* ... Read more

A clear and simple plan for safe retirement

ANDREW SHAKESPEARE | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Adam and Sandra Smith*, aged 56 and 54 respectively, decided to seek out financial advice leading into their retirement. Sandra had clear plans to retire in January 2011 while Adam was concerned his ... Adam ... Read more

Smart Hedging

WAI-YEE CHEN | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Wai-Yee Chen, head of derivatives for RBS Morgans' Sydney Asian Desk, discusses in this paper the effect of the global financial crisis on investments. It looks at how the GFC not only affected people's ... Wai-Yee ... Read more

Just Rewards from a Savings Plan

JENNIFER PORTER | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Sydney-based married couple John, 52, and Marie*, 51, decided to seek a financial planner to make the most of their savings and figure out how best to prepare for their retirement. Marie worked part ... Read more

Go the Distance

STEVEN DAVISON | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Steven Davison is national manager for AXA's GROW program and discusses the many issues that can arise when dealing with this area of business. Are you thinking about acquiring as a way of growing ... Steven ... Read more

The Value of a Long Overdue Review

GERHARD MARKUS | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Concerns over funds parked indefinitely by a former adviser/broker in cash, following the GFC - without adequate risk profiling - led Adelaide-based teacher's aide, Tom Kennedy* to seek an alternative ... Concerns ... Read more

The Value of Sage Advice

MARK STORY | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

Understanding the 'multiplier-effect' derived from saving surplus cash flow is tributary to an accelerated wealth creation strategy. It's a red-letter day when the typical Aussie battlers finally pay ... Understanding ... Read more

Back to Basics

RICHARD KLIPIN | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

The past few years has seen the role of financial adviser and the financial services industry come under intense scrutiny. While much of this scrutiny is welcome, there is a need to clearly and logically ... The ... Read more

Cocooning - Savings as Security in Times of Economic Uncertainty

ALAN SHIELDS | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

In this report, Alan Shields discusses the study done by research firm Retail Finance Intelligent into the changes in saving behaviour among consumers since mid-2008, using economic data and the results ... In ... Read more

Rapid Advice Delivery: The Next Generation of Financial Advice

CAMERON O'SULLIVAN | Comments | MONDAY, 27 SEP 2010

Increased competition in the advice industry, fueled by superannuation funds now being able to deliver financial advice to members, demands a fresh look at how we deliver advice. The benefits of rapid ... Increased ... Read more

Balancing act

MARK STORY | Comments | THURSDAY, 14 JAN 2010

Constantly re-weighting the asset mix according to changing market conditions provides the right tradeoff between performance and risk. Not knowing what to do with a lump-sum payout from an unexpected ... Constantly ... Read more

Grounded in simplicity

MARK STORY | Comments | THURSDAY, 14 JAN 2010

'Trouble-free' retirement solutions invariably belie the dark art of balancing tax-effectiveness with asset preservation, assurance of income - plus that all-important capital growth. 'Trouble-free' ... Read more

Easy Access to Information Is Good, Trusted Information Is Better

DEAN RUSHTON | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

Dean Rushton writes about the findings of the independent consumer research into the behaviours and motivations of homebuyers in the market. The study was commissioned by Loan Market last year and included ... Dean ... Read more

Toward Transparency and Sustainability: Building a New Financial Order

SUZANNE DUNCAN , SHANKER RAMAMURTHY | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

In this report, Suzanne L. Duncan and Shanker Ramamurthy from the IBM Institute for Business Value endeavour to find answers for the question: How will the financial markets industry make money in the ... In ... Read more

Can Foreign Financial Services Providers Operate in Australia?

JOHN BASSILIOS | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

With Australia showing a resilient economy through the global financial crises and looking like having a booming financial services industry, it's no surprise that overseas companies want a share ... With ... Read more

The Delivery of Quality Financial Advice in Both Good and Turbulent Markets

JULIA FEHER | Comments | SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009

Julia Feher won the 2009 IFSA Deloitte Future Leaders award for this paper, which looks at the different ways that the financial advice industry can ensure quality advice for clients whether the markets ... Julia ... Read more

Shedding Light

MARK STORY | Comments | THURSDAY, 14 JAN 2010

Confronting entrenched prejudices towards 'all things financial' can be the first step towards adding value as a fee-based financial planner. We despise the share market, hate paying tax, loath ... Confronting ... Read more

Lies, Damned Lies and Housing Statistics

STEVE KEEN | Comments | THURSDAY, 14 JAN 2010

The RBA believes the Australian housing market wouldn't experience catastrophic effects like those of other OECD countries, especially the US. According to their numbers, house prices are no longer ... The ... Read more

Why Does Capital Protection Have to Be So Hard?

TONY RUMBLE | Comments | THURSDAY, 14 JAN 2010

The relevance of financial planners is under increasing scrutiny from investors and regulators. APRA's June 2009 paper Investment performance ranking of superannuation firms questions the value of ... The ... Read more

Technical Challenges in Personal Financial Planning

HUGH BANNISTER | Comments | 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 ... Hugh ... Read more

Building a Financial Planning Business on Aged Care Needs

DEBORAH WIXTED | Comments | 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 ... This ... Read more

Exploding the myths of succession

NICK BRINKWORTH | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

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 ... While ... Read more

SoAs, SoAAs and RoAs

SCOT ANDREWS | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

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 ... The ... Read more

The $3 million advice business phenomenon

KIM PAYNE | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

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 ... In ... Read more

The financial planning education scene in Australian universities

JANET COWEN , SHARON TAYLOR , WILLIAM BLAIR | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

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 ... Financial ... Read more

The forgotten structure - insurance and friendly society bonds

SAMMY RUBIN | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

This paper focuses on how bond investments can assist financial planners meet all their clients' objectives by incorporating bonds into their client's financial planning strategies. Bonds offer ... This ... Read more

Solving the SoA dilemma

SALLY MANION | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

Without precedents to follow, the implementation of FSR has been driven by legal interpretations of the legislation.There is a need for a more practical approach to the production of Statements of Advice ... Without ... Read more

Applied financial planning approaches to TAPs

SCOT ANDREWS | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

A term allocated pension has its own set of complexities. An understanding of how a TAP works, the implications on social security and RBLs and the strategies that can be applied may mean the TAP could ... A ... Read more

How government benefits can assist when growing a family

SAMMY RUBIN | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

Australia's generation X and Y are now getting married and having children later compared to their parents' generation. From 1975 to 1980 the average age for mothers having their first child ... Read more

Selling the practice

DOUGLAS WEBBER | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

It's often said that plumbers have the leakiest taps in the street and cobbler's children have no shoes. Likewise, from my experience, many financial planners have shortcomings in a major issue ... It's ... Read more

Take action now to achieve your succession goals

STEVEN DAVISON | Comments | SUNDAY, 1 JAN 2006

Many financial advisers associate succession with selling their business and exiting the industry, rather than with building a business that will live beyond its current owners. This lack of planning ... Many ... Read more

Efficient investment gearing and 'the elephants in the corner'

RICK DI CRISTOFORO | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

Traditionally, financial planning has ignored the client's most basic asset - the family home and associated mortgage. The family home and mortgage debt are the 'elephants in the corner' ... Read more

Professional development - Bringing out the best in financial planners

SYLVIA VORHAUSER-SMITH | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

As a practice manager imagine all your conversations with your planners were positive. No criticism, no negativity, no weaknesses. What if you only focused on what was right, not what was wrong? What ... As ... Read more

MLC takes positive steps to attract, develop and retain talented staff - A key challenge for financial services businesses

LIVINIA MOORE | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

Your business depends on the trusting relationship you and your staff have with your clients. So when do you know your staff are ready to take a hands-on role with your clients and honour that trust? ... Your ... Read more

Advisory panels - making the most of the experts around you

LLOYD SIMPSON | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

So you own a business specialising in financial advice and services. You're busy. Your staff members are busy. The industry is in great shape. Every day, there's always lots to do with clients ... So ... Read more

The dominating advice business of 2012

DAVID FOX | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

There are a broad range of business models that are considered "successful" in the financial advice industry at the moment. These range from the two to three person firms with annual revenues ... There ... Read more

The need to differentiate between noise and skill: too many fooled by randomness?

TIM UNGER , MICHAEL BLAYNEY | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

Most outcomes in life are impacted by skill (or a lack of it) as well as noise (random chance or luck). What do we mean by this in practice? We mean that a portion of any outcome is likely to relate ... Read more

Solving the advice paradox by getting the right information at the right price

JIM MINTO | Comments | MONDAY, 1 JAN 2007

The concept of 'simple super' has significantly shifted the goal posts for consumers and for everyone in the industry. It has also helped eliminate some of the complexity which has built up around ... The ... Read more

Developing an operating model provides clarity for the priorities of a client entric advice business

DAVID FOX | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

"A business operating model describes the capabilities that exist within an organisation including customer facing, infrastructural and management components". This is typically how a business ... "A ... Read more

Secrets to creating great referral relationships: Part 1

DANI PEER | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

There is no formula for a successful referral relationship in the nascent science of practice management. This is because the "X" factor plays a major part even though it is too often left ... Read more

New thinking needed for the workplace in the 'war for talent'

LARRY GOULD | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

Australian businesses and financial advisory firms in particular face the most radical transformation in leadership and work practices in decades as they prepare for the impending "war for talent". Australian ... Read more

Financing succession - Funding your equity stake

MALCOLM ARNOLD | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

Whether you're a Generation X or Y financial planner or a current financial planning business owner, a great deal of planning is required in order to be successful in your succession strategy. As ... Whether ... Read more

Re-inventing financial planning

ROBERT BROWN | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

Reinventing financial planning was commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (in Australia) in March 2007 to examine future directions for the financial planning industry. In the paper it ... Reinventing ... Read more

Values based advice: How to create a living legacy

ROBERT MUSGRAVE | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

Over the next 40 years, but predominately the next 30 years, Australians will experience the greatest intergenerational transfer of wealth ever known. Estimates indicate about $600 billion will be transferred ... Over ... Read more

The balancing act for business owners

DAVID CARNEY , ALFRED PRIESTLEY | Comments | TUESDAY, 1 JAN 2008

Running a successful business and managing the growth of personal wealth is not easy for business owners of small to medium-sized enterprises (SME). Most business owners are so busy working within their ... Running ... Read more

Financial support for adult children in Australia

DIANA BEAL | Comments | FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009

Diana Beal is a retired academic. Her paper comes from research she conducted while Associate Professor in personal finance at the University of Southern Queensland. The research sought to answer the ... Diana ... Read more

An introduction to behavioural finance

LESTER WILLS | Comments | FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009

Lester Wills discusses research originally written by James Montier. Montier has developed a list of 10 perilous errors people make when investing. Wills says that when you consider Montier's list, they ... Lester ... Read more

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