ELIZABETH MCARTHUR   The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority Code of Ethics which came into effect from the start of the year has left many unclear on what kind of referrals are allowed.ELIZABETH MCARTHUR   Almost 3000 financial advisers across Australia have just received their results for the final Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority exam for 2019.

ALLY SELBY   Low return expectations may be impacting first home purchases among younger Aussies, with investors turning towards equities and bonds to reap stronger returns.HARRISON WORLEY   A $7.2 billion asset manager is planning the takeover of a large New Zealand real estate fund manager, as it eyes a future as a leading funds management platform in the Australasian region.

ELIZABETH MCARTHUR   AMP is adding other insurers' products to its platform as it records a whopping drop in risk sales for 2019.HARRISON WORLEY   The hits keep coming for Australia's life insurance industry, with new data showing total risk premiums inflows dropped by more than $790 million in the 12 months to September 2019, as major players endured another tough year.

ALLY SELBY   An ASX-listed SMSF technology platform has dropped $25 million on its first acquisition, in a bid to reinforce its position as a technology leader.ALLY SELBY   SMSF Association chief executive John Maroney has slammed ASIC for a fact sheet published and distributed to SMSF trustees last year.

BENJAMIN ONG   Maybe it was coincided with the outbreak of the coronavirus, or because financial markets widely expected it, but the ECB's first meeting for 2020 provided little excitement.BENJAMIN ONG   Morbid as it might seem - profiting from other's misfortune - but the same way as SARS and swine flu provided good entry points to the equity markets, the coronavirus will turn out the same.

HARRISON WORLEY   The peak body for financial planners has moved to reiterate its stance against non-client directed fees in financial advice, as consultation opens into the government's review of stamping fees.HARRISON WORLEY   The UK's financial conduct regulator has been hit with a fine for failing to comply with requirements to include sufficient information in a chair's statement to members of its staff pension plan.

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   A portfolio manager from AustralianSuper has joined a specialist investment firm looking to expand its footprint in Australia.KANIKA SOOD   A Melbourne bond investor has hired a head of compliance as its assets under management hit the $5 billion mark.

KANIKA SOOD   The $11.7 billion superannuation fund has set up an internal impact committee to explore how it can make a positive impact in its operational spending.ELIZABETH MCARTHUR   New analysis from BetaShares shows superannuation and the age pension can have undesirable outcomes for some retirees, forcing them to ensure they have at least $600,000 squirrelled away ahead of retirement.

HARRISON WORLEY   Netwealth is looking to take advantage of growing demand among high net-worth and private wealth investors for sophisticated platform offerings, with plans afoot for the launch of a premium product within months.ALLY SELBY   New technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain and the internet of things (IoT) are set to radically transform and disrupt markets and economies.

KANIKA SOOD   Sydney is more expensive than Dubai and has the world's priciest business class flights but best-value luxury shopping, says a new report.KANIKA SOOD   In a research note sent to clients, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Nathan Lim shared the four Australian ETFs the firm prefers over the rest.