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APRA investigating Diversa's executive compensation
APRA has commenced an investigation into if Diversa's executive remuneration decisions were made in accordance with prudential standards and trustees' duties under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act.
Kudu continues Australian expansion with fresh investment
Kudu Investment Management has acquired a minority stake in a Sydney-based financial advisory business mere days after an identical transaction with Drummond Capital Partners.
Apex takes on Mercer's NZ fund admin business
Apex Group has expanded its presence in New Zealand, agreeing to onboard Mercer New Zealand's fund administration operations as part of its broader growth strategy across Australasia.
Aware Super ups stake in retirement village asset
Aware Super has increased its ownership in Keyton, Australia's largest owner and operator of retirement villages, to 75% by acquiring Lendlease's interest of 25.1%.
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Featured Profile

Brian Redican
CHIEF ECONOMIST
NEW SOUTH WALES TREASURY CORPORATION
NEW SOUTH WALES TREASURY CORPORATION
What makes an economist an economist? TCorp chief economist Brian Redican reflects on over three decades of navigating Australia's economic cycles. Riddhima Talwani writes.







Was anybody else surprised when they found out that the CFP is a designation and not a qualification? Since one has to study quite hard for it I am not sure about the distinction. I also never before heard that the CFP was not a qualification - I may have missed it but I never saw such a disclaimer before and I have been an FPA member for a while. Does anybody have any insights about this?
One pointer to the CFP not being a qualification is that a lot of people were grandfathered into it who only had a diploma of financial planning. It is one reason I only ever did CFP 1 (out of CFP 1-4) (to gain the life risk specialist - I presume - designation and not qualification?).
How is the CFP already at a Masters level?
Masters degrees are at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9.
Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas are at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8.
The Certified Financial Planner is not even awarded as a Graduate Certificate. Hence its not even AQF Level 8. If it was why wouldn't the Financial Planning Association have got it formally recognised as a Graduate Certificate?
The Chartered Accountants Program is only 5 subjects and is awarded as a Graduate Diploma. Hence all the talk of designations versus qualifications is rather confusing. It's not clear at all why the Certified Financial Planner can't be awarded as a Graduate Certificate at least. With the certifications its effectively 5 subjects or at least 4 subjects (CFP1-4).