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Financial Planning

SMA ratings bring clarity for advisers

RUTH LIEW  |  WEDNESDAY, 12 AUG 2009
Standard & Poor's has awarded inaugural ratings to six separately managed account products - a move that could help advisers make better informed decisions when selecting SMAs for clients.

Paraplanners left out of planning reforms, for now

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  TUESDAY, 11 AUG 2009
While there is incessant debate on how the planning industry can lift its governance standards to better protect consumers, there is little talk about the future for paraplanners, but that could soon change.

FPA and AFA call for reform

COMPANY RELEASE  |  MONDAY, 10 AUG 2009
In a sign of solidarity, the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) are pushing for the same regulatory reform, including the need for advisers to be members of a professional body.

Leverage key to recovery: UBS

RUTH LIEW  |  MONDAY, 10 AUG 2009
The days of gearing to the hilt may now seem a distant memory - but planners and investors may soon have to gear up again, albeit in moderation, said an industry expert.

Planning firms on buying spree

RUTH LIEW  |  FRIDAY, 7 AUG 2009
While some financial planning firms hunker down for the GFC to pass, many opportunistic mid-weight planning companies are increasing their borrowing activities to buy their smaller rivals, according to a Macquarie Bank expert.

Ripoll Inquiry must build on FSR progress: AFA

RUTH LIEW  |  THURSDAY, 6 AUG 2009
Investigating the collapses of Storm and Opes Prime could help improve Australia's financial advice system - but any radical changes to current FSR arrangements could chime the death knell of good financial advice, warns a key industry association.

Officium Capital hires new 'best ideas' manager

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  THURSDAY, 6 AUG 2009
Officium Capital has selected Souls Funds Management to manage its concentrated best ideas fund after the previous manager, MMC Asset Management was sold last month.

Fin services shines in Telstra Awards

COMPANY RELEASE  |  THURSDAY, 6 AUG 2009
Financial Management Solutions, Aspire Retire Financial Services and Addwealth were named state winners in the annual Telstra Business Awards.

How planners can cope with redundancy

RUTH LIEW  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 AUG 2009
Dealer group Financial Services Partners (FSP) partners with work/balance author Andrew May to publish a book that attempts to help planners cope with redundancy.

Advisers put LPTs back on watchlist

RUTH LIEW  |  TUESDAY, 4 AUG 2009
The increasing numbers of capital raisings and a bounce back in value of the LPT sector is drawing more advisers to LPTs again.