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Financial Planning

Mortgage funds redux

MICHELLE BALTAZAR  |  FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009
Are mortgage funds still relevant to the financial planning community after last year's "perfect storm" that threatened to wipe out the entire mortgage funds industry? The answer is yes, but some rules have to change.

Hillross selects Macq platform

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009
AMP-owned financial planning firm Hillross has added another investment platform to the group's suite.

AFA conference to focus on leadership

MICHELLE BALTAZAR  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY 2009
The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) highlights the importance of strong leadership skills at this year's conference, with keynote speakers including Darren Flanagan, the man behind the Beaconsfield mine rescue and Peter Baines, who helped lead ...

Macq opens fin planning consultancy

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  TUESDAY, 26 MAY 2009
Macquarie Adviser Services is targeting the boutique financial planning firms by opening a new Practice Consulting division after a study found revenue across this market has dropped by 20 per cent on average.

E*TRADE fee hits planners

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  MONDAY, 25 MAY 2009
ANZ owned broking firm E*TRADE changed the pricing on one of its direct share packages - a move which could mean some financial planners will have to pay $1,250 per month for services that were previously free.

Nooo Commission strips trailing fees off home loans

MICHELLE BALTAZAR  |  FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009
New home buyers could save as much as $50,000 in home loan costs under a new product by NSW-based Nooo Commission Group, which yesterday launched a "flat fee" home loan - stripping away upfront commissions and trailing fees typically embedded in traditional ...

Plum members avoid switching

RUTH LIEW  |  FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009
Bucking the trend of high volumes of super members switching to cash, Plum Financial Services has reported that less than 2 per cent of its assets were switched to cash in the last 12 months despite the market crash as members hang on to investments.

AFA calls for Rising Star in advice

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is calling for nominations for the 2009 AFA Rising Star of the Year Award, an annual award that goes to the best up-and-coming professional in the advice industry.

FPA and Bannister Mansfield settle in court

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) and Bannister Mansfield have settled in court and the financial planning firm's director, Gavin Murphy, has apologised for the ads placed in the media.

Debate advice, not advisers: Sherry

ALEX DUNNIN  |  THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2009
Arguments about advice, the role of advisers in their dealer groups, how and whether they should be regulated and supported miss the central point - in its current form advice is an elite service used by a minority of consumers.