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Financial Planning

FirstChoice platform upgrade

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  THURSDAY, 13 NOV 2008
Colonial First State is supercharging its FirstChoice platform with the addition of a government guaranteed cash deposit product, four Realindex RAFI funds and an enhanced range of insurance service.

New resources, fresh ads for advisers

RUTH LIEW  |  WEDNESDAY, 12 NOV 2008
The Financial Planning Association is helping advisers battle the financial crisis with a new resource centre for its members and a "Value of Advice" campaign targeted towards consumers.

PIS expands dealer group

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  MONDAY, 10 NOV 2008
Professional Investment Services (PIS) expanded its advice network with the addition of corporate superannuation and risk specialist, Arrow Insurance Consultant Services.

RaboPlus adds BTIM funds

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  MONDAY, 10 NOV 2008
RaboPlus is adding nine BT Investment Management wholesale funds to its platform.

Toowoomba planner banned

RUTH LIEW  |  FRIDAY, 7 NOV 2008
Desmond Blinco of Toowomba has been banned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission from providing financial services for 15 months after evidence emerged that he is an undischarged bankrupt.

SRI funds need homework: Lonsec

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  FRIDAY, 7 NOV 2008
Research and ratings firm Lonsec warns financial planners to take a closer look at socially responsible investment (SRI) fund screens and recognise their impact on fund performance.

More planners to use SMAs

MICHELLE BALTAZAR  |  THURSDAY, 6 NOV 2008
More than 80 per cent of financial planners and other wealth management professionals who offer separately managed accounts (SMA) to their clients see SMAs as a tool to generate a new revenue stream for their business, a survey shows.

RaboPlus cuts platform fees

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 NOV 2008
RaboPlus is setting the tone for other platform providers by dumping its 75 basis point entry fee on all managed funds until the end of the year to encourage retail investors back into the markets.

Don't fire marketers: Business Health

MICHAEL HOBBS  |  TUESDAY, 4 NOV 2008
Financial planning practices owners could be financially worse off in the future if they decide to lay off marketing staff in a bid to cut costs.

Planners still optimistic: MLC

RUTH LIEW  |  TUESDAY, 4 NOV 2008
Bad markets? Tick. Shaky economic times? Tick. Planners' business growth? Tick. Despite the market downturn, 43 per cent of financial planning business owners are confident their business will grow by more 25 per cent per year in the next five years ...