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Financial Planning

Industry funds and master trusts share top honours

CHRIS NICHOLLS AND ALEX DUNNIN  |  TUESDAY, 3 APR 2007
SelectingSuper has released its one, three and five year performance rankings for super funds up to 28 February 2007, showing a fairly even balance between the segments leading the performance pack.

AIG improves insurance

HAMISH MADDEN  |  TUESDAY, 3 APR 2007
AIG Life has beefed up the benefits and improved pricing in an overhaul of its Priority Protection insurance range in response to demand from advisers keen to write more insurance business.

HOSTPLUS tailors fin lit to Gen X and Gen Y

Industry super fund HOSTPLUS is forging a new path to reach its Gen X and Gen Y super fund members, launching a financial literacy program specifically for 20 to 30-somethings.

A fund that holds water

It's not oil but water that could soon become the most price sensitive commodity in the future, an emerging theme that prompted Credit Suisse to create a trust that invests primarily in listed water companies.

ASIC and Citigroup lock horns on insider trading

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has filed civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against Citigroup Global Markets Australia in a landmark case on alleged insider trading activities.

Bad will hunting

An estate planning expert has warned that the simpler super legislation effective July this year magnifies a number of estate planning traps and urged those aged 50 or over to review their will and adjust it according to the new super rules.

AXA wins Life Insurer of the Year

CHRIS NICHOLLS  |  THURSDAY, 29 MAR 2007
AXA Australia has taken out the Platinum Award for Life Insurance Company of the Year at the inaugural Life Insurance Company of the Year Product and Service Quality Awards 2006.

Intangibles the new bottom line in company valuations

A new study by AMP Capital Investors has found that around 77 per cent of the value of a typical Australian company is made up of intangibles, a complete reversal to the proportion of tangible versus intangible assets in previous years.

ING opens up alternatives

CHRIS NICHOLLS  |  WEDNESDAY, 28 MAR 2007
ING's has launched a new capital protected fund through its OneAnswer platform that gives investors access to alternative investments with the comfort of built-in safeguards.

Private equity about multiples, not debt

ALEX DUNNIN  |  WEDNESDAY, 28 MAR 2007
Private equity might be expanding its footprint in the Australian investment landscape, but the way it operates is also evolving.