AMP Financial Planning (AMPFP), the largest dealer group, with about 1,300 planners, last week announced the five winners of the inaugural innovation awards and also four awards for “excellence in rural financial planning” and a special encouragement award.
Chant West study reveals dollar-disclosure disarray
Super funds and master trusts need to improve their fee disclosures, according to consultancy Chant West, following a study of 70 funds’ PDSs since the introduction of the new ASIC dollar-disclosure regulations from July.
White out of back-office services
Specialist back-office provider White Outsourcing has spun out of parent White Funds Management to set up on its own business. The business unit, which previously sat within White Funds Management, services boutiques such as Paradice Coopers, van Eyk and more recently MIR.
Perpetual unlocks small companies fund for MLC
Perpetual Investments is re-opening its successful $575 million smaller companies fund to investors, after striking an exclusive distribution arrangement with MLC’s MasterKey platform.
Merrill’s new SMA comes in at less than 1% in fees
Financial planners can now access a new separately managed account (SMA) service with no set minimum investment and fees starting from as low as 55bps.
St George puts Sealcorp name to the sword
The legendary Sealcorp brand was dumped by St George yesterday in a bid to lift the Asgard name into public consciousness and push its share of the platform market above 10 per cent.
Accountants add to Monitor Money’s bottom line
Axa-owned dealer group Monitor Money will take its accountant alliance program nationwide next year and plans to sign up an additional 20 accounting firms over the next 12 months.
Macquarie targets BT/Asgard for direct property fund
Macquarie is close to signing up Asgard and BT Wrap to include its new direct property fund on their platforms.
AIST’s Sydney refresher session on PS146
The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees is holding a half and one-day seminar ‘refresher session’ on PS146 – covering regulatory issues and changes focusing on superannuation, as well as technical areas – in Sydney on November 25. download registration form…
Advice on the frontier: how Fitzpatricks found the good life
Scott Fitzpatrick started his journey in financial planning where many others do, working with some of the industrial brands. But after striking out on his own, Fitzpatrick has discovered a new territory for advice that many others are quickly settling in.
Why an end to the housing bubble may lead to recession
Bill Gross, the managing director of global bond manager PIMCO, has laid out a likely timetable for an end to the housing bubble, followed by a weakening economy leading to possible recession in the US and elsewhere from next year. download report…
Government plays it safe with Future Fund chair
The Federal Government has opted for a professional businessman – albeit one who knows a thing or two about investments – rather than an investment management professional to chair its Future Fund.
