Investment performance: Benchmarking super fund returns
Q: I am 62 years, retired and draw an allocated pension. What I need is to get sound independent advice about whether I am in the best fund for my needs and how my super fund compares.
Financial advice revamp: by the Shorten curlies
On 28 April 2011, the Assistant Treasurer and Minister of Superannuation, Bill Shorten made a brave and revolutionary announcement: he struck at the heart of the financial services industry money-making machine — by banning commissions and volume-based payments.
THE SOAPBOX: Not the time to quibble (financial advice)
I want to give you the heads up on what significant players in the financial advisory industry are now trying to do, to further compromise the quality of financial advice.
Financial advice: Government bans new adviser commissions from 2012
We’re going to look back at this time with disbelief: for so many years the financial services industry was permitted to flog products that weren’t necessarily in the best interests of clients/investors and pretend that this product selling was ‘financial advice’.
Super fees: how much should a fund charge you?
The Super System Review (SSR) panel, in particular, chair Jeremy Cooper, has drawn a line in the sand and publicly stated that the SSR believe it’s possible to reduce the fees charged by super funds to a mere half a per cent, or even less. Go Mr Cooper!
THE SOAPBOX: Cooper declares war on retail funds and financial advisers
The Super System Review chaired by Jeremy Cooper has gone back to basics for our future super needs: no frills, lower fees and no more commissions leading to the inevitable, slow death of the financial adviser/retail fund love-in.
Financial advice for less than $500? You’re dreaming.
What do you think it costs for a financial adviser to prepare a five-year investment plan? According to a recent survey, nearly half of us (44%) believe that it will cost less than $500…
THE SOAPBOX EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Cheap financial advice now available – what does it mean for consumers?
Superannuation funds are now providing cheap (and in some cases, free) personal financial advice to super fund members with the blessing of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). In early July 2009, ASIC announced that it’s okay to provide [...]
