… and faces second front over commissions
07 July 2008
Commissions in the financial services industry must be banned, says a former FPA chairman...
Life Insurance
Axa first to insure temporary residents
07 July 2008
Axa is the first domestic insurer to offer income protection cover to temporary residents working in Australia under a 457 visa...
Austrade takes over Axiss financial services role
30 June 2008
Federal Government financial services marketing agency Axiss is being incorporated into trade and investment development body Austrade with effect from tomorrow...
Governments push Sydney’s financial services role
30 June 2008
Federal and state government leaders are working to put Sydney and Australia on the world’s financial services map...
Short-form statements of advice get the nod
30 June 2008
The Financial Planning Association says its model short-form statement of advice disclosure document ticks all the boxes with consumers...
Super assets up 3.5%
30 June 2008
Australian superannuation assets lifted 3.5% to $1.1 trillion in the year to March 31 despite a $74.9 billion dip for the quarter, according to APRA...
IFSA calls for wide-ranging reforms
23 June 2008
Australian financial services legislation is limiting business efficiency, has failed to keep pace with market developments and is distorting industry and consumer behaviour…
New Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman announced
23 June 2008
Philip Field will replace Colin Neave as Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman within the new Financial Ombudsman Service...
FPA launches life risk course for planners
23 June 2008
The Financial Planning Association is expecting thousands of financial planners to sign up to its new educational program on life risk...
Spending spree sees planner shake-up
23 June 2008
More than $17 billion of funds under advice has changed hands in the past six months, according to analyst Rainmaker Research...
FPA receives thumbs up
16 June 2008
The Financial Planning Association has received a resounding vote of approval from its members, with almost two-thirds saying the association has lifted its game…
ANZIIF opens up membership
16 June 2008
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance is opening up full membership to financial services professionals who hold Tier I compliance qualifications...
Chinese regulators open capital floodgates
16 June 2008
China’s decision to recognise Australia as an approved destination under the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor scheme is good news for local financial services companies…
FPA secures new PI service for members
10 June 2008
The Financial Planning Association has revealed the details of its new professional indemnity insurance service designed to take pressure off its members...
Financial literacy set to ease insurance skills crisis
10 June 2008
A new package of support materials and resources to help teachers deliver consumer and financial literacy education in schools has been praised by industry leaders...
Axa swaps annuities for Challenger advisers
10 June 2008
Axa Asia Pacific Holdings has swapped its $1.3 billion annuity portfolio for Challenger Financial Services’ planning business in a deal costing Axa a net $100 million...
Solid half year for Tower Australia
02 June 2008
Tower Australia has booked an 81% increase in half-year net profit to $30.9 million, which it attributes to a growing life insurance market expected to treble by 2017...
… as Tower NZ fights partial takeover
02 June 2008
Tower Limited has advised shareholders not to accept a partial takeover offer from investment company Guinness Peat Group because the price is too low...
Departments seek simpler super advice
02 June 2008
The Federal Government’s Financial Services Working Group has released a consultation paper outlining key steps to cut the red tape on disclosure documents...
FPA checks planners’ methods
02 June 2008
The Financial Planning Association is investigating margin loan sales practices...