Investor Daily Uncut: Recent Episodes
Momentum Media
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week. Join the Investor Daily team for a wrap of the top stories and what they mean for the industry, markets and the economy.
With just two weeks remaining until the financial year wraps up, getting an SMSF ready for tax time involves ensuring there is a smooth audit process.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by well-known industry auditor Deanne Firth, director of Tactical Super.
Firth offers some valuable insights and timely reminders for SMSF trustees and auditors to prioritise compliance and leverage available resources to streamline their processes.
Listen as they discuss:
- Obtaining the necessary evidence for valuations, especially concerning private and unlisted companies.
- The timing of audits and the importance of proactive engagement with clients.
- The challenges with valuing unlisted assets, particularly private companies with unique business models.
- The complexities of SMSFs investing in start-up ventures.
- Loans within SMSFs.
- Technology and AI in the SMSF sector.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, Professor Robert Brooks of Monash Business School joins the show to unpack the economic and market implications of rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Against a backdrop of military strikes and disrupted supply chains, Professor Brooks explains how the oil and gas markets have responded, why prices have surged, and the role the Strait of Hormuz could play if tensions intensify.
Tune in to hear:
- Why the crisis has created both short-term supply disruption and long-term risk premium in oil and gas markets.
- How the RBA and other central banks will determine if headline price shocks could spill into core inflation.
- Why financial markets have remained relatively subdued despite the conflict.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Natallia Smith, the director and principal financial adviser of TruWealth Advice, to explore how ethics have shaped her firm at a foundational level and the benefits of self-licensing in giving her control to make business decisions grounded in ethical practices.
Touching on a hot topic for the profession, Smith shares her views on advice charging models, explaining why she believes fixed dollar-based fees are more ethical than asset-based fees.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why the separation of product and service is so important in financial advice.
- The need for more female representation within the profession.
- How ethics impacted her decision to develop a niche client base.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford discuss a busy week of announcements from ASIC, with submissions to its public and private markets paper made (mostly) public.
The corporate regulator also held an event to break down its takeaways from the consultation, highlighting the need for greater transparency from market participants, while using another briefing to put super fund trustees on notice over complaint failings.
Tune in to hear:
- What industry players had to say about ASIC’s reports.
- How super funds need to respond to the regulator’s warning shots.
- What impact the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS is set to have on defence investment.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by ifa journalist Shy-ann Arkinstall to discuss new Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino’s initial meetings with industry associations, including the Financial Advice Association Australia, the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals and the SMSF Association, and what the outcomes of these say about the future of the profession.
As the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) reforms remain top of mind for advisers, they take a look at the Financial Services Council’s submission on the legislation, digging into the ongoing concerns regarding the so-called new class of adviser and the uncertainty that has come with only receiving half of the next round of reforms.
Listen as they discuss:
- The soon-to-be-released Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) Treasury review.
- How different variations of Division 296 could impact Australians’ superannuation savings.
- What advisers might expect to see over the next few months.
As the end of the financial year approaches, SMSF professionals are gearing up to navigate the complexities of superannuation contributions and tax planning. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, industry stalwart Liam Shorte, director of Sonas Wealth, explains the essential areas that advisers and accountants should address in the next three weeks to optimise super strategies for their clients.
Managing clients’ total super balance (TSB) effectively is right at the top of the list, with Shorte explaining the importance of having accurate information and why it’s not always a good idea to maximise unused contribution caps if there are any uncertainties around the exact figures.
Listen as they discuss:
- How to access accurate superannuation data through the ATO.
- How to ensure that 2024 financials are reported promptly.
- Contribution strategies for different age cohorts and how they can benefit future planning.
- The increasing problem of debt for those approaching 60.
- Extension of tax planning to age 75.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to unpack Australia’s underwhelming March quarter GDP figures and what they signal for the Reserve Bank’s next move.
With quarterly growth slowing to just 0.2 per cent, Oliver also explores whether interest rates remain too high and why a rate cut may arrive sooner than expected, as well as whether the increasing minimum wage could have an impact on monetary policy.
Tune in to hear:
- About the RBA's balancing act amid weak investment and global uncertainty.
- Why Trump’s tariff threats, the TACO trade, and US debt could rattle markets.
- Whether too much data is clouding projections.
On this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Hugh Robertson, chief executive of Centaur Financial Services, to explore the challenges that come with market volatility and how advisers can really show their value in these times.
Although many clients will feel the need to adjust their investments as changes occur, Robertson believes that timing the market simply doesn’t work, highlighting the importance of discipline and sticking to long-term strategies while still remaining adaptable.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why it’s important for advisers to stay flexible in challenging markets.
- How Division 296 could do more harm in the long run.
- Using diversification to ride out unexpected market shifts.
The latest episode of Relative Return sees host Laura Dew chat with Brian Jones, founder of outsourcing company VA Platinum, on why choosing to outsource certain functions of your business can enable you to be efficient and productive.
Listen as they discuss:
- Whether outsourcing is right for you and your business.
- What factors to consider when seeking a provider.
- Ensuring data is kept securely.
- Building relationships with outsourced staff.
- How outsourcing can help you scale up your business.
In this episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by Money Management editor Laura Dew to discuss learnings from JP Morgan’s recent conference in London, and what top fund managers and analysts see driving market behaviour.
We also breakdown the Coalition’s shadow ministry announcement and what these political moves mean for advisers and industry regulation, how the opposition will deal with the diminished ranks following heavy election losses, and what impact the lack of economics experience will have going forward.
Listen as they discuss:
- The rise of active ETFs from fixed income to uranium.
- What international trends mean for Australian markets.
- How US President Donald Trump’s policies are still reverberating across markets.
This week on The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Adele Martin, founder of Financial Adviser Scale Squad, who speaks about the value of collaboration within the financial services sector and how this can help advisers grow and improve their businesses.
Ahead of presenting at the AI Summit in June, Martin explains how advisers can use AI in their practices to not only help them be more efficient but also in training the next generation of advisers.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why advisers should be doing more than looking for referral partners.
- The role of technology in enhancing advisers’ service offering.
- How hosting workshops can help strengthen both client and partner relationships.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Zahid Kassam, portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management, to unpack the intricacies of contrarian investing and how financial advisers can uncover hidden gems.
Listen as they discuss:
- Kassam’s own journey to becoming a contrarian investor.
- Why volatility is a contrarian’s friend.
- The differences between contrarian and value investing.
- The opportunities present in the European market.
- The role of a contrarian fund in a financial adviser’s portfolio.
The $3 million super tax has been headline news around the country over the past couple of weeks and has finally made the front pages of the mainstream media. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn highlight a critical aspect of the debate that has captured the media’s attention: the difference between the perception and the reality of the implications of the Division 296 tax.
Listen as they discuss:
- The misconceptions and a lack of understanding about the legislation's nuances.
- The political dynamics surrounding Div 296 and its complexities.
- The broader implications of Div 296, particularly its potential impact on estate planning and family businesses.
- The need for advisers to play a crucial role in guiding clients through the complexities of the new tax laws.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to break down the Reserve Bank’s recent decision to cut interest rates to their lowest level since early 2023, and how it highlights a notable pivot in the central bank’s stance.
Oliver also explores the ripple effects of unpredictable US tariff policies, bond market volatility, and the evolving role of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin amid fiscal uncertainty, as well as the different scenarios facing the Australian and global economies.
Tune in to hear:
- Why the RBA’s dovish pivot signals a deeper concern for growth over inflation.
- How US trade policy unpredictability could drag on Australia’s outlook.
- Why unemployment risks are now central to RBA’s monetary strategy.
- Whether there is value in viewing bitcoin as a hedge amid concerns over US debt sustainability.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Fraser Jack, founder of The Cyber Collective, to delve into the longstanding issue of giving financial advisers access to the ATO portal and why the Tax Office might be hesitant to open the door.
Jack also touched on the CPS 230 regulation, which will come into force on 1 July, explaining that advisers will be under even heavier scrutiny from APRA-regulated entities to ensure their cyber security is up to their new standards.
Listen as they discuss:
- How advisers can shore up their cyber security in preparation for ATO portal access.
- What can be learned from the recent attacks on superannuation funds.
- Why advisers should be discussing cyber security with their clients.
In the latest episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Haran Karunakaran, fixed income investment director at Capital Group, to discuss why fixed income solutions are back in the spotlight of client portfolios for advisers.
Listen as they discuss:
- The reversal of adviser sentiment towards fixed income.
- The current fixed income market environment and the impact of US President Donald Trump.
- How portfolio allocations can be adapted in the event of a recession.
- A granular approach to fixed income allocations.
- What advisers should consider when selecting a fixed income fund.
Disclaimer: Investment involves risk. Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and may not necessarily reflect the view of Capital Group or its affiliates. This communication is of a general nature, and not intended to provide investment, tax or other advice, or to be a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. All information is as at the date indicated and attributed to Capital Group unless otherwise stated. While Capital Group uses reasonable efforts to obtain information from third-party sources that it believes to be accurate, this cannot be guaranteed. Capital Group is represented in Australia by Capital Group Investment Management Limited (ACN 164 174 501 AFSL No. 443 118).
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, Financial Services Council CEO Blake Briggs joins the show to break down what the federal election and new-look Treasury portfolio mean for the financial services industry.
Briggs explains that Dr Daniel Mulino enters the financial services minister role with a suite of policies announced under his predecessor but not yet completed, stressing the importance of taking a deliberative approach that would allow Mulino to put his own stamp on the portfolio while continuing the reform process.
Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of stakeholders engaging constructively with the government on financial services reform.
- Why the $3 million super tax remains a contentious issue, and the need to rethink its design.
- Where the Coalition will look for economic policy in the wake of its heavy election loss.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Andrew Lockhart, managing partner at Metrics Credit Partners, about the case for private debt, a fast-growing asset class gaining attention from advisers.
Listen as they discuss:
- The role private debt can play in a diversified portfolio.
- ASIC’s recent private markets report and potential implications.
- How Metrics mitigates possible risks to investors.
- The characteristics of private debt in Australia versus global exposure.
- The factors to consider when selecting a private debt fund.
Metrics Credit Partners Pty Ltd ABN 27 159 646 996 AFSL 416 146 (Metrics) makes no representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the content. The content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide you with financial advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Independent advice should be obtained from an Australian financial services licensee before making investment decisions. To the extent permitted by law, Metrics excludes all liability for any loss or damage arising in any way due to or in connection with the publication of this content, including by way of negligence. Past performance is not a indicator of future performance. All investments contain risk and may lose value.
With Labor winning the election with a clear majority, the SMSF sector is now once again poised for battle over the controversial Division 296 tax.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn sit down with SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess to talk about the implications of the election results, what it may mean going forward, and the association’s plans to convince the elected politicians on the adverse outcomes of the tax.
The podcast will also delve into the latest draft DBFO legislation and how the proposed changes may affect advisers specialising in SMSFs.
Listen as they discuss:
- The election results and the impacts it will have on legislation.
- Time frames for the legislative process.
- Strategies going forward in lobbying the government.
- The DBFO draft legislation.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to unpack the political and economic implications of the Labor’s sweeping election victory and how much the Liberal Party’s economic strategy played a role in the wipeout.
Oliver suggests the result reflects a rejection of extremism and a renewed appetite for centrist governance, potentially giving Labor the room to pursue more ambitious reforms in areas like taxation and productivity.
Tune in to hear:
- How avoiding a Labor–Greens minority government has reassured investors.
- Why the Coalition suffered from a campaign full of confused messaging and unpopular policies.
- The effect of flip-flopping trade policies in the US on business confidence.
- Expectations for interest rate cuts are expected over the rest of 2025.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Ben Marshan, director of Marshan Consulting, to unpack the implications of Labor’s sweeping electoral victory for the financial advice sector.
Marshan explains what the heavy majority means for financial legislation, including what the potential ministerial candidates could bring to the table that could influence the pace and direction of regulatory reform.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why the appointment of the next financial services minister will be pivotal.
- How proposed policies like the $3 million super tax could impact the tax system and the potential unintended consequences.
- What the options are for the Treasury portfolio on the opposition’s side.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford take a final look at the lay of the land ahead of the federal election as the latest polls predict a Labor victory, and what that could mean for Australians going forward.
YouGov has projected Labor as securing an outright majority when the polls close on Saturday, which would be a considerable turnaround from the situation just a few months ago. The Coalition has sought to claw back into the race with the release of its election costings, but with millions already voting early, it might be too late.
Tune in to hear:
- Why Trump-lite tactics may have backfired on Peter Dutton.
- What the S&P Global warning that Australia’s AAA credit rating may be at risk means for government budgeting.
- Whether a minority government is still in sight.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dr Ben Neilson, financial adviser at Complete Wealth, to unpack how ongoing volatility in investment markets are affecting clients and how different cohorts are reacting.
As tariff announcements have caused a roller-coaster on stock markets, it is hard to blame clients for fretting. According to Nielson, the best way to manage concerned clients is to reach out proactively and ensure they know their adviser is in it with them.
Listen as they discuss:
- Demystifying the broader implications of market volatility for clients.
- The difference a few days can make in periods of rapid change.
- How to use unpredictable events as a tool to shift clients’ mindset.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the issues that may affect super and the policy positions of the two major parties.
Tax reform has been the elephant in the room during the federal election campaign, but there has been some mention of the Division 296 tax by the opposition, which has also made commitments regarding advice reforms and adviser numbers.
This podcast covers some of the big-ticket items concerning the advice and super sectors, including:
- Bargaining by the Greens to reduce the super tax threshold to $2 million and its impact on the transfer balance cap.
- Reforms to the CSLR.
- Increasing adviser numbers.
- Housing policies and tax implications.
In this week’s special edition of Relative Return Insider, we bring you outgoing Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ keynote address from Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A focused on the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms.
In what may be his final appearance before an advice audience, Jones reflects on his three-year tenure and outlines Labor’s unfinished business in financial advice – and what a returned government would aim to complete.
Tune in to hear:
- How changes to education standards could revive adviser numbers.
- Updates on the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
- The role of new advisers in closing the advice gap for retiring Australians.
- Why Jones believes just six more months could’ve made all the difference.
In this week’s special episode of The ifa Show, we present outgoing Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ address at Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms.
In what was possibly his last address in front of an advice audience ahead of his retirement from politics, Jones outlines what he achieved over his three years in the role and how the Labor government plans to deliver on what he couldn’t if they are successful at the upcoming election.
Tune in to hear about:
- How the education standards reforms will help the profession recover its numbers.
- What is being done to address the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
- The role of the new class of advisers in bridging the advice accessibility gap for retiring Australians.
- Why an extra six months would have done the trick.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Unplugged, Dr Vladimir Tyazhelnikov from the University of Sydney’s School of Economics joins the show to break down the shifting sands of global trade dynamics and attempt to understand the way US President Donald Trump is employing tariffs.
An expert on international trade and global value chains, Tyazhelnikov explains why the current approach has led to such an extreme reaction from the US’ trade partners and the alternative options that are available to avoid a trade war that is so economically damaging for all involved.
Join us to hear about:
- Why the fluctuations in commodities prices could have benefits for some sectors despite broader concerns.
- How Chinese TikTokers are helping consumers skirt around trade restrictions.
- What the volatile nature of the policies means for businesses trying to keep up with the changes.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Sarah Abood, chief executive of Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to break down the Coalition's promises to the advice profession if they come into power and the merits of the latest draft legislation of Labor's advice reforms.
Ahead of the federal election, Abood explored some of the possible solutions offered from both sides for addressing the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, as well as the possible implications of superannuation funds providing retirement advice through collective charging.
Listen as they discuss:
- What the FAAA wants from the incoming government.
- Why it's important that advisers gain access to the ATO portal.
- How government funding could boost new entrants to the profession.
In this edition of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by legal specialist Phil Broderick, principal at Sladen Legal, to discuss the implications of the Bendel court decision - a landmark ruling with potentially far-reaching consequences for SMSFs and private trusts. This ruling has profound implications for the use of discretionary trusts and corporate beneficiaries, potentially allowing distributions to remain unpaid without triggering Division 7A consequences. The podcast delves into the significance of the case, drawing parallels to pivotal decisions like Bamford, and explores how it could reshape the landscape for tax and accounting practices in Australia. Listen as they discuss:
- The interpretation of "financial accommodation" within Division 7A.
- The relevance of this decision for SMSFs
- The potential for the Bendel decision to influence other areas of superannuation law.
In this week’s special episode of The ifa Show, we present shadow treasurer Angus Taylor’s address at Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Coalition’s plans for the financial services sector.
Taylor outlined what a Peter Dutton-led government would deliver for the Australian economy, why the role of financial advisers is "absolutely central" to its economic blueprint, and how the nation's leader needs to handle negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
Tune in to hear about:
- The Coalition's plans to reshape the economy.
- How Taylor plans to get the cost-of-living crisis under control.
- Why the shadow treasurer aims to double financial adviser numbers.
In this week’s special episode of Relative Return Unplugged, we present shadow treasurer Angus Taylor’s address at Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Coalition’s plans for the financial services sector.
Taylor outlined what a Peter Dutton-led government would deliver for the Australian economy, why the role of financial advisers is “absolutely central” to its economic blueprint, and how the nation’s leader needs to handle negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
Tune in to hear about:
- The Coalition's plans to reshape the economy.
- How Taylor plans to get the cost-of-living crisis under control.
- Why the shadow treasurer aims to double financial adviser numbers.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Unplugged, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to unravel the web of tariffs that US President Donald Trump launched on trading partners and take a look at the way global economies are likely to be impacted.
The so-called Liberation Day has shaken up the conventions of international trade, and how affected nations respond will go a long way to determining the scale of the potential trade war.
Join us to hear about:
- Why Oliver has dubbed it “Retro Day” instead.
- What kind of flow-on effects can be expected for the Australian economy, after getting off relatively easily.
- How markets are expected to react and what is on the horizon for the US.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by independent financial adviser Nathan Fradley to discuss the Aged Care Act reforms set to come into effect on 1 July and how advisers can prepare their clients.
With the funding of aged care also heading for change, Fradley breaks down what advisers who don’t specialise in the space need to know and the value of building a network of professionals they can refer clients to, to ensure they can meet the needs of clients navigating the complex aged care space.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why it’s so important that advisers stay up to date on the incoming reforms.
- The value of specialisation within the advice industry.
- What impact DBFO 1.5 could have on clients’ retirement income and Centrelink eligibility.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew is joined by Andrew Lockhart, managing partner at Metrics Credit Partners, to discuss the attraction of real estate debt and why it can be a compelling option for portfolio diversification.
Listen as they discuss:
- How it compares to traditional equities and fixed income.
- Metrics’ due diligence process.
- Potential returns from the asset class.
- Its role in diversified portfolios for private wealth or retail investors.
- How Metrics mitigates possible risks to protect investor capital.
Disclaimer: Metrics Credit Partners Pty Ltd ABN 27 159 646 996 AFSL 416 146 (Metrics) makes no representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the content. The content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide you with financial advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Independent advice should be obtained from an Australian financial services licensee before making investment decisions. To the extent permitted by law, Metrics excludes all liability for any loss or damage arising in any way due to or in connection with the publication of this content, including by way of negligence. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. All investments contain risk and may lose value. The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (ABN 45 003 278 831, AFSL 235 150) is the Responsible Entity of the Metrics Master Income Trust (MXT) (ARSN 620 465 090), Metrics Income Opportunities Trust (MOT) (ARSN 631 320 628) and the Metrics Real Estate Multi-Strategy Fund (MRE) (a stapled structure consisting of the Metrics Real Estate Multi-Strategy Passive Trust (ARSN 679 413 293) and the Metrics Real Estate Multi-Strategy Active Trust (ARSN 679 413 695)). All content in respect of MXT, MOT and MRE is issued by The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (ABN 45 003 278 831) (AFSL 235 150) as the responsible entity. Equity Trustees Limited (ACN 004 031 298, AFSL 240 975) (EQT) is the Responsible Entity of the Metrics Real Estate Income Fund (MREIF) (ARSN 671 699 228) (together “the Funds”). The Investment Manager for the Funds is Metrics Credit Partners Pty Ltd (Metrics) ABN 27 150 646 996, AFSL 416 146. Before making any investment decisions, please refer to the Funds’ PDS, TMD and any Additional Disclosures which is available at www.metrics.com.au and assess whether the Funds are appropriate given your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please note that the PDS and TMD for MREIF will be available soon. If you require advice that takes into account your personal circumstances, you should consult a licensed or authorised financial adviser. Target return may not be achieved. The payment of monthly cash income is a goal of each Fund only and is not guaranteed.
In this special post-budget episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn navigate a complex web of budgetary and political issues.
Although it was a budget with nothing much in it for the SMSF sector, it was what wasn’t included that may have dramatic implications for the sector moving forward.
With the departure of Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones, the sector faces uncertainty over future leadership and policy direction, while the emergence of the Teal independents and the potential for a minority government add layers of complexity to an already unpredictable political landscape.
Listen as they discuss:
- The budget's limited offerings with small tax cuts and cost-of-living adjustments taking centrestage.
- The alignment between the reduced tax rates and superannuation accumulation rates.
- The broader implications of the upcoming election on the SMSF and financial services sectors.
- The DBFO 1.5. proposed changes, including the shift from a statement of advice to a client advice record.
In this episode of The ifa Show, hosts Keith Ford and Maja Garaca Djurdjevic are joined by Phil Anderson, general manager of policy, advocacy and standards at the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to break down the latest tranche of financial advice reforms.
With an election on the horizon, there won’t be any meaningful movement on the draft legislation, but the version delivered last week has fallen well short of the FAAA’s expectations, with Anderson characterising the association’s response as having a “fairly strong tone of disappointment”.
Listen as they discuss:
- What’s in the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) exposure draft – and what isn’t.
- Why the FAAA is so strongly against the legislation in its current form.
- The specifics around what advice super funds would be allowed to collectively charge members.
- Whether there are any real differences between the proposed client advice record and a statement of advice.
- How little there was in the budget for financial services and advice.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return Unplugged, AMP’s chief economist, Shane Oliver, joins us to break down Labor’s budget, focusing on its re-election strategy and cost-of-living support, and cautioning about the long-term impact of structural deficits, increased government spending, and potential risks to productivity growth.
Join us to hear about:
- Why the budget raises alarms about the long-term impact of structural deficits.
- How government spending impacts productivity growth.
- Oliver's advice for the next government.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Mark Barnes, head of investment research, and Catherine Yoshimoto, director of product management, from FTSE Russell about markets in Donald Trump's second presidency and how US small caps are faring compared to their large-caps counterpart.
Listen as they discuss:
- Markets, inflation and interest rates in Trump 2.0.
- Trump’s growth policies and their impact on equities.
- The diversified nature of the Russell 2000 Index.
- How today's small caps can become tomorrow's winners.
- Benefits for advisers of using index-linked products.
Disclaimer: FTSE Russell is not an investment firm, and this podcast is not advice about any investment activity. This podcast is solely for informational purposes.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, we examine the push for superannuation tax reforms aimed at saving $10 billion annually, as well as the immense pressure being placed on Treasurer Jim Chalmers ahead of the budget and Deloitte’s warning of a $26.1 billion deficit. Join us as we discuss: * The key superannuation tax reforms being proposed and their potential impact. * How the budget is shaping up amid economic uncertainty and fiscal pressures. * The broader implications of global instability on Australia’s economic outlook.
Tune in for our insights on the policy decisions shaping the nation’s financial future.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Eugene Ardino, chief executive of Lifespan Financial Planning, to discuss some of the hot-button topics impacting financial advice and why, despite some challenges, there is still plenty of reason for optimism.
Financial advisers are facing headwinds in the form of sluggish regulatory reform and the growing impact of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR), which Ardino said is currently the biggest issue for advice, though high demand and deregulation on the horizon should see things improve.
Listen as they discuss:
- What steps need to be taken to ensure the CSLR is sustainable without crippling financial advice.
- How the advice profession can work to attract more new entrants and sell the positives of the sector.
- Whether a change in minister is likely to speed up the implementation of reforms.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Marc Fabris, founder of Risk Hub, to discuss how technology and artificial intelligence are being used to boost efficiency in the advice process, making risk advice commercially viable for holistic advisers.
While commissions have certainly played a significant role in the exodus of holistic advisers from the risk sector, Fabris explains how regulatory changes and compliance requirements have made risk advice more challenging and expensive, which has ultimately led to an underinsurance issue in Australia.
Listen as they discuss:
- The likelihood of government addressing risk commissions soon.
- How collaboration with insurers could streamline the risk advice process.
- Why advisers need to embrace AI to stay competitive for the future.
With auditing season in full swing and the ATO increasing its scrutiny of the sector, this week’s SMSF Adviser podcast focuses on the challenges auditors may face regarding compliance. Hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by legal specialist Bryce Figot from DBA Lawyers, one of the sector’s leading experts in the intricacies of SMSF auditing, to discuss what’s involved in managing the myriad regulatory obligations SMSF auditors now face.
Figot touches on, among other things, the Tax Office’s renewed focus on auditor compliance for 2025 – especially in maintaining professional standards and quality control. He also reflects on the importance of auditors as gatekeepers in the industry with responsibility for ensuring the integrity of over a trillion dollars in SMSF assets.
The podcast also delves into:
- The ATO's scrutiny of ‘volume auditors’.
- The importance of professional indemnity insurance for SMSF auditors.
- Pricing matters and what auditors should be charging per audit.
- The rigours and importance of documentation.
- The evolving landscape of the SMSF auditing industry with a shrinking number of auditors and an increasing number of SMSFs.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by AMP’s chief economist, Shane Oliver, to discuss the ever-evolving state of global markets as the US pursues its protectionist trade war. The fast-moving rollout of tariffs against major trade partners has had a profound impact on stock markets around the world, with tensions and reciprocal tariffs threatening to inflame a trade war that could have prolonged effects.
Listen as they discuss:
- How global markets are responding to the increasing volatility of a Trump presidency.
- Whether the President’s tactics will change if the downturns become more pronounced.
- Why Australia not hitting back with tariffs of its own is the right path.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Katherine Spitzkowsky, founder and principal adviser at Yulania Financial, ahead of International Women's Day to discuss the specific needs of women seeking financial advice, as well as how advisers can work with neurodiverse clients.
While many financial advisers aim to tailor their offering to every client based on their individual needs, Spitzkowsky explains why it is still important to understand the differences in the way that men and women approach financial literacy to ensure clients receive the best outcome from the financial advice process.
Listen as they discuss:
- The value of referring clients to other advisers who would be a better fit.
- Why neurodiverse clients can often be perceived as difficult because of a mismatch in communication styles.
- How financial advisers can provide a better service through flexibility in their processes.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by the executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals, Peter Johnston, to break down how the poor design of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) could lead to the downfall of the financial advice profession as they face a $70 million levy.
With the responsibility of addressing the CSLR seemingly being left in the hands of the next government, Johnston explains the importance of advisers using their vote in the upcoming federal election to support those that will, in turn, support the profession and deliver on their promises.
Listen as they discuss:
- Whether there are any legal pathways for the profession to challenge the CSLR.
- How advisers can push back against political pressures in the upcoming federal election.
- What the long-term implications of the CSLR could be for the profession.
In this special two-part episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference. In part two, Tracey Scotchbrook, head of policy and advocacy at the SMSF Association, joins to break down the major regulatory issues impacting the sector, including the ongoing confusion around how to apply wholesale investor thresholds for SMSFs. Ben Marshan, director at Marshan Consulting, also joins the show to talk about the importance of financial advisers staying ahead of regulatory shifts to ensure they are prepared for the future, rather than waiting for long-gestating reforms to take place before streamlining their practice. Finally, Peter Crump, senior consultant at BDO, covers the importance of an exit plan for SMSF members and the considerations that can maximise client outcomes when it comes time to wind up a fund.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford discuss the corporate regulator’s recent discussion paper looking into the rapid growth of private markets and the role of superannuation funds in this “opaque” sector.
In what ASIC chair Joe Longo described as one of its “most important pieces of proactive work”, the corporate cop has sought to open a discussion on its regulatory approach and gather actionable ideas to improve Australia’s capital markets.
We break down the paper and the research report informing it, how ASIC has approached the shifting dynamics of capital markets, and why super funds have emerged as the focal point of the discussion.
Tune in to hear:
- What the corporate regulator is looking to achieve with its attempts to increase transparency in private markets.
- How market participants have responded to the discussion paper.
- The role of Australia’s superannuation funds in both public and private markets.
In this episode of The ifa Show, co-hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford break down what Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones' impending retirement means for the upcoming federal election.
While many advisers will be glad to see Jones go after years of disappointment from the Labor government, particularly in relation to the government's handling of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR), many are still hesitant to trust the Coalition, remembering the decade of mistreatment.
Listen as they discuss:
- How United Global Capital is impacting the CSLR more than Dixon Advisory.
- Industry associations' criticisms of both major political parties.
- Whether advisers can expect to see a draft on tranche two of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms prior to the election.
In this special two-part episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference in Melbourne. In part one, SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess and Class CEO Tim Steele join the show to talk about the thought leadership breakfast on the first day of the conference, the growth of the SMSF sector, and the major issues impacting professionals.
Phil Broderick, principal at Sladen Legal, also joins the show to break down the considerations when advising clients on which type of investment structure they should use depending on their personal circumstances and goals.
Finally, Shelley Banton, head of technical at ASF Audits, covers the thorny subject of business real property and the difficulties that auditors can have in determining whether an investment meets the criteria or if a member is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
On this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by AMP’s chief economist Shane Oliver to break down the Reserve Bank of Australia’s long anticipated rate cut to 4.1 per cent.
Is the central bank being overly cautious? What does this mean for inflation, the job market, and future rate moves? Tune in as the pair unpacks the economic and political implications of the decision – and what lies ahead for interest rates in 2025.
Listen as they discuss:
- The election timing speculation and economic uncertainties shaping the RBA’s decisions.
- Whether the RBA will continue easing, and when.
- The impact of the bank’s new two-board system on future monetary policy decisions.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by the chief executive of WT Financial Group, Keith Cullen, to break down the government’s adviser education reform announcement, and why the profession needs to be pragmatic about the pathways to bring in new advisers. Cullen explains why he sees opening up financial advice to a wider range of degrees is vital, and the importance of maintaining the appropriate additional requirements, such as completing the adviser exam, professional year, and CPD training.
Listen as they discuss:
- What advisers can expect from the upcoming federal election.
- How the next tranche of DBFO is tracking and the measures it needs to get right.
- Why the government needs to stop its constant meddling in the super system.
It’s already been a hectic first few weeks of the year in the SMSF sector with legislative changes and political manoeuvring. In this week’s SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn delve into what has happened and what may transpire in the coming months. They’re joined by Daniel Butler, director of DBA Lawyers, to talk about the complexities of investing in rental properties within SMSFs, the considerations advisers need to keep in mind, and the impact of various state taxes on property investment.
With a burgeoning interest in property as a significant asset class within SMSFs, Butler highlights the nuances and challenges trustees face.
Listen as they discuss:
- Investment trends in SMSFs.
- Key considerations of commercial v residential property.
- Regulatory and tax implications.
- The challenges of property management.
- The evolving tax landscape.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford, along with special guest Liam Garman, break down the economic landscape ahead of the Reserve Bank’s highly anticipated first rate call of 2025. With two major banks already dropping rates on some fixed mortgage offerings, the consensus that the RBA will lower interest rates for the first time in more than four years has grown even stronger.
We explore the factors driving this solidified view and whether there is likely to be a considerable change in property prices on the back of a cut, as well as how the move would impact other asset classes.
Tune in to hear:
- How sticky US inflation and President Donald Trump’s tariffs are going to affect the American, global and Australian economies.
- Why Australia is in a good position to avoid the worst of a potential global trade war.
- How the RBA’s decision on rates could impact the federal election.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with David Russell, chair of the Transition Pathway Initiative, and Tony Campos, head of sustainable investment at FTSE Russell, about the intricacies of climate investment. Listen as they discuss:
- How climate investment is becoming a mainstream concern.
- A trend towards transition-focused investing for a low-carbon economy.
- The partnership between FTSE Russell and the TPI.
- TPI’s role in evaluating a company’s carbon performance.
- Further plans, including exploring performance by private companies.
In the latest episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by the founder of The Cyber Collective, Fraser Jack, to discuss how technological advancements have impacted the cyber security space and the doubled-edged sword of AI.
Reflecting on the evolving landscape of cyber security, Jack emphasised the importance of creating resilient businesses that can withstand and recover quickly from attacks as despite best efforts, attacks still can occur.
Listen as he discusses:
- How third-party providers can increase cyber risk.
- Why leaders’ knowledge is crucial to protecting the business.
- The consistent vulnerability of human error.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford, along with special guest Steve Kuper, discuss a whirlwind start to US President Donald Trump’s second term that all but kicked off a trade war. We explore the lay of the land following a flurry of executive orders, abrupt policy changes, and escalating tensions that seem to have no clear end in sight. The tariffs on Canada and Mexico are paused for now, but China did not experience the same sudden reversal.
Trump’s leadership style has so far led to volatility in global markets as investors grapple with the significant uncertainty and a potential market correction on the horizon.
Tune in to hear:
- The case for tariffs as bargaining chips and if this is ultimately a chaotic approach to diplomacy.
- Whether volatility is here to stay as a feature of Trump’s presidency.
- What kind of flow-on impact tariffs could have on the Australian economy.
In this episode of The ifa Show, we share a discussion between host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and associate professor Nathan Eva, from Monash Business School, on the global implications of US President Donald Trump's "me-first agenda" on organisational culture, including within Australia. Eva breaks down Trump’s executive orders rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and clean energy efforts, and how these moves could flow through into the domestic landscape.
Listen as they discuss:
- The risks that come with deprioritising diversity and how Australian leaders can resist these trends.
- What organisations can do to stay committed to fairness, equity, and sustainability amid political and social upheaval.
- The leadership qualities needed to navigate this challenging new era.
There has been significant movement in the digital advice space over the past decade. As the industry accelerates its efforts to address the undersupply of financial advice, digital solutions are essential to meet the demands of Australia’s 12.9 million financial advice beneficiaries. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, host Keith Ford talks to David Barrett, an independent consultant with a wealth of experience in the industry, to delve into the evolving landscape of digital advice for SMSFs.
Barrett highlights a recent partnership between a digital advice provider and a major institution, showcasing the industry’s progress. While the initial iterations of digital advice have been simplistic, they have laid the groundwork for more complex solutions in the future. However, when faced with complex scenarios such as defined benefit schemes, digital advice may still require human intervention. Listen as they discuss:
- The role of digital advice in SMSFs.
- Challenges and drawbacks of digital advice.
- Legislative agenda and future considerations.
The emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that claims to have built an advanced large language model in just two months for under US$6 million, sent shockwaves through the AI world and cratered US tech stocks. In this episode of the Relative Return Unplugged podcast, Professor Geoff Webb from Monash University’s Department of Data Science and AI unpacks what the emergence of a Chinese challenger to established US AI players means and whether scepticism over its claims is warranted.
We discuss how markets have responded to DeepSeek’s arrival, whether tech giants are overspending on AI, the possibility of other challengers popping up around the world, and the security concerns when dealing with Chinese tech.
Tune in to hear Webb’s insights on how these new developments are going to impact the future of AI.
In the latest episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by academic and consultant Dr Katherine Hunt to dive into the barriers that are holding advice firms back from bringing on young advisers and why overcoming them is important for the future of the profession. Reflecting on conversations with advisers who have decided working with professional year (PY) advisers simply doesn’t fit their business model, Hunt outlined why this is an area where advice firms can take on more responsibility for improving the overall profession while still gaining value from a new adviser’s skills.
Listen as she discusses:
- How to reposition the value proposition of a PY adviser as a positive for your clients.
- Why the proposed new class of adviser could be reason for optimism and lead to growth in adviser numbers in the long-term.
- How to get the most out of mandated ethics continuing professional development rather than just ticking a box.
Donald Trump’s presidency has already begun reshaping the corporate and political landscape in the US, with executive orders rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and clean energy efforts. In this episode of the Relative Return Unplugged podcast, associate professor Nathan Eva from Monash Business School discusses the global implications of Trump’s “me-first agenda” on organisational culture, including within Australia.
We explore the risks of deprioritising diversity, and how Australian leaders can resist these trends, as well as what organisations can do to stay committed to fairness, equity, and sustainability amid political and social upheaval.
Tune in to hear Nathan’s insights on the leadership qualities needed to navigate this challenging new era.
In the latest episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford sits down with founder and director of Forte Asset Solutions, Steve Prendeville, to break down what’s happening in the financial services mergers and acquisitions (M&A) space. With activity high across the board, including multiple bidders attempting to take over Insignia Financial, Prendeville shares his insights on the growing international interest in Australian financial services firms and why this is happening.
Listen as he discusses:
- The impact of offshore ownership on the domestic financial services market.
- Why 2025 is set to be a busy year for M&A advice firms, driven by a combination of supply and demand dynamics.
- How financial advisers can build better businesses and enhance profitability.
In the first episode of the SMSF Adviser Show for 2025, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn take a look at the hot topics that will impact the SMSF space in the new year.
The pair discuss the upcoming federal election, which is set to dominate the outlook for the first half of the year, as a range of measures related to SMSF advice hang in the balance and are unlikely to be decided until the polls are closed.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why litigation over estate benefits is expected to continue to grow.
- How a strong focus on retirement outcomes will take centrestage in 2025.
- The possibility of accountants being given a larger role in providing financial advice.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by AMP chief economist Shane Oliver to take a look at what can be learned from 2024 as attention turns to what markets will do in the new year. The strong share market returns of 2024 may not quite be repeated in 2025, but Oliver believes it is still set to be a solid year for markets; however, volatility is set to continue on the back of uncertainty around how much central banks are going to cut rates.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why monetary policy is still an effective tool to control inflation.
- How a Trump presidency is likely to impact the global and domestic markets.
- The key issues ahead of the federal election and how the different potential outcomes could affect the economy.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF, to break down an early Christmas present for the SMSF sector – the introduction of regulations on legacy retirement product commutations and reserves.
Miller explains why there was a need for these regulations to be put in place and who is set to benefit from legacy pension changes, the important dates for the measures, and considerations for both SMSF members and their advisers when deciding if exiting a pension is the right decision.
The podcast also takes a look back on a big year for SMSF professionals. Even though the Division 296 changes never got across the line, there were changes to the stage 3 tax cuts, the objective of super was legislated, and the government raised the ire of accountants with some ill-advised changes to the code of professional conduct for tax practitioners – and much more.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the SMSF sector was impacted by the biggest events of 2024.
- The key areas covered on the SMSF Adviser Show over the year that was.
- Why a number of these important issues are going to still be on the agenda in 2025.
Join us for a special episode of Relative Return Unplugged as hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by shadow financial services minister Luke Howarth to discuss the Coalition’s goals for financial advice.
In this conversation, Howarth shares his perspective on the current state of the sector, what a change in government would bring about for financial advice reform efforts, the prospect of super funds returning to advice, and what needs to change regarding the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
Tune in to hear the shadow minister’s vision for the advice profession ahead of next year’s federal election.
You’ll hear:
- What the Coalition’s plan to implement all the Quality of Advice Review recommendations means in practice.
- His plans to turn around what has been a contentious relationship between the advice profession and successive governments on both sides of politics.
- How Australia’s economy is looking following an extended period of high inflation and increased government spending.
- Whether the shadow minister is just talking a good game ahead of an election or if financial advice would be better off under a Coalition government.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Kylie Denton, the owner and director of Performance Advisory Group, to explore how advisers can navigate the complex landscape of the intergenerational transfer of wealth and engage with different generations of clients.
Denton explains why financial advisers need to start thinking about how they will connect with this new generation now, as around $435 billion of wealth is set to transfer from Baby Boomers to generations X, Y, and Z over the next 10 years.
Listen as they discuss:
- The conversations that advisers should be having with clients and both their children and grandchildren.
- How advisers can tailor their offerings to younger generations that communicate very differently compared with older clients.
- The different concerns that younger clients hold, not just from a financial perspective but also on a broader level.
In this special episode of Relative Return Unplugged, we are sharing a discussion between Momentum Media’s Steve Kuper, Major General (Ret’d) Marcus Thompson and AMP chief economist Shane Oliver on the latest economic data and what it means for Australia’s economy and national security.
There are a range of complexities impacting Australia’s economic landscape amid rising geopolitical tensions, and there is a dire need for strategies to bolster the nation’s defence capabilities in the face of potential threats.
The trio take a look at the challenges facing the nation, such as stagnant productivity and a significant slowdown in GDP growth, highlighting the importance of balancing economic and national security priorities, particularly in the face of an increasingly complex and uncertain geopolitical landscape.
They also discuss:
- The need for a strategic approach to industrialisation, focusing on high-tech and automated manufacturing, to enhance Australia’s defence capabilities while maintaining economic stability.
- The need to boost economic complexity and diversity to better prepare the nation to face the mounting geopolitical and “whole-of-nation” efforts being leveraged against Australia in this new multipolar world and how best to deliver such a monumental change.
- The urgent need for a serious national debate with the Australian public about the future of the country and its economic future and the intersection of national security.
In this episode of The ifa Show, co-hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford break down Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ latest update on the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) reforms and how the new class of adviser (NCA) is set to operate. Details have been short on the second tranche of the DBFO and the delays have been lengthy, but the minister has provided a more in-depth look at how the super funds and insurers will be able to utilise NCAs to provide simple advice to members – though there is still no date for the release of draft legislation.
Listen as they discuss:
- Whether the ability for NCAs to charge for their service is a net positive and why it became a point of friction among stakeholders.
- The reaction from across the financial services industry.
- How likely it is that the legislation will be passed in the current term of Parliament, given the ever-shrinking window before the federal election.
Following a whirlwind of legislative activity in the last few days of the parliamentary sitting calendar for the year, the Senate passed a number of bills via a guillotine motion. Although the controversial Division 296 tax was not among them after a last-minute reprieve, several other bills were passed that will ultimately affect the SMSF sector.
In this final episode of the SMSF Adviser Podcast for 2024, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn, CEO of Smarter SMSF, discuss the implications of these measures.
Listen as they discuss:
- The perseverance and success of the campaign by the SMSF Association regarding the Division 296 tax.
- The objective of super bill and how it may influence future policy decisions.
- The collapse of wealth management companies, particularly Dixon Advisory, and its impact on the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
- The ATO’s updated advice on long-running NALI regulations.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, co-hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford break down some of the legislation that passed during the government’s last-minute guillotine motion, including the measures to restructure the Reserve Bank into a two-board system. As the parliamentary year came to a close last week, the government rushed 31 bills through the Senate on Thursday night, followed up with a 32-minute sitting in the lower house on Friday. Among the flurry of bills was the controversial measure to create separate monetary policy and governance boards at the RBA.
We explore the process that ended in this result, the reaction from economists and the opposition, and whether critics are right that the government will use the likely March start date for the new structure to stack the board ahead of the federal election.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why even the perception of political interference could damage the credibility of the bank.
- Whether the objective of superannuation will impact future legislation in the space.
- The government’s latest announcement on financial advice reform detailing how a new class of advisers will operate.
In this episode of The ifa Show, co-hosts Keith Ford and Maja Garaca Djurdjevic are joined by Money Management editor Laura Dew to dissect some of the submissions that industry stakeholders have made to the Senate’s Dixon Advisory inquiry.
Submissions for the Senate inquiry into failure of wealth management companies and the impact on the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) have started to be released, and some key issues have started to emerge around where the major problems lie and what can be done to fix them.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the CSLR came about and why the Dixon Advisory collapse has caused so many problems.
- The ongoing concern of what will happen when the $20 million subsector cap is exceeded.
- Options to address large firms walking away from their subsidiaries and leaving it to advisers to pick up the tab.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, co-hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by Money Management editor Laura Dew to dissect some of the submissions that industry stakeholders have made to the Senate’s Dixon Advisory inquiry. The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) has become a hot-button topic among financial advisers, with the sector bearing the brunt of the costs following the collapse of Dixon Advisory. However, it isn’t the only financial services sector impacted, as the 10 largest banking and insurance companies are already covering the pre-CSLR period of complaints to the tune of $241 million.
As the submissions for the Senate inquiry into the failure of wealth management companies and the impact on the CSLR have started to be released, some key issues have started to emerge around where the major problems lie and what can be done to fix them.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the CSLR came about and why the Dixon Advisory collapse has caused so many problems.
- The ongoing concern of what will happen when the $20 million subsector cap is exceeded.
- Options to address large firms walking away from their subsidiaries and leaving it to advisers to pick up the tab.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Bryce Quirk, Group Executive of Distribution at CFS, and Recep Peker, Managing Director of Empower Business Advisory, to explore the findings of the firms’ recent Advice Practice Profitability Report.
Quirk and Peker break down the report’s most important insights for advisers, from the way practice inefficiencies are hindering their ability to serve a greater number of clients to the importance of investing in the foundation of their businesses to accommodate future growth.
Listen as they discuss:
- How to address the ongoing issue of advice accessibility.
- The importance of advocating for the value of financial advice and reducing servicing costs.
- The role of managed accounts in simplifying processes and improving client outcomes.
- Why advisers should seek technology partners that facilitate consistency and simplicity and how this can boost profitability.
In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, cryptocurrency continues to carve out its niche, particularly within the realm of SMSFs. In this SMSF Adviser podcast, host Keith Ford speaks with Simon Ho, the COO and head of SMSF at CoinStash, about how SMSFs can safely utilise cryptocurrencies as part of their investment portfolio.
In this episode, they discuss:
- The difference between an investor and a trader and differing tax treatments.
- The importance of clear reporting and compliance.
- Methods for gaining exposure to crypto assets.
- Strategies to contend with market volatility.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by special guest Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP, to break down what’s happening with the Trump trade and the broader global economy, and what it means for Australia. Markets reacted quickly when it became clear that Donald Trump was set to win the US presidential election, with many seeking to capitalise on the expected corporate tax cuts and tariff hikes. However, messier economic conditions than in 2016 have dampened the party in some areas. We take a look at the potential for volatility on the back of ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, whether the global economy will fare as poorly as some forecasts indicate, and how the Australian market is reacting to events both globally and locally. Tune in to hear: * Why tampering with the Future Fund’s mandate could be a slippery slope that ultimately compromises returns. * Whether the government’s big-spending budgets have hindered efforts to curb inflation. * What to expect from the Reserve Bank of Australia ahead of the upcoming federal election.
In this episode of The ifa Show, co-hosts Keith Ford and Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sit down to discuss tranche two of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes legislation and Liberal senator Andrew Bragg’s admonishment of the government for the ever-extending timeline to deliver a draft of the legislation.
Together, the pair delve into the potential impact of Australia’s 2025 federal election and how politics are playing a role in the legislative process, suggesting financial services could become a key battleground as the election nears.
Listen as they discuss:
- The private member’s bill hoping to provide advisers a reprieve from onerous statements of advice.
- Advisers who are left in a state of limbo as they await legislative change.
- The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort and the ongoing battle against Dixon Advisory.
In this episode, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford take a look at what’s making news in the investment world, from President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations to Cbus fronting up to a Senate inquiry.
Trump has remained in the news in the week since he cruised to victory in the US presidential election as more major figures in the world of finance weigh in on what his inflationary policies could mean for global economies.
We’ll discuss what Trump’s picks for secretary appointments could signal going forward and likely policy impacts, breaking down Future Fund CEO Raphael Arndt’s take on a Trump presidency, and the surging price of crypto in the wake of a Republican sweep.
Tune in as we also unpack embattled super fund Cbus’ appearance before a Senate committee and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s newly launched lawsuit against the trustee.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Conrad Travers, director and principal consultant at Tangelo Advice Consulting, to discuss the ATO’s final determination on tax deductibility of advice fees and how advice firms can put the changes into practice to benefit their clients. Travers explains how the new guidance works, what has changed from the draft determination that was released last year, and why it is important to work alongside accounting professionals to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why advice firms need to identify areas of friction in their processes to enhance their operational efficiency.
- How to get your practice ready for the changes coming out of the first Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) legislation.
- What to expect from the second tranche of DBFO and why you shouldn’t rely on regulatory change to improve your practice.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Eric Braz, MFS portfolio manager on the global small and mid-cap fund, the MFS Global New Discovery Strategy, to discuss the power of small and mid-cap investing in today’s global markets. Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of a broad, diversified portfolio.
- MFS’ key sources of investment ideas.
- Why an active, global approach matters in this asset class.
- The benefits of having a dedicated exposure to small and mid-caps.
- Where the exciting trends and opportunities are.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Andrew McVeigh, managing partner at Remara, to discuss the changes within investment markets that SMSF professionals and investors should keep an eye on.
McVeigh explains that Remara has seen the appetite for credit starting to slow, which he said the RBA would consider as it starts to look at potentially cutting rates, while equity markets have been volatile, leading to some good opportunities, some bad opportunities, and a lot of sideways movement.
Listen as they discuss:
- The launch of the Remara Opportunistic Development Fund.
- Limitations on how SMSFs can invest in different asset classes.
- Navigating the complexities of the current market and utilising funds to reduce risk.
In this episode, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by special guest Steve Kuper to dive deep into the recent US election results and what they mean for the world.
With Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency in a sweeping victory, we examine the global implications from both a geopolitical and economic perspective.
We’ll discuss how Trump’s campaign strategies resonated so strongly with voters, the missteps that left the Democrats struggling to connect, and Kamala Harris’ challenge in defining her own path apart from President Joe Biden.
Tune in as we unpack what went right – and wrong – on both sides of the aisle, and what it could mean for allies, adversaries, and markets worldwide.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dr Ben Neilson, a financial adviser from Complete Wealth, to discuss a new framework for advice – developed through his recently completed PhD – focusing on six critical barriers: professionalism, trust, engagement, comprehension, costs, and serviceability. Neilson discusses the role of technology in improving efficiency in the advice process and the need to outsource administrative tasks to increase client capacity and reduce the cost to serve.
Listen as they discuss:
- The key barriers impacting financial advisers.
- How firms can act to reduce the cost of advice.
- The perception of financial advice as a profession.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by special guest Stephen Miller, market strategist at GSFM, to unpack the latest inflation figures and what they could mean for the RBA’s coming rate decisions.
Australia’s latest consumer price index print has seen inflation drop to 2.8 per cent over the past 12 months to September, bolstered by temporary government subsidies, while annual trimmed mean inflation remained at 3.5 per cent, which places the Reserve Bank in a cautious stance on rate cuts.
We take a look at what the latest numbers say about the broader Australian economy and how the RBA is likely to respond, as well as comparing the Aussie central bank’s rate decisions with global counterparts and whether it made the right call when it was raising rates.
Tune in to hear:
- How the competing duties of governments and central banks can result in tension.
- Why the headline inflation number tells a misleading story.
- What the future holds for rates as inflation remains sticky.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by specialist financial adviser Nathan Fradley to discuss the growing importance of aged care advice in Australia as the population gets older, and the need for specialised knowledge to successfully handle complexities of Australia's aged care system.
Fradley discusses his journey to aged care advice, the challenges of navigating complicated relationship dynamics, and what can happen when people receive incorrect advice.
Listen as they discuss:
- The emotional side of aged care advice.
- Unique challenges of advising clients on aged care and retirement.
- The evolving landscape of aged care legislation.
In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a pair of experts on the floor of the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day to provide insight into some of the complex topics facing SMSF professionals. Daniel Butler, director at DBA Lawyers, joins to discuss the changes to non-arm's length income and expense (NALI/E) rules, why there is still so much confusion, and the need to understand the grey area. Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF, also joins the show to break down the importance of understanding the nuances of different contribution strategies and explain how his contributions matrix can help make things easier.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic, along with Momentum Media political commentator Liam Garman and special guest Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP, dive into the looming US election and what it means for Australia’s economy. With less than two weeks until Americans head to the polls, the race between the candidates is tightening, particularly in crucial swing states. The stakes are high, not just for the US, but for global allies like Australia, which is keenly aware of how different policies might impact international economic relations. We take a look at the economic policies of the candidates, including Trump’s focus on lower corporate taxes and higher tariffs, compared with Harris’ emphasis on taxing the wealthy to fund social programs.
Tune in to hear:
- Whether the election’s outcome will have as significant implications for markets and economic policy as many believe.
- Why there are concerns about the US’ growing budget deficit.
- How Australia’s alignment with US policies could complicate its relationship with China.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Grant Hackett, CEO of Generation Life, and Rebecca Pritchard, senior financial planner at Rising Tide Financial Services, to discuss the challenges posed by evolving superannuation and tax policies and how advisers can support clients in this shifting landscape.
Together, they explore the key challenges these changes present for advisers and clients, and how financial professionals can navigate this new terrain to better serve their clients’ long-term financial goals.
Tune in for expert insights into critical issues, including:
- The effects of recent regulatory changes on financial planning strategies.
- How superannuation reforms are transforming retirement planning.
- New research from Generation Life revealing that 75 per cent of Australians are concerned about their retirement savings.
- The evolving role of financial planners in helping clients navigate uncertainty.
- Effective strategies for sustaining client confidence during economic and policy shifts, and more.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Grant Hackett, CEO of Generation Life, and Rebecca Pritchard, senior financial planner at Rising Tide Financial Services, to discuss the increasingly complex financial landscape shaped by evolving superannuation and tax policies.
Together, they explore the key challenges these changes present for advisers and clients, and how financial professionals can navigate this new terrain to better serve their clients’ long-term financial goals.
Tune in for expert insights into critical issues, including:
- The effects of recent regulatory changes on financial planning strategies.
- How superannuation reforms are transforming retirement planning.
- New research from Generation Life revealing that 75 per cent of Australians are concerned about their retirement savings. · The evolving role of financial planners in helping clients navigate uncertainty.
- Effective strategies for sustaining client confidence during economic and policy shifts, and more.
In this episode of Relative Return Unplugged, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford, along with special guest Steve Kuper, dive into the burgeoning world of defence ETFs in Australia and take a look at what is driving this sudden emergence.
We explore the current state of global military power structures and how a range of factors are influencing defence spending among both the large powers and their smaller counterparts. Viewing this from an investment market perspective, we break down the almost inevitable move from investment managers to launch defence-related ETFs.
Comparing the new defence ETFs launched by VanEck (DFND), Betashares (ARMR), and Global X (DTEC), we look at the key differentiators across the market and which technologies and regions they are focused on.
Tune in to hear:
- How a new era of conflict and defence spending is affecting global markets and investor behaviour.
- The ethical considerations of investing in defence and military companies.
- Whether defence investment is sustainable in the long term.
- The potential risks of volatility in defence stocks over time.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Anne Fuchs, executive general manager of advice, guidance and education at Australian Retirement Trust, to discuss how the fund is helping its 2.4 million members.
Listen as they discuss:
- The progress of the QSuper and Sunsuper merger.
- Helping its 2.4 million members access financial advice.
- Keeping members engaged with their superannuation.
- Legislative priorities in the super space.
- The next developments for ART.
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Relative Return Unplugged, where we dive into one of the most pressing issues in Australia's financial landscape - the future of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). In this episode, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford, along with special guest Liam Garman, tackle the rising scrutiny surrounding the RBA and whether its independence is at risk.
We explore the RBA review findings and the controversial proposal to restructure the bank into a two-board system. With recent attacks from political parties and opposing views from key economists like Shane Oliver and Stephen Miller, we break down what’s really at stake.
From internal challenges to political pressure and the push for a change in board governance, this episode delivers insights and analysis on whether the RBA’s authority is being eroded—and what the future might hold for Australia’s central bank.
Tune in to hear:
- The proposed reforms to the RBA’s governance structure.
- Why political parties are divided on these changes.
- The impact of these proposals on the RBA’s decision-making process.
- The bigger picture: Is the RBA’s independence truly being tested?
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa deputy editor Keith Ford to discuss a range of issues within the financial advice space, including the opposition’s strong statement on delays to implementing the Quality of Advice Review’s (QAR) recommendations. The pair delve into shadow financial services minister Luke Howarth’s criticism of the government due to the lack of movement on the second tranche of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) bill, despite the final QAR report being handed down more than 650 days ago.
Listen as they discuss:
- Whether there is still time for DBFO tranche two legislation to be delivered.
- The public inquiry into the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, Dixon Advisory and wealth management companies.
- Super funds embracing digital advice and the response from the advice community.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dawn Thomas, a senior wealth adviser with The Wealth Designers, to explore the challenges of completing a PhD while continuing to work as a financial adviser, as well as the ongoing challenges that the profession faces. Thomas discusses her PhD on Generation Z’s initial experience with superannuation, and the heavy workload of pursuing her research while balancing work and family obligations. She also shares why she believes that combining her academic background with her practical experience will enhance her expertise and help improve financial literacy among younger individuals, ultimately fostering greater engagement with the superannuation system. Listen as they discuss: * The sacrifices she’s making to complete her PhD. * Advisers’ struggle to be viewed as a profession. * Improving people’s engagement with their super, and more.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Steele, general manager at Class, to dig down on the information that came out of the annual Class Annual Benchmark Report. The report is an annual snapshot from a macro standpoint of how the SMSF sector is developing, using data from the Class Super platform, which is representative of the broader Australian SMSF market. This year’s report highlights several trends that are likely to influence the future of the sector. Listen as they discuss:
• The continued growth of the sector and its projections • The unmet advice needs of SMSF members • How the proposed Div 296 may impact funds • Transition to retirement strategies and their impacts
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats with Chris McGibbon, global head of real estate at Nuveen, about the long-term outlook and why the “knife has stopped falling” in property. Listen as they discuss:
- Real estate’s role in investor portfolios.
- Should investors take a diversified approach or focus on specific sectors?
- The benefits that property allocation brings to investors.
- The real estate market in Australian cities.
- Mitigating geopolitical risk in real estate.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by author and financial adviser Helen Baker to unpack the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and how financial advisers can highlight prime investment opportunities in the market.
Baker identifies the industries set to benefit from AI for advisers looking to integrate these into client portfolios and the ethical concerns surrounding these new technologies.
Listen as they discuss:
- The revolutionary benefits and potential dangers of AI.
- How clients can benefit from AI investments.
- The ESG considerations that advisers should keep in mind.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Olympian and financial adviser at HLB Mann Judd Sarah Carli to discuss her experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the importance of being well prepared both on and off the track. Having competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the recently completed Paris Games, Carli explains the thought process of transitioning to retirement from athletics and dedicating more time to her financial advice career. Listen as they discuss: * Readjusting to an office environment after competing in the Olympics. * How a career as a track athlete has helped her become a better adviser and vice versa. * Why financial advice is an appealing career for young people who may not know what it entails.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Peter Johnson, director of Advisers Digest, to give a sneak peek at his upcoming session at the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day and why it’s vital to understand the evolving needs of older clients. Johnson explains some of the opportunities that are available for older clients as the intersection between contributions and pensions grows and how to deal with uncertainty through careful forward planning. Listen as they discuss: * How clients are trying to preserve as much of their SMSF assets to pass on to their children. * The impact that the $3 million super tax will play in designing strategies. * Why CGT should be top of mind for small-business owners well before they enter retirement.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Eugene Ardino, CEO of Lifespan Financial Planning, explore the challenges that single adviser firms face and why they have an important place in the market.
Ardino explains what the future holds for these firms and how reductions in red tape will make life easier, as well as how outsourcing arrangements can free the adviser to spend more time providing advice rather than in the back office dealing with admin tasks.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why advisers need to decide early if they want to remain a single practitioner firm.
- The difference between working as an adviser and running an advice firm.
- How single practitioners can ensure they remain sustainable in the long run.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Matthew Burgess, director of View Legal, to take a look at some of the estate planning considerations that SMSF professionals need to keep top of mind. Burgess explains why the outcomes of a number of recent court cases hold valuable information for everyone in the SMSF sector, as well as highlighting the importance of professionals ensuring they work together to reach the best outcome for their clients. Listen as they discuss:
- Why a project manager role is vital when professionals collaborate on a client’s estate planning.
- What SMSF advisers can learn from the mistakes of others.
- How taking a holistic approach can help avoid pitfalls in the estate planning process.
In this episode of The ifa show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Matt Esler, co-founder and co-CEO of Padua, explore how financial advisers can maximise the potential of their CRM systems.
He emphasises that while CRMs are powerful tools, their effectiveness hinges on the quality of data input.
Esler also discusses the importance of personalisation in client relationships, leveraging tools like Padua’s Discover and Research Manager to enhance the accuracy and relevance of financial advice.
He concludes by reaffirming the evolving role of paraplanners, who will become more strategic in delivering better, faster advice.
Don’t miss Esler’s expert tips on refining your CRM for greater success.
- CRM data gaps: CRM data often has gaps, limiting its effectiveness.
- Personalisation: Tools like Discover help personalise advice and updates.
- Client relationships: Better data leads to stronger client engagement and outcomes.
- Future trends: Embracing new tech and ISO-certified tools for enhanced financial insights.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Lana Clark, founder of GSD Lab and senior consultant at Elixir Consulting, powered by VBP, to take an in-depth look at some of the key findings from the firm’s recently released Advice Operations Research Report.
Clark breaks down the ingredients that make up the secret sauce of great advice firm operations, explaining the areas that the research found make the largest contribution to successful firms and how practice principals can ensure the business is ready for the future.
Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of separating the role of practice manager as quickly as possible.
- How building a good culture is harder than it seems but is vital to business success.
- Why nailing down bulletproof processes within an advice firm is a fundamental step.
In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn celebrate the 100th episode of the podcast with a discussion of how the sector has changed over the last four years. SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess also joins the show to break down the current state of the $3 million super tax bill and why the growing support for amendments to the legislation is a positive sign that the controversial elements, such as taxation of unrealised gains and the lack of indexation, might be fixed. Listen as they discuss: * What the SMSF Association wants to see happen with Div 296 and why the current delays could be a good thing. * How SMSF professionals can deal with the uncertainty that currently pervades the regulatory landscape. * Whether there could be changes to the recent code of conduct for tax practitioners determination.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Neil Younger, CEO of Entireti, to discuss the firm’s recently announced strategic partnership that will see Entireti take a majority stake in AMP’s three licensees and the Jigsaw offering.
Younger explains how the move will impact the advisers moving across as well as what the deal means for the broader advice landscape. He also covers what the future looks like for licensees, and whether this period of consolidation among the larger licensees is set to continue.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why the growing trend of firms self-licensing is a positive when done for the right reasons.
- What the upcoming second tranche of advice legislation needs to include.
- How the CSLR is affecting the advice community and whether it can be fixed.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Kellie Wood, head of fixed income and deputy head of fixed income and multi-asset at Schroders Australia, to discuss why fixed income is returning to favour after a 12-year wait. Listen as they discuss:
- Why fixed income is in a good position now.
- The unique challenge in Australia’s economic environment versus other markets.
- Its favoured fixed income asset classes.
- The merger of Schroders’ multi-asset and fixed income teams.
- Her 25 years in fund management and challenges she faced.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Ryan Watson, chief executive of Tribeca Financial, to discuss the importance of bringing more advisers into the profession and why he believes there is currently an incredible opportunity to help people through financial advice. Watson covers the advice firm’s recent expansion with a new Sydney office, how Tribeca goes about attracting talent, and why growth and removing friction from the advice process is an opportunity to help more Australians access a financial adviser. Listen as they discuss: * Why there has never been a better time to be in financial advice. * The freedom, flexibility, and responsibilities that come with holding an AFSL. * Why value-based pricing and truly client-centric advice is the best way forward.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Chris Hill, co-founder – legal at Inherit Australia, to dive into all of the issues and challenges that can arise when an enduring power of attorney and an SMSF collide. Hill explains why SMSF professionals need to have discussions with their clients around incapacity and estate planning so they aren’t caught out when the time comes, particularly when they may not be aware that power of attorney can also come with SMSF trustee responsibilities.
Listen as they discuss:
- The role of an enduring power of attorney in the context of the definition of a SMSF.
- Why setting up a trusted professional as a “fund guardian” is an important consideration.
- How the two roles can work together in the member’s best interests.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Michael Hunstad, deputy chief investment officer and chief investment officer of global equities at Northern Trust Asset Management, to debunk myths around index investing.
Listen as they discuss:
- Misconceptions around index investing.
- Impacts of market volatility on index funds.
- Why “passive” investing requires active choices.
- Risks presented by the options.
- Factors to consider when selecting a fund.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Ben Marshan, director of Ben Marshan Consulting, to break down how the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms will impact advisers and how they can look beyond the shifting regulatory landscape to improve their businesses.
Marshan explains how the ongoing financial services reforms have stacked on top of each other to create the unwieldy situation the sector finds itself in, and why streamlining labyrinthine regulation could be an impossible task.
Listen as they discuss:
- How advisers can help their clients find purpose as they enter retirement.
- Why a new class of advisers shouldn’t be viewed as an attack on professional advisers.
- The importance of cutting down on unnecessary compliance steps that are no longer needed.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats with Robin Tsui, APAC gold strategist at State Street Global Advisors, to discuss gold’s role as a diversifier in portfolios. Listen as they discuss:
- The recent performance of gold.
- Factors driving increased gold demand
- The effect of geopolitical risk.
- Why market risk makes diversification important?
- How gold can be accessed in portfolios.
[Disclosure]
Timestamp references
1:55 - Source: State Street Global Advisors, Bloomberg Finance L.P. 11:10-12:00 – Source: State Street Global Advisors, World Gold Council
State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (AFSL Number 238276, ABN 42 003 914 225) (“SSGA Australia”). Registered office: Level 14, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia · Telephone: +612 9240-7600 · Web: ssga.com. Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. Commodities investing entail significant risk as commodity prices can be extremely volatile due to wide range of factors. A few such factors include overall market movements, real or perceived inflationary trends, commodity index volatility, international, economic and political changes, change in interest and currency exchange rates. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Assets may be considered “safe havens” based on investor perception that an asset’s value will hold steady or climb even as the value of other investments drops during times of economic stress. Perceived safe-haven assets are not guaranteed to maintain value at any time. This material is general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information. The views expressed in this material are the views of Robin Tsui through the period ended 17 July 2024 and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This document contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA Australia’s express written consent.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Matt Hale, senior financial planner and director at Rising Tide Financial Services, to discuss where the advice profession is heading and the pressures that are impacting the provision of advice.
Hale explains how Rising Tide found its core client base and moulded its offering around their needs as well as the importance of attracting a younger cohort of advisers and the difficulties that can arise in doing so.
Listen as they discuss: • Why it is important to not get too wrapped up in regulatory changes until they actually happen. • How advice firms can look to improve business processes for greater efficiency. • The key role compliance plays when running an advice firm.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Craig Day, head of technical services at Colonial First State, to discuss the nuances surrounding invalidity for SMSF trustees and members.
Day breaks down some of the positives and negatives of holding TPD insurance within an SMSF and explains what advisers who may be recommending their clients go down this path need to understand.
Listen as they discuss: • The most pressing considerations around invalidity and SMSFs. • Why it is important to understand the compliance rules related to SMSFs and insurance. • The role of beneficiaries in the context of recent legal challenges relating to spouses and de facto relationships.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by experienced financial services executive Tony Beaven to take a look at the similarities and differences between the UK and Australian financial advice sectors – and what each can learn from one another. Beaven, who has worked in advice businesses across both countries, explains how the regulators across these jurisdictions work together to improve their processes and how the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK works could inform the future of Australian advice regulation.
Listen as they discuss:
- The place of robo-advice in reducing the advice gap.
- Why self-licensed advice firms need to fully understand the responsibilities that come along with it.
- How lowering the education benchmark for a new class of advisers could undermine professionalism.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by managing director of WT Financial Group Keith Cullen to discuss the recent passage of the first Delivering Better Financial Outcomes bill and the need to expand the advice profession.
Cullen explains how advisers engaging with the political process delivered a tangible outcome in the amendments that were made to section 99FA, and why he believes the next tranche of legislation needs to include practical ways for advice firms to incorporate the proposed new class of advisers into their businesses.
Listen as they discuss:
- The Senate’s recent report on ASIC and its recommendation to overhaul the way the industry funding model operates.
- Why it is vital that the profession finds new ways to bring talent into advice.
- The case for licensees taking on a greater share of the ASIC levy.
In this special budget episode, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the flurry of activity happening on the regulatory front – and the noticeable absence of the $3 million super tax from the final two sitting weeks of Parliament.
They discuss what has led to the debate over Division 296 being delayed, including the government’s increasingly precarious position in the Senate, as well as some of the recent changes that will have a more tangible impact in the short term, such as the ATO’s update to its tax ruling on pensions commencing and ceasing.
Listen as they discuss:
- The Senate’s recent report on ASIC and its recommendation to overhaul the way the industry funding model operates.
- How TR 2013/5 will operate and what SMSFs need to know.
- The changes to NALI and the impact it will have on SMSF members.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Owen Murfin, investment officer and institutional fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management, to discuss opportunities in bonds amid potential rate cuts. Listen as they discuss:
- The impact of upcoming rate cuts.
- How the market environment compares to the global financial crisis.
- Where he is seeing bond opportunities.
- The merits of active management in fixed income.
- Opportunities in private debt.
On this week’s episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Matthew Rady, the chief executive officer at BT Financial Group, to discuss the evolution of BT and how its BT Panorama platform stands out in a competitive space. Tune in to hear insights on the importance of embracing digital as well as having a great culture, and how BT is utilising both aspects to enable a “people-oriented business”.
Listen as they discuss:
- How advisers can improve efficiency to service a greater number of clients.
- The changes within financial advice over the 10 years of BT Panorama.
- What to expect from the next decade as advisers contend with a changing landscape.
In this latest episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Justine Marquet, head of technical services at Allianz Retire+, to discuss the financial and emotional challenges that consumers face as they approach retirement.
Listen as they discuss:
- Flexibility in retirement products.
- How advisers can support pre-retirees.
- The security of a lifetime income.
- What advisers should consider when selecting an option.
- The evolving landscape of retirement products over time.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Phil Anderson to discuss a range of pressing issues for the advice profession that are adding a cost burden to the provision of advice.
Anderson, who is the general manager of policy, advocacy and standards at the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), explains the different mechanisms in how the CSLR and ASIC funding levies are calculated and paid, and why the upcoming RITC changes will impact advice clients.
Listen as they discuss:
- The push for greater consideration of tax deductibility for advice fees.
- Why the FAAA still wants the first DBFO bill to be passed quickly.
- The crunch of financial services legislation currently under consideration.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, Adrian Fisher, head of distribution and product at RedZed, joins host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic to discuss why the self-employed lender has launched a new offering for SMSFs.
Fisher explains that SMSFs are a natural fit for small business owners, but they often run into hurdles, with infrequent super contributions scaring off traditional lenders and making it difficult to secure a loan at all, particularly when it comes to property investments.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why investing in property through an SMSF can be difficult for the self-employed.
- The importance of assessing each borrower on their unique circumstances.
- Filling the gap left by traditional lenders exiting the space.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Jordan Cvetanovski, chairman and chief investment officer at Pella Funds Management, about running his own business, ESG, and global equities.
Listen as they discuss:
- Taking the step to set up his own asset manager.
- The philosophy and process of the Pella Global Generations Fund.
- “Walking the walk” on ESG and aligning that across the company.
- Top-performing holdings including Nvidia and Novo Nordisk.
- His advice to people looking to run their own business.
On this week’s episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Cable Rickard, general manager of Wrap Solutions and Product Integration at Insignia Financial, to discuss the evolution of Insignia Financial, the impact of recent acquisitions, and the future of their flagship platform, Expand.
Tune in to hear insights on how Insignia is navigating industry changes, enhancing client service, and leveraging technology to stay ahead in the financial advice landscape.
You’ll learn:
- How significant acquisitions have shaped Insignia.
- Insights into Expand, Insignia’s flagship proprietary platform, its features, and its growth since its launch in 2019.
- How Insignia is responding to market changes, including regulatory impacts.
- Rickard’s vision for the future of Expand and about Insignia’s ongoing commitment to enhancing their platform and services to meet advisers’ evolving needs.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Keith Ford sits down with Mariana Paul, investment specialist for O’Connor and head of sales and distribution for South-East Asia at UBS Asset Management, to discuss alternative investments and hedge funds.
Listen as they discuss:
- UBS’ single-manager hedge fund group O’Connor.
- Demystifying hedge funds.
- The allocation shift away from 60/40 portfolios.
- The growing appeal of private credit.
- The importance of due diligence in manager selection.
In this episode of The ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa news editor Keith Ford following the first Compensation Scheme of Last Resort payments being made to discuss how the scheme is impacting the advice profession.
The pair delve into the details behind the CSLR, including how the scheme works and why advisers won’t be on the hook for claims related to mortgage brokers, as well as breaking down the shadow financial services minister stepping up his criticism of the government’s handling of financial advice reforms.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why financial advisers are considering a boycott of the CSLR – and why it is a risky prospect.
- The letter that advisers are sending to their local members to protest unfair treatment.
- Whether the opposition would actually offer a better alternative.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Tracey Scotchbrook, head of policy and advocacy at the SMSF Association, to discuss the intricacies surrounding possible changes to the wholesale investor tests.
Scotchbrook explains the background to the current inquiry into the wholesale thresholds, including how SMSFs find themselves in a grey area between the standard $2.5 million threshold and the $10 million professional investor level, as well as why accountant’s certificates are no longer fit for purpose.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the stagnating levels have dramatically increased the number of Australians that meet the requirements.
- The complex regulatory framework surrounding financial services.
- Concerns around the disparity in regulatory costs between wholesale and retail advisers.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Mischa Bennett, managing director of Capital Executive Search, to dig into the intracacies of fund management recruitment. Capital Executive Search is a partner of the Money Management Fund Manager of the Year Awards, which took place on 13 June.
Listen as they discuss:
- The areas of fund management actively hiring right now.
- Whether it is getting harder to work in the active management space.
- What fund managers look for in candidates.
- How graduates can get their first job in the sector.
- The effect of super fund internalising their investment management.
In this episode of The ifa Show, hosted by Keith Ford, Hans Egger, managing director of Astute Wheel, delves into the importance of client portals for financial advisers.
The discussion centres on the benefits of using client portals to enhance data security and improve the overall client experience.
- The pair discuss: The critical role of client portals in protecting sensitive financial information from cyber attacks, reducing risks associated with email communications.
- How client portals improve the client experience by facilitating pre-meeting information gathering and offering an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
- How a detailed audit trail of interactions and document exchanges aids in compliance and provides a clear record of all activities related to client accounts, and more.
In the latest episode of InvestorDaily Uncut, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Mike Younger and Richard Ivers, co-portfolio managers of the Prime Value Emerging Opportunities Fund. The pair share their experiences and investment process of the Australian and New Zealand small-cap fund, with small-cap earnings growth set to be stronger in the coming years.
They also discuss the balance of having two co-portfolio managers on the fund and how they share their expertise.
The group discuss:
- What makes Australian small caps special and the standout sectors they are favouring in the fund.
- How the fund generates alpha with low risk relative to its peers.
- Their day to day as fund managers and how they work together as co-managers.
In the latest episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Manny Damianakis, head of sales at Global X, about the popularity of thematic ETFs and the benefits they offer advisers. Listen as they discuss:
- How advisers are turning to thematic ETFs to access tech opportunities.
- The impact of artificial intelligence.
- Global X’s product development based on adviser feedback.
- Offering access to cryptocurrency.
- How Aussie investors compare to global peers.
Michael Pillemer, CEO of PPS Mutual, to discuss the sustainability and advantages of the mutual insurance model.
Pillemer highlights that the mutual model allows for profit sharing among members, contributing to long-term sustainability and client satisfaction. Despite industry challenges like the adviser exodus and economic crises, PPS Mutual has grown steadily, now serving nearly 12,000 members with 38,000 benefits in place.
Pillemer also highlights the advantages and success that the mutual model offers to advisers using PPS Mutual’s growth and unique position within Australia’s risk insurance space as proof.
Listen to hear:
- How the mutual model creates an alignment of interests and reduces conflicts between the company’s goals and clients’ needs.
- How the model helps advisers manage client expectations and maintain long-term relationships, and more.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats with James Harwood, director and senior portfolio manager of the APAC region at Russell Investments, about ESG and active exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Listen as they discuss:
- Russell launching its first global equity ESG ETF in Australia.
- Why ESG vehicles are growing in popularity after a temporary lull.
- How an active ETF can potentially outperform passive ones.
- The downside of exclusionary screens in ESG.
- Ensuring an ESG fund doesn’t fall foul of ASIC’s greenwashing focus.
In the latest episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Padua Solutions co-founder and co-CEO Matt Esler ahead of the Adviser Innovation Summit in June to discuss the power of data in financial advice.
Esler explains the pivotal role that data plays in shaping the future of financial advice, and the importance of understanding client advice data and identifying gaps in CRM and portfolio information.
The pair discuss:
- How data-driven insights have revolutionised investment strategies and platform choices.
- The opportunities and potential pitfalls of integrating AI into financial advice.
- The risks and challenges of navigating a complex data landscape.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF, to discuss some of the contribution considerations advisers need to keep in mind ahead of 30 June.
Miller explains the concept of a ‘contributions matrix’ and how it can help SMSF members consider the future distribution of their superannuation funds, particularly in the context of blended families and estate planning.
Listen as they discuss:
- How to deal with benefit payments before the end of the financial year.
- The considerations around different fund assets from a tax perspective.
- What advisers need to be talking to their SMSF clients about.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Keith Ford speaks with Matt Reynolds, investment director at Capital Group, about how the firm’s history and fundamental research help it maintain a long-term investing mindset.
Listen as they discuss:
- The companies successfully incorporating AI.
- The long-term potential of healthcare stocks.
- How investors can maintain a long-term horizon.
- Capital Group’s 93-year history of investing.
- Trends observed in computation and retail.
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In the latest episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by DASH chief executive officer Andrew Whelan ahead of the Adviser Innovation Summit in June to discuss the intergenerational transfer of wealth.
Whelan explains how the wealth transfer is leading to seismic shifts within financial advice, which is compounded by younger generations preferring digital interactions over face-to-face meetings – a trend that financial advisers must adapt to in order to remain relevant.
The pair discuss:
- The changing preferences and evolving client expectations for advice across generations.
- The critical role of digital advice in addressing the advice gap, particularly for those with simpler needs or lower investable assets.
- How advice firms can increase profitability through strategic technology adoption.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Andrew Lockhart, managing partner at Metrics Credit Partners, about commercial property and real estate equity. Listen as they discuss:
- The appeal of real estate debt and equity funds.
- Possible returns generated by the asset class.
- Metrics’ upcoming real estate income fund.
- Which commercial building types are performing well.
- How Metrics works with developers to manage finance risks.
The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (ABN 45 003 278 831, AFSL 235 150) is the Responsible Entity of the Metrics Master Income Trust and Metrics Income Opportunities Trust (the Trusts). Equity Trustees Limited (ACN 004 031 298, AFSL 240 975) is the Responsible Entity of the Metrics Direct Income Fund (Fund). Equity Trustees is a subsidiary of EQT Holdings Limited ABN 22 607 797 615, a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EQT).
This content has been prepared by Metrics Credit Partners Pty Ltd ABN 27 150 646 996 AFSL 416 146 (Metrics), the investment manager of the Trusts and Fund. For further information on the Trusts and Fund, please refer to the relevant PDS and Target Market Determination available at http://metrics.com.au .
The information provided is issued by The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited and Equity Trustees and has been prepared to provide you with general information only. In preparing this information, The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited and Equity Trustees did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It is not intended to take the place of professional advice and you should not take action on specific issues in reliance on this information. Neither The Trust Company, Equity Trustees, Metrics nor any of their related parties, their employees or directors, provide any warranty of currency, accuracy, completeness or reliability in relation to such information or accept any liability to any person who relies on it. Neither The Trust Company, Equity Trustees nor Metrics guarantees repayment of capital or any particular rate of return from the Fund. Always consult a licensed and trustworthy professional before making a financial, taxation or legal decision. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Return of capital may not be achieved. Income payments depend on the success of underlying investments and are at the responsible entity’s discretion.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Russel Pillemer, chief executive of Pengana Capital Group, to discuss the opportunities in global private credit in this market environment.
Listen as they discuss:
- The different segments of the global private credit market.
- Its new listed global private credit vehicle, launching this month.
- How global private credit can fit into an investment portfolio.
- Potential challenges in running a listed vehicle and how to navigate them.
- The distinct regulatory landscape for banking and lending in Australia.
In the latest episode of InvestorDaily Uncut, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic welcomes private equity portfolio manager at MLC Asset Management, Laura Hotaling, to delve into the intricacies of private equity investing, particularly in the Australian market. Hotaling explains that private equity offers a unique value proposition to investors, providing an avenue for diversification beyond what the public markets can offer.
While the private equity landscape has not been immune to the challenges posed by the recent economic environment, Hotaling explains why she remains optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead for private equity investors.
The pair discuss:
- The significance of diversification across geography, sector, and strategy in portfolio construction.
- How co-investments allow for more targeted capital allocation while benefiting from lower fees and accelerated capital deployment.
- The recent slowdown in capital deployment and the adjustments in valuations.
In this special budget episode, hosts Keith Ford, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic, and Aaron Dunn discuss the outlook for financial advice and SMSFs on the back of a budget that revealed little in terms of detail for either sector. They also take a look at some of the measures that were included, as well as why some high-profile topics were left out completely, such as the $3 million super tax being conspicuously absent.
Listen as they discuss:
- The need for more structural change within the taxation system to provide a meaningful impact.
- Why the headline-grabbing inflation predictions could be little more than a mirage.
- The missed opportunities to make a difference for advisers and clients.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Steve Johnson, founder and CIO at Forager Funds Management, about the impact of human psychology on investing and whether fund managers can ever beat algorithms. Listen as they discuss:
- Setting up his own firm at 30.
- How behavioural finance informs his investment process.
- Why the cryptocurrency hype isn’t a Ponzi scheme.
- The problem with “actively passive” funds.
- Opportunities in small-cap equities.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Ben Neilson, a financial adviser at Complete Wealth, to discuss streamlining the production of advice to help more clients.
Neilson breaks down the way he makes advice more efficient and why advisers should be trying to do the same, as well as explaining why taking on more clients doesn’t need to come at the expense of work/life balance.
Listen as they discuss:
- The roadblocks to implementing a more streamlined approach to advice.
- Why advisers should go to their licensees with a plan to simplify their SOAs.
- How improving the advice profession can make advice more affordable for clients.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Andrew McVeigh, managing partner at Remara, to discuss the property market and how the current landscape can impact how an SMSF invests.
McVeigh explains what is happening in the real estate market, the factors affecting it, and the strategies that SMSFs can utilise, as well as why the investors don’t need to be constrained by the traditional buy-and-hold model. Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of diversification and risk management.
- How SMSFs can utilise property investment funds.
- Navigating the complexities of the current market with an adaptable approach.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Daniel Bower, chief product officer at FinClear, and Bill Keogh, chief executive of Transact1 (a FinClear subsidiary) to discuss cash as an asset class.
Listen as they discuss:
- Demystifying cash as an asset class.
- Uncovering better rates on offer.
- The pitfalls of early “teaser rates”.
- Factoring in the impact of currency exchange.
- Alternative options to utilise cash.
In the latest episode of InvestorDaily Uncut, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic welcomes a seasoned fund manager at Dexus Core Infrastructure Fund, John Julian, for an in-depth discussion on the nuances and potential of infrastructure investments. Infrastructure, as Julian elucidates, encompasses a broad array of assets essential for economic growth and societal function. In the current climate of uncertainty – marked by high inflation, elevated interest rates, and the looming threat of recession – infrastructure investment has emerged as a beacon for investors seeking stability. The pair discuss:
- The defensive characteristics of infrastructure investments, which include consistent returns with low volatility, long-term income yields with inflation protection, and diversification benefits.
- How investors can approach infrastructure investment through direct investments in unlisted assets or via listed infrastructure securities, each offering unique advantages and challenges.
- The emerging trends in infrastructure investment, such as evolving definitions of infrastructure assets.
- Optimism about the resilience of infrastructure investments in the face of economic volatility.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tony Negline, superannuation and financial services leader at Chartered Accountants ANZ, to discuss some of the alternatives to the $3 million super tax.
Mr Negline explains CA ANZ’s range of position on division 296, detailing a range of alternatives that it has proposed to the government, and whether there is any chance that there will be substantial changed to the current form of the legislation.
Listen as they discuss:
- Some of the criticisms of division 296.
- The likely increase of the transfer balance cap to $2 million.
- What CA ANZ expects to see from the upcoming federal budget.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by shadow treasurer Angus Taylor to discuss the current state of the financial advice sector, the economy, the housing affordability crisis and more.
Taylor, a key figure in the opposition, shared his views on a range of issues from the government’s handling of the Quality of Advice Review (QAR) to the challenges facing the Australian economy, including productivity, while also emphasising the principle that superannuation is Australians’ money, not the government’s.
The shadow treasurer shares his belief that the answer to most problems is less government intervention and not more.
“I’m a big believer in getting government out of the way as much as you can,” Taylor says.
Touching on Labor’s perceived regulatory overreach, specifically in financial services, Taylor says: “The commitment on our side … is to recognise that there has been regulatory overreach, that we have got a whole group of Australians now that are under-advised, underinsured and underbanked, and that we’ve got to have more accessible financial services and advice if Australians are to have the prosperity they deserve.”
Tune in to hear him speak about:
- The advice profession and the Coalition’s intentions
- Broader economic challenges
- The Help to Buy scheme, and more
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Estelle Parker, the co-CEO of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), to discuss the upcoming RIAA conference and how financial advisers can improve their skills in responsible investment.
Parker breaks down the areas of focus for the conference and the broader role of the RIAA in shaping investment practices that not only promise returns but also ensure alignment with ethical standards and values.
Listen as she discusses:
- The increasing demand among Australians for their investments to reflect their values.
- RIAA’s sustainable investment advice course, which will help financial advisers meet the evolving demands of the market.
- Why it is important for advisers to understand their clients’ attitudes towards responsible investing.
In the latest episode of InvestorDaily Uncut, we delve into the burgeoning world of private credit, a sector that has captured the attention of investors globally.
Gerard Hargraves, the head of real estate lending, fixed income at Challenger, joins us to shed light on the intricacies of private credit, its growth and challenges.
Hargraves, with a rich background spanning almost three decades in engineering, project management, and finance, brings a unique perspective to the table.
He talks about regulatory changes and investor appetite driving the shift towards private debt, as well as why he remains cautious about the interest rate environment but sees opportunities in private credit’s evolution.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Andrew Mitchell, director and senior portfolio manager at Ophir Asset Management, about why he loves working in fund management and the lessons he’s learnt in a decade of running a firm.
Listen as they discuss:
- His previous career at the Treasury.
- The challenging divide between running a business and managing portfolios.
- The importance of manager alignment and backing your own funds.
- Not “sweating the small stuff” when it comes to portfolio decisions.
- Opportunities in small-cap equities.
In this episode of the InvestorDaily Uncut podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Mark Power, head of income credit at Qualitas, to delve into the rapid expansion of the real estate private credit market. Power’s extensive experience in real estate finance sheds light on the evolving landscape of private real estate credit. The pair explore the regulatory changes post-Global Financial Crisis that catalysed the emergence of private lenders, filling a crucial capital gap left by traditional financiers. Power highlights the allure of private real estate credit, citing its flexibility and vital role in project financing. The conversation also addresses Australia’s housing shortage and the evolving dynamics of the office real estate market in a post-COVID-19 world. Power highlights the benefits of investing in private real estate credit, foreseeing a promising future fuelled by market fundamentals and growing investor appreciation.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Michael Wilczynski, co-owner of SMSF Property Valuations, to discuss the ins and outs of getting a property valuation that SMSF members can rely on.
Wilczynski explains why this process is vital, especially given the complexities involved in valuing unique properties or those with limited comparable market sales, and how his firm ensures properties are evaluated correctly.
Listen as they discuss:
- The ins and outs of getting a property properly evaluated.
- The nuance required to understand specific and unique markets.
- How regulatory requirements and non-arm’s length rules impact properties held in an SMSF.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew speaks with Blackwattle Investment Partners managing director and chief investment officer, Michael Skinner, about setting up an asset manager and what he looks for in an investment team.
Listen as they discuss:
- The preparations and planning before the launch of Blackwattle.
- Why the firm wanted to launch multiple funds.
- What he has learnt in the firm’s first year.
- His transition from engineering to finance.
- The firm’s future plans in the asset management space.
In this special episode of Relative Return, Momentum Media’s Phil Tarrant and Jordan Coleman discuss the publishing house’s expansion into greater coverage of the wealth management space.
Listen as they discuss:
- The evolving financial services landscape since the Hayne royal commission.
- Strategic acquisitions and developments to help the space.
- Money Management’s fund performance coverage via Investment Centre.
- The importance of financial advice to Australians.
- Momentum Media’s inaugural Australian Wealth Management Summit.
- Momentum Media’s strategic partnership with Lonsec for the Fund Manager of the Year Awards.
- The strategic partnership with Super Ratings for the Super Fund of the Year Awards.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa news editor Keith Ford to discuss the first bill coming out of the Quality of Advice Review and the advice profession becoming a hot-button political issue.
With concerns swirling around the timeline for implementation, the Coalition has come out swinging, calling the drafting of the bill an “embarrassing blunder”. However, given the efforts of the previous government, is it a case of the right message but the wrong messenger?
In this podcast, Maja and Keith discuss:
- Criticisms of the government’s implementation of the legislation and how it positions the advice profession politically.
- Whether there will be delays in its passage through Parliament and if more legislation will be tabled this year.
- The concerns that advice associations have raised.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Riley James, founder and chief executive of fintech SuperAPI, about creating a superannuation ecosystem and potential changes from the Quality of Advice Review.
Listen as they discuss:
- The gap in the market for a technology ecosystem within superannuation.
- Working together with super funds and employers to create a smooth platform.
- How the Quality of Advice Review will change the way super funds provide advice.
- Successfully raising $1 million in seed funding.
- The need for improved member engagement by funds.
In the latest episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sits down with founder and director of Forte Asset Solutions, Steve Prendeville, to dissect what makes a successful advice business in 2024.
Ahead of his appearance at the Adviser Innovation Summit 2024, Prendeville discusses the evolving advice landscape, touching on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Listen as he discusses:
- The resilience of advice businesses in navigating challenges like high inflation and interest rates, highlighting the importance of organic growth opportunities.
- The stabilising trend in profit margins for advice businesses, leading to increased reinvestment in operations.
- Trends shaping the advice profession, including digital service delivery, ethical investing, and advisers’ move towards self-licensing for greater control over their business models.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Eleece Quilliam, client development manager at Macquarie’s Banking and Financial Services group, to discuss the key learnings for advisers from the Macquarie Virtual Adviser Network Global Innovation Program.
Quilliam shares insights and practical recommendations from some of the most innovative firms in the US financial services and technology industries that advisers can easily implement in their own businesses.
Listen as they discuss:
- Innovation opportunities such as AI that Australian firms could adopt to scale and grow.
- Takeaways on the opportunities of intergenerational wealth transfer.
- What the advice firm of the future will look like
The Macquarie Virtual Adviser Network (VAN) is provided by Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542, AFSL 237502 (‘Macquarie’). This podcast does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider if it is appropriate for you before making a decision, and obtain financial, legal and taxation advice.
In this episode, host Laura Dew speaks with Phillip Hudak, co-portfolio manager of the Australian Small Companies Fund at Maple Brown-Abbott, about the allure of Australian small caps and how the current market environment presents a “compelling opportunity” reminiscent of the post-Global Financial Crisis period.
Listen as they discuss:
- How inefficiencies and information advantages present in small caps provide a fertile ground for generating alpha.
- The changing Australian small caps landscape, from the quality of stock composition to the emergence of a robust technology sector.
- The growing importance of ESG considerations in driving better risk-adjusted returns.
- Why 2024 marks an opportune time for investors to consider small caps.
In the latest episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford sits down with Nathan Fradley, who has recently launched a standalone advice business to focus on complex cases that require specialist attention.
Fradley explains why he decided to leave his previous role and the provision of ongoing advice in favour of working with financial advisers and their clients in a way that is modelled on how a barrister works with solicitors.
Listen as they discuss:
- How ‘niching’ within advice can improve outcomes.
- The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort levy and the need for a break from regulatory changes.
- Where the financial advice profession is heading.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Stuart Wilton, co-head – unlisted funds at Centuria, to discuss commercial property investments.
Wilton explains the benefits of including commercial property investments within an SMSF portfolio, as well as some of the barriers that need to be considered when investing in the asset class.
Listen as they discuss:
- Some of the reasons SMSF investors should consider investing in commercial property rather than residential property.
- How investing in commercial property can help SMSF investors achieve their ESG goals.
- The different ways to invest in commercial property.
In this episode, host Laura Dew speaks with Chris Brycki, founder and CEO of Stockspot, about the rise of fintech, robo-advice, and the importance of financial education.
Listen as they discuss:
- Australia’s understanding and uptake of online investing.
- How the firm conducts its asset allocation and stock selection.
- Behavioural biases among consumers.
- The impact of rising interest rates on investing trends.
- Whether digital advice can close the advice gap.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Phil Anderson to discuss the industry’s concerns regarding the latest CSLR levy, emphasising the unexpected scale of the levy and its focus on covering legacy issues.
Anderson, who is the general manager of policy advocacy and standards at the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), highlights the unexpected scale of the levy and its focus on addressing legacy issues, expressing surprise at the burden placed on advisers.
The conversation also delves into the reasons behind advisers being tasked with covering expenses they believed would be shouldered by the government, shedding light on the complexities of the situation and its potential impacts on the advice sector.
Tune in to gain insights into this pressing issue and the ongoing efforts to address it.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Arthur Naoumidis, CEO of the Aligned Disability Property Fund, to discuss investing in NDIS housing. Naoumidis explains why the NDIS provides rent subsidies for disabled Australians and how SMSF members can invest to generate competitive returns and provide a social good.
Listen as they discuss:
- Where investors have been focusing since the inception of the NDIS.
- Why providing more housing for Australians with disabilities in metro areas is important.
- How to invest while mitigating the risks associated with investing in specialised accommodation.
In this episode, host Laura Dew speaks with Christopher Chen, senior investment director, Asia-Pacific at American Century Investments, about global small caps, technology stocks, and why ESG is not a political statement.
Listen as they discuss:
- The performance of global small caps.
- The emergence of “exciting” valuation discount.
- How he approaches stock selection.
- The small cap tech stocks that could benefit from the AI boom.
- Catalysts provided by M&A and IPO activities.
Chen will be one of the speakers at Momentum Media’s upcoming Australian Wealth Management Summit, which will be held in Sydney on Wednesday, 8 May.
Click here to get your tickets to the event.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Yianni Socratous, general manager of Granite Home Loans, to discuss property investment through an SMSF.
Socratous explains the different ways that SMSF members can invest in property and what to consider when developing a strategy that fits the specific goals and circumstances of each investor. Listen as they discuss:
- How self-employed business owners can invest in commercial property through their SMSF.
- Investing without a large deposit to avoid impacting cash flow.
- How to utilise an offset account in tandem with an LRBA.
In this episode, host Keith Ford speaks with Frank Danieli, managing director and head of credit investments and lending at MA Financial, about the evolving landscape of private credit in Australia.
Listen as they discuss:
· The environment for alternative investments.
· Demystification of private credit for investors.
· How MA Financial grew from an investment bank into an asset manager.
· Developments to make private credit appeal to a retail audience.
· MA Financial’s expansion into the US.
In the latest episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sits down with Adele Martin, the founder of My Money Buddy and the Savings Squad podcast, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Martin and Djurdjevic discuss the latest gender pay gap data, as well as ways to attract more women into financial advice and the potential for women to make a significant impact in the sector.
Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of fair representation.
- The role advice plays in helping women secure safe financial futures.
- How advisers celebrating achievements can help financial advice move closer to achieving gender equality.
There are so many amazingly successful women in the finance industry, but only a small number have a strong brand and online presence in this traditionally male-dominated industry. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to help more women raise their profile and showcase the incredible professionals in this space. In this episode, partnered by Mortgage Choice (part of the REA Group), we’re picking the brain of its executive manager, corporate communications, events & franchise marketing, Sally Chadwick, to find out:
- How to build a brand presence.
- The benefits of having a strong brand presence.
- Top tips to help you get started today.
And much more!
In this episode, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Sarah Shaw, chief executive and chief investment officer at 4D Infrastructure, about how she set up her own asset management business and how the sector can work to attract more women.
Listen as they discuss:
- How to attract women to work in financial services.
- Shaw’s transition into infrastructure.
- The growing interest by super funds into infrastructure.
- How the sector fared during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
- The broader outlook for infrastructure.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Peter Johnston, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP), to discuss the recent creation of a new joint association. Mr Johnston explains why the AIOFP joined forces with the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia (FBAA) to form the Independent Financial Council (IFC), as well as why now is the time for the advice profession to push its agenda in Canberra. Listen as they discuss:
- Why Mr Johnston thinks the IFC can be more effective than the Joint Associations Working Group (JAWG).
- How the Quality of Advice Review consultations are tracking and where changes might come.
- The recent move for 400 InterPrac advisers to join the AIOFP.
In this special two-part episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference. In part two, Scott Hay-Bartlem, chair of the SMSF Association and a partner at Cooper Grace Ward, joins to discuss the importance of bringing together the SMSF community. Katie Timms, director, SMSF services at RSM Australia, also joins the show to talk about the issues surrounding farming assets within an SMSF, such as the risks around non-arm’s length transactions and the nuances specific to farmland. Finally, Julie Dolan, partner and head of SMSFs and estate planning at KPMG, covers how to navigate the intricacies of SMSF management upon a member’s death, including some of the pitfalls that need to be avoided.
In this special two-part episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference. In part one, Justin Micale, assistant commissioner, self managed super funds risk and strategy at the ATO, joins to discuss the Tax Office’s illegal early access estimates that were announced at the conference, as well as the importance of regulators having a presence at industry events. Meg Heffron, managing director of Heffron, and Tim Steele, chief executive officer at Class, also join the show to talk about the thought leadership breakfast on the first day of the conference and its theme of holding up a mirror to the SMSF sector.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa news editor Keith Ford to discuss the latest on the QAR and other regulatory changes affecting the profession. A year has passed since Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones released the final report on the Quality of Advice Review, a move that was eagerly awaited by the financial advice community. Despite the release, the journey towards implementing the recommendations has been slow, marked by a series of roundtables and consultations.
In this podcast, Maja and Keith discuss:
- The likelihood that QAR commitments will be legislated this year.
- Treasury’s Senate estimates appearance and the “qualified adviser” conundrum.
- The implications of the ASIC levy increase for advisers, and more.
In this episode of Relative Return, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Andrew Fraser, principal and portfolio manager at Merlon Capital Partners, about growing an asset manager and exploiting behavioural biases. Listen as they discuss:
- Setting up Merlon in the wake of the GFC.
- The challenges of running a fund manager.
- The current state of Australian equities.
- Exploiting behavioural biases for investment gains.
- ASIC’s focus on ESG and greenwashing.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Angus Taylor, a financial adviser at Sheffield Financial, to discuss his unconventional path from working in a mine in central Queensland to financial advice. Mr Taylor explains why he made the move to financial services and breaks down the difficulty he had breaking into the sector before being able to start his own financial advice practice. Listen as they discuss: * The ongoing impact of the royal commission five years on and the importance of adapting to changing regulations. * The confusion that has been created with the proposed addition of “qualified advisers”. * How advisers can deal with the growing demand for financial advice.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Matthew Burgess, director of View Legal, to discuss the broader importance of trusts. Mr Burgess explains why, despite their perception as vehicle for the wealthy to minimise tax, trusts are a cornerstone of financial planning, providing flexibility, asset protection, and succession planning benefits that outweigh tax considerations.
Listen as they discuss:
- The government’s stance on trusts and concerns that changes are on the way.
- How the $3 million super tax changes will impact the attractiveness of these structures.
- The importance of compliance when dealing with trusts.
Swiftonomics are occupying the minds of Australian economists as the artist begins the Australian leg of her tour.
AMP’s chief economist, Shane Oliver, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, predicts that Taylor Swift’s tour will inject $400 million into the economy.
In this podcast, he discusses the economic impact that Swift’s tour may have on Australia, including:
- Possible effects on inflation.
- Whether or not the tour could influence the RBA’s next rate decision.
- The idea of Swiftonomics and how Taylor Swift has moved from music charts to the financial sphere.
And more.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Blake Briggs, the chief executive officer of the Financial Services Council (FSC), to discuss the issues impacting the financial advice profession and Australians at large.
Mr Briggs examines the government’s bold approach to tax reform – both in relation to the stage three tax cuts and within the superannuation system – and highlights the importance of certainty and stability in tax settings to maintain consumer confidence.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why he is optimistic about the outcomes of the Quality of Advice Review.
- The importance of advisers registering with ASIC and the need for transparency in the ASIC levy.
- The busy year ahead with retirement income reforms, changes to the managed investment scheme review, and the implementation of the CSLR.
In this episode of Relative Return, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Andrew Peros, small-cap portfolio manager at Ausbil, about why the market environment indicates the “perfect time” to go into small caps.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why small caps are due for a comeback.
- Learnings from a volatile two years.
- Dialling up high-conviction positions in the portfolio.
- Having a bias to founder-led companies.
- His transition to funds management from accountancy.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Shelley Banton, head of education at ASF Audits, to discuss the issues impacting SMSF auditors. Ms Banton explains why the class action raised against auditors involved in the Melissa Caddick case should not be seen as a black mark against all within the sector, as well as what auditors should be doing to ensure they don’t find themselves in a similar situation.
Listen as they discuss:
- Challenges ahead for SMSF auditors.
- Why the $3 million super tax changes will put greater emphasis on market valuations.
- The ongoing importance of documentation for auditors.
In this episode of Relative Return, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with Matthew Haupt, lead portfolio manager of WAM Leaders, to discuss the stage three tax cuts and their impact on Australian equities. Listen as they discuss:
- The recent stage three tax cuts announcement.
- What a move to monetary easing will mean for equities and bonds.
- The collapse of Evergrande property developer in China and the country’s relations with Australia.
- Whether Trump could be re-elected in the US presidential election.
- How he is positioning the WAM Leaders portfolio.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Glen Hare, co-founder and financial adviser at Fox & Hare, to discuss young Australians seeking financial empowerment amid changing markets. Focused on a younger demographic, Mr Hare emphasises a holistic approach to address diverse financial goals, from property ownership to stock market investments, and highlights the importance of education and goal flexibility.
Listen as they discuss:
- The best way to address the concerns of younger clients.
- The varied reasons young Australians seek financial advice and the importance of dispelling misconceptions about age and wealth.
- The significance of educating clients, breaking down misconceptions, and supporting young Australians in cultivating financial empowerment for a secure and prosperous future.
In this episode of Relative Return, Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks with David Tuckwell, investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia, about the future trajectory of the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market and flows into bitcoin ETFs. Listen as they discuss:
- How financial advisers are helping to boost ETF growth.
- The popularity of fixed income ETFs during 2023.
- Allaying advisers’ concerns about bitcoin ETFs.
- Competition and future launches in the cryptocurrency space.
- ETFs positioned to benefit from a monetary easing environment.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by the CEO of Verse Wealth, Corey Wastle, to discuss the important role that client experience plays in an advice business.
Mr Wastle explains what exactly falls within the realm of the client experience and why it is so important, as well as how Verse frames everything around values, intentions, and financial wellbeing.
Listen as they discuss:
- The best ways to approach the client experience and how digitising the process helps.
- How Verse has implemented video SOAs and why it is better for clients.
- The importance of culture within an advice firm.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Daniel Butler, director of DBA Lawyers, to discuss the state of play regarding non-arm’s length expenses and income (NALE/I) as we move into 2024. Mr Butler explains why the legislation continues to be a contentious issue, including where the problems lie, what to expect once it’s finalised, and how it will impact the SMSF sector. Listen as they discuss:
- The state of limbo the SMSF sector has been stuck in for five years.
- How the proposed changes fall short of expectations and do not fully address the complexities and potential unfairness of the current system.
- The way that innocent and inadvertent oversights can result in major penalties for trustees.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Amanda Gardner, National Strategy Manager at Challenger, to examine the latest retirement income innovations.
Listen as they discuss:
- The drivers of growing demand for retirement income products.
- Key concerns of future retirees.
- Balancing income generation and capital preservation requirements.
- Misconceptions about retirement income.
- The future of retirement income and the latest innovations.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn get out their crystal balls and take a look at what 2024 has in store for the SMSF sector. On the back of a busy year for SMSF professionals that included a host of changes across a wide range of areas, the expectation is for more of the same as consultations and proposed government changes start being solidified. Listen as they discuss:
- How the Retirement Income Covenant will impact the SMSF sector.
- The stage three tax cuts and upcoming federal budget.
- What to expect in the wake of the government’s final Quality of Advice Review announcement.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Peter Johnston, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP), to discuss a range of new programs for its members. Mr Johnston details the referral relationship between the AIOFP and UK-based private bank and wealth manager Coutts, as well as a joint venture with Next Rural, an Australian-based group part-owned by accounting firm PKF. Listen as they discuss: * The AIOFP’s focus on elevating its Certified Financial Strategist (CFS) designation. * Its continuing education program, Aspire, which offers discounts to members * Why it is important to take a bipartisan approach to political lobbying.
In this episode of Relative Return, hosts Charbel Kadib and Laura Dew reflect on the year that was, unpacking major developments across financial markets and the financial services industry over the course of 2023.
Listen as they discuss:
- The Quality of Advice Review and its implications on the provision of financial advice.
- Legislative developments and proposed reforms to the superannuation industry.
- The impact of macroeconomic volatility on financial markets.
- The performance of key investment asset classes.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by journalist Keith Ford to take a look at the government’s newly announced policy stance on the second and third tranches of the QAR. The pair discuss everything that has come out of Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ Canberra announcement, which was met with disbelief from the advice community. Listen as they discuss:
- The new class of “qualified advisers” that institutions will be able to employ – and why that term should change.
- How the profession has reacted to the announcement.
- Whether the negative attention on the controversial elements overshadowed the positive.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn reflect on the major issues and changes in the SMSF sector throughout 2023, including regulatory measures that have been finalised and more that were announced.
This year was a big year for SMSF professionals as the government announced shake-ups in a number of areas, with the major talking points including the $3 million super tax, the objective of super, resolution of the NALE/I measures, and much more.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the SMSF sector was impacted by the biggest events of 2023.
- The key areas covered on the SMSF Adviser Show over the last 30 episodes.
- The top stories, strategy, and podcasts throughout the year.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by journalist Keith Ford to take a look at the government’s newly announced policy stance on the second and third tranches of the QAR. The pair discuss everything that has come out of Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ Canberra announcement, which was met with disbelief from the advice community. Listen as they discuss:
- The new class of “qualified advisers” that institutions will be able to employ – and why that term should change.
- How the profession has reacted to the announcement.
- Whether the negative attention on the controversial elements overshadowed the positive.
In this episode of Relative Return, James Harwood, senior portfolio manager at Russell Investments, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the burgeoning ETF space and how the asset class can form part of an investment portfolio.
Listen as they discuss:
- The core features and benefits of ETFs. The role of ETFs in a portfolio diversification strategy. The rise of active ETF strategies. The outlook for the ETF market and potential growth areas. The benefits of exposure to multiple ETF providers.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Kerry Ong, the general manager of customer wealth at Iress, to discuss improving the efficiency and accessibility of financial advice in Australia. Mr Ong touches on the significant challenges facing the industry, including regulatory changes and cost pressures, which have necessitated doing more with less, as well as how Iress is responding by enhancing its software and services to better align with evolving business models.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the quality of advice review and subsequent legislative changes have underscored the need for more accessible advice.
- The findings of the Iress 2023 Financial Advice Efficiency Report.
- Iress’ new community platform, Advisely, which aims to foster peer-to-peer discussion and connect advisers with industry experts.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the possible pathway for advisers to enter the industry through super funds and progressing from limited advice to fully licensed advisers. On the back of Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones floating the idea that non-relevant providers working in super funds could help increase adviser numbers, the pair look at the possible impacts for SMSFs and whether it could lay a foundation for future SMSF advisers.
Listen as they discuss:
- The ATO’s recently announced illegal early access estimate.
- The September quarter SMSF establishment and wind-up stats from the ATO.
- How the delay in finalising the NALI/E legislation will impact super and the possibility of changes.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Keith Ford speaks to the managing partner of Metrics Credit Partners, Andrew Lockhart, about the benefits of private markets exposure in a diversified investment portfolio. Listen as they discuss:
- Why private markets investing is so attractive in the current environment.
- How Metrics Credit Partners identifies lucrative investment opportunities in private debt and private equity.
- The strategies leveraged to mitigate market risks.
- How to best position private debt in an investment portfolio.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by the general manager of consulting at Elixir, Sue Viskovic, to discuss her recent business merger, the evolving landscape of financial advice, and the role of technology in shaping the industry’s future. Ms Viskovic explains the strategic decision to merge with Vital Business Partners (VBP), which brings greater access to capital, the ability to scale more rapidly, and ultimately, provide better and more efficient services to advice firms. Listen as they discuss:
- What changes with a move into a new role, and what doesn’t.
- The potential of AI in the financial advice sector, particularly around automating business processes and improving efficiency.
- The government’s first Quality of Advice Review draft legislation.
Following the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space.
In this episode, we chat to Rebecca Warren, executive general manager of small-business banking at CommBank, about how she navigated a historically male-dominated industry over her 20-year career and why she believes inclusion and diversity are not just morally imperative, but key to achieving superior business results.
Tune in to find out:
- Why she loves commercial finance.
- The secret power of ‘quiet achievers’.
- How CommBank is creating a more inclusive and supportive work culture.
And much more!
In this episode of Relative Return, host Charbel Kadib speaks to Steven Tang and Damien Hennessy of Zenith Investment Partners about portfolio construction and asset allocation.
Listen as they discuss:
- Is portfolio construction an art or science?
- The importance of selecting the right blend of products for different portfolios.
- Rebalancing portfolios to perform in different market environments.
- Being “cycle aware” with asset allocation and watching the signals.
- The role of strategic versus dynamic asset allocation.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by journalist Keith Ford to take a look at the first tranche of legislation for the government’s Delivering Better Financial Outcomes package of reforms.
The pair discuss what is included in the draft legislation announced by Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones – and what isn’t. They also break down the minister’s comments and how advisers have reacted to the news.
Listen as they discuss:
- The notable omission of measures relating to statements of advice and the removal of safe harbour provisions.
- The response from industry bodies and advice associations.
- What’s next for the Quality of Advice Review reforms.
Following the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space.
In this episode, we chat to Suzanne Wood, state general manager residential broker Victoria/Tasmania at Westpac Group (and state chair of the Women of Westpac employee advocacy group), about how she climbed the career ladder in banking and the power of having strong female role models.
Tune in to find out:
- How she learnt the art of having difficult conversations.
- The perils of unconscious bias and how to tackle them.
- How Westpac is supporting women through the Women of Westpac employee advocacy group.
And much more!
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Peter Burgess, chief executive officer at the SMSF Association, to break down the regulatory landscape for SMSFs. Mr Burgess explains the SMSF Association’s position on division 296 – the government’s proposed $3 million super tax – including where the major issues lie as well as alternative methods if the government moves ahead with the reforms. Listen as they discuss:
- Suggestions to avoid taxation of unrealised gains.
- Lobbying efforts from the SMSF Association to attempt to change or block parts of the legislation.
- The government’s first draft legislation from the Quality of Advice Review.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to John Julian, fund manager of the Dexus Core Infrastructure Fund, to discuss infrastructure opportunities and the outlook for real assets.
Listen as they discuss:
- The risk and return drivers of infrastructure.
- Why Melbourne Airport has been a strong performer despite lockdowns.
- How infrastructure can provide a hedge against eroding revenues.
- Understanding the needs and concerns of advisers around investing in an illiquid asset class.
- Positioning for a rising rate environment.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Steve Prendeville, founder and director of Forte Asset Solutions, to examine what the future landscape of the advice profession will look like. Mr Prendeville explains why we are on the verge of a golden age of advice, spurred on by what he sees as an imminent period of legislative stability when the Quality of Advice Review changes are eventually implemented. Listen as they discuss: * How mergers and acquisitions within the advice space will lead to “super boutiques”. * The rise of multidisciplinary firms working under a single umbrella. * What the financial advice environment will look like over the next decade.
In this episode of Relative Return, hosts Charbel Kadib and Laura Dew chat to Adam Alexander, portfolio manager at Schroders, about Australian equities and why separately managed accounts are ideal for financial advisers.
Listen as they discuss:
- The benefits of a separately managed account (SMA) structure.
- Sectors he favours within Australian equities.
- Why a highly concentrated portfolio of 20–25 equities is ideal for SMAs.
- Positioning the portfolio for the current market environment with rising interest rates.
- His future outlook on the asset class going into 2024.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Adam Holster, professional services banking executive at NAB, to discuss the optimistic outlook for growth among advice practices. Mr Holster explains the findings of recent NAB research that the majority of advice firms expect strong growth over the next 12 months, how this is enabling them to attract their ideal clients, and why advice is all about people. Listen as they discuss: * The impact of regulation on advisers and how the Quality of Advice Review will play out. * How younger advisers can enter the industry with banks no longer a pipeline. * How an increase in mergers and acquisitions will impact the industry.
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Andrew McVeigh, managing partner at Remara, to discuss private credit. Mr McVeigh explains the ins and outs of private credit, including what SMSF members need to know and how the asset class can bring value to a member’s portfolio. Listen as they discuss: • The different types of private debt that are available. • How SMSF members can access the alternative asset class.• Major considerations for advisers and members when assessing asset quality.
Ahead of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. In this episode, we chat to Anjali Crossette, manager of motor operations at non-bank lender Liberty, about breaking barriers and misconceptions about car finance and why she believes the industry needs to showcase gender diversity across every rung of the career ladder. Tune in to find out:
- Why the finance industry is an attractive industry to work in for women.
- The progress being made in gender diversity in car finance.
- How Liberty is leading the way by example.
And much more!
In this episode of Relative Return, hosts Charbel Kadib and Laura Dew speak to Simon Brown, co-portfolio manager at Tribeca, about small cap performance and how he differentiates his fund.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the fund has achieved outperformance in an underperforming asset class.
- The “survivorship bias” in the fund’s 22-year tenure.
- The Tribeca Australian Smaller Companies Fund’s allocations.
- What he enjoys about working as a fund manager.
- Opportunities the fund is seeing in the energy transition.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Conaill Keniry, the founder of The Adviser Games, to discuss what exactly the games entail.
Mr Keniry explains what prompted the idea to reshape and energise the professional development day format into a series of games that are more fun and interesting than the standard fair advisers are used to.
Listen as they discuss:
• How the first Amazing Race-style event was received by attendees and partners. • The plans for future The Adviser Games events in different cities. • A sense of optimism around the profession heading into 2024 as legislative changes begin to clear up.
Ahead of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. In this episode, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Olympian and financial adviser at HLB Mann Judd, Sarah Carli, to discuss how she made her way from the track to financial advice.
Ms Carli, who competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, reveals the valuable skills she has learned as an adviser that have positively impacted her athletic career, as well as how she balances being a professional athlete with working full time.
Tune in to find out:
- The importance of a supportive work environment.
- How she balances her professional and athletic commitments.
- How there are more transferable skills between athletics and advice than many might expect.
And much more!
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Olivia McArdle, head of payments and deposits, and Duncan Booth, strategic account manager at Macquarie, to discuss the importance of cash flow.
Olivia and Duncan explain why cash is key to effectively managing your SMSF and achieving your investment objectives, as well as the importance of choosing the right tools to manage your SMSF cash flow.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why is the bank account you choose for your SMSF important?
- What an SMSF trustee should be looking for in their SMSF bank account.
- Why cash flow management is the lifeblood of an SMSF.
The Macquarie Cash Management Account and Macquarie Cash Management Accelerator Account are deposit products issued by Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 AFSL 237502. This podcast does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider if it is appropriate for you before making a decision, and obtain financial, legal and taxation advice.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phillip Tarrant speaks with Joseph Sitch, co-CIO of Victor Smorgon Group, about the family office’s venture into the fund management space. Listen as they discuss:
- The origins of Victor Smorgon Group.
- The strategies underpinning the group’s success in building and sustaining intergenerational wealth.
- Why the family office decided to enter the fund management space. How Victor Smorgon Group is identifying opportunities in a challenging environment. The group’s engagement with financial advisers.
Victor Smorgon Group www.victorsmorgongroup.com.au/invest-with-us
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Olympian and financial adviser at HLB Mann Judd Sarah Carli, to discuss how she made her way from the track to financial advice. Ms Carli, who competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, explains how she found her way to financial advice and the valuable skills she has learnt as an adviser that have positively impacted her athletic career, as well as how she balances being a professional athlete with working full time. Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of a supportive work environment.
- How she balances her professional and athletic commitments.
- How there are more transferable skills between athletics and advice than many might expect.
- Her goals beyond the Paris Olympics for both her career as an athlete and an adviser.
Ahead of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. Deslie Taylor, principal at Mortgage Choice Ormeau in Queensland, is one of the top brokers in the country, having settled over $1 billion in loans in her 16-year career and taken home numerous awards including Mortgage Broker of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards multiple years in a row. In this episode, we chat to Ms Taylor about how she runs her award-winning brokerage and find out from Aaron Slater, general manager of distribution at Mortgage Choice (principal partner of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023), how we can help support and create more inclusive workplaces. Tune in to find out:
- The power of being an empathetic leader.
- The art of practising continuous improvement.
- How Mortgage Choice’s Aspire program is supporting women in finance.
And much more!
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Tanya Hoshek, Executive General Manager – National Distribution at La Trobe Financial, to discuss SMSF lending. Ms Hoshek gives a breakdown of the current environment for SMSF investors and the impact of these conditions on the broader economy, including the property market. Listen as they discuss:
• How SMSFs are investing and the lending market for these investors. • The residential property market and how Australians are dealing with the fixed-rate cliff. • Navigating the narrow path and avoiding a recession.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to the head of sustainable investment at FTSE Russell, Tony Campos, about the transition to low-carbon economy and how that is being reflected in equity indices.
Listen as they discuss:
- The challenges presented by the lack of global sustainable definitions.
- FTSE Russell’s partnership with the Transition Pathway Initiative to provide a clear picture of company alignment with the climate transition.
- How index providers build climate transition indices.
- Changes to sustainable investing over his two decades in the industry.
- Why improved disclosure by companies is key to success.
In a recent episode of the InvestorDaily Uncut podcast, the CEO of the Financial Services Council (FSC), Blake Briggs, and Natasha Gray, senior business solutions consultant at Objective, joined forces to explore the evolving landscape of financial services compliance in Australia. Joining editor Maja Garaca Djurdjevic, their conversation centred on the recent enhancements to the target market determination (TMD) template and the fruitful partnership between FSC and Objective.
They discussed: * Why Objective Keystone is a vital tool for efficiently managing financial institutions’ product and investment disclosure documents. * The importance of adapting to the evolving TMD template and the industry’s commitment to regulatory compliance. * Changes in the TMD template and what the industry needs to be aware of. * Objective Keystone’s features, including content reusability and streamlined processes. * Why the FSC has optimism for financial advice deregulation in 2024. * The FSC’s collaboration with the New Zealand Financial Services Council and its aim to facilitate knowledge exchange, align regulatory practices, and address shared challenges in the financial services sector.
Ahead of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. Joanna James is an advocate for constant reinvention and resilience, having adapted to change over her career in the finance space herself. Having worked in the lending space for more than 20 years – including as the general manager of non-bank lender Mortgage Ezy – she now helps support women in building successful businesses through Artemis Space, a women’s community group delivered by the Finance Brokers Association of Australia. In this episode, Annie Kane sits down with Ms James to find out:
- Why success is subjective.
- The power of visualisation, emotionalisation and manifestation.
- Why she believes the finance industry is a great industry for women.
And much more!
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Raymond Hempstead, founder and managing director at Supavest, to discuss how SMSF members can invest in property.
Mr Hempstead explains the taxation strategies and incentives to invest in house and land builds through an SMSF, and the different options available to members that they may not be aware of.
Listen as they discuss:
• Why holding property within an SMSF is not just for high income earners and the possibilities for even first-time investors. • The importance of understanding superannuation is a long-term investment. • Why finding the right adviser is crucial for SMSFs and members.
Momentum Media Editor Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sits down with Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones In this conversation, Minister Jones shares his candid assessment of the progress in financial advice, discusses his goals for the industry, addresses criticism surrounding his approach to the Quality of Advice Review, and delves into the role of superannuation funds, banks, and insurers in shaping the future of advice. Discover the minister’s vision for the advice industry and his plans to inspire young Australians to pursue careers in this field. You’ll hear:
- Minister Jones’ reflections on his commitment to addressing industry issues and the progress made during his first year and a half in government.
- Insights into the legislative timeline for streams one and two of the Quality of Advice Review response.
- The minister’s views on consumer protection, Michelle Levy’s good advice model, and strategies to encourage funds to offer advice.
- The enactment of the experience pathway, its reception, and Minister Jones’ message to those who find it contentious.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Kelly Power, chief executive officer of superannuation at Colonial First State, to discuss the recent CFS research on the value of financial advice.
The research, conducted by CFS, shows that 53 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 39 are open to financial advice. Ms Power examines what this means for the way we understand young people’s relationship with advice, and covers a range of related topics.
Listen as they discuss:
• The role of super funds and banks in advice following the Quality of Advice Review. • How digital solutions can aid advisers and the necessity of human interaction. • The challenges faced by retirees in managing their finances.
Ahead of the Women in Finance Summit and Awards 2023, we’re catching up with some of the leading women in the financial services space. Tanya Sale co-founded mortgage aggregation group outsource Financial with Andrea Tassis 13 years ago, with Tanya now one of the very few female chief executives in the mortgage industry.
In this episode, Annie Kane sits down with Tanya Sale to find out:
- How a piggy bank triggered her love of finance.
- Why she started her own aggregation business.
- Why she believes support is critical to succeed as a female business leader.
And much more!
In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by George Haramis, the CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, to discuss how digital advice services can assist SMSFs. Mr Haramis explains why he launched accountantsGPS to help accountants and advisers within the SMSF space, and how his decades of experience in the industry have informed the business and its focus. Listen as they discuss: * The new SMSF Check-Up Report within accountantsGPS and the information it provides. * How both accountants and advisers can utilise the service to benefit their clients. * The plans for the future and what’s next for accountantsGPS.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to David Ashton, senior portfolio manager at Macquarie, about how long it could be until Australia sees an interest rate cut.
Listen as they discuss:
- How long interest rates could be on hold.
- Why the current market environment isn’t a repeat of the 1970s.
- The impacts of geopolitics on the economy and markets.
- The benefits of Australian government bonds in this economic climate.
- Lessons from the US and Europe.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by George Haramis, the CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, to discuss the rise of digital advice in the financial services industry.
With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Mr Haramis provides valuable insights into the development and growth of digital advice, and why incorporating digital advice into advisory firms’ business models will be essential moving forward.
Listen as they discuss:
- The key benefits of using digital advice platforms for advisory firms.
- The importance of digital advice in addressing intergenerational wealth transfer.
- How digital advice underpins many of the recommendations in the Quality of Advice Review, and more.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to Patrick Clarke, general manager of retirement solutions at Generation Life, to discuss how super funds can help members transition into retirement.
Listen as they discuss:
- The 4.2 million Baby Boomers heading into retirement.
- Super funds’ efforts to meet the Retirement Income Covenant.
- How to encourage retirees to spend their retirement savings.
- The product development of Generation Life’s investment-linked lifetime annuity product.
- What is needed for a good retirement plan.
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Hans Egger, founder and managing director of Astute Wheel, to discuss how digital advice can enhance the client-adviser relationship. Mr Egger explains how digital advice is a much broader term than robo-advice, and how implementing tech-driven solutions can provide efficiencies and ease the challenges financial advisers face. He also touches on the key benefits of using technology in financial advice, including its ability to bring financial plans to life, and the crucial role of technology in improving the adviser-client relationship. Finally, Mr Egger talks about Astute Wheel’s approach to digital advice and the value of client portals, before predicting where digital advice is heading over the next few years.
Tim Steele, chief executive officer at Class, and Jo Hurley, general manager, growth at Class, join the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about the findings of their annual Benchmark Report. Mr Steele and Ms Hurley explain that younger generations are driving new SMSF establishments, but growth in the sector is also being aided by greater longevity for older SMSF members. The pair also cover the superannuation gender gap, including the relatively strong showing from SMSFs versus APRA funds and the “reverse gender gap” seen in under 25s with SMSFs. Finally, Mr Steele and Ms Hurley highlight the disparity between SMSF and APRA fund members enjoying tax-free earnings in retirement phase, as well as the implications of the $3 million super balance cap.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to Adam Scully, senior portfolio manager at Alexander Funds Management, to help investors demystify credit and fixed income funds.
Listen as they discuss:
- Exploring the differences between credit and fixed income
- The role they can play in portfolios
- How interest rates affect bond and credit portfolios
- Considerations when investing in credit securities
- The importance of stress-testing portfolios
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Adele Martin, founder of My Money Buddy and the Savings Squad podcast, to discuss how she is giving back through her business.
Ms Martin touches on how and why she implemented a profit first model in her business and speaks about why setting aside funds for charitable donations and random acts of kindness is important to her.
Ms Martin also introduces her new initiative which, in addition to charitable benefits, strives to foster a sense of community within the financial advice industry by offering support and mentorship to financial advisers.
Lastly, Ms Djurdjevic and Ms Martin touch on the latest news in financial advice, including her views on the experience pathway.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to James Martin, managing director and head of global client solutions at Hamilton Lane, about why true democraticisation of private markets is still on the horizon.
Listen as they discuss:
- Challenges to accessing private equity
- Solving the illiquidity problem of private market investments
- Why Australia is leading the way globally
- Inflation’s impact on private markets
- Questions to consider during the due diligence process
In this episode of the ifa Show, Keith Ford is joined by the CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, George Haramis, to discuss the impact of the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR) and the future of digital advice in Australia.
Mr Haramis touches on the progress of the proposed digital advice association and whether the government’s slow progress on the QAR has had an impact.
He also covers the role of super funds in advice and whether they can plug the advice gap, as well as exploring some of the broader impacts of the QAR, such as the yet-to-be accepted good advice standard.
Mr Haramis then touches on Treasury roundtables and the outcomes from government consultations before explaining moneyGPS’s white label digital advice product for super funds, boutique AFSLs, larger AFSLs, and accounting firms.
George Haramis, CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, joins the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss the impact of the government’s response to the Quality Advice Review (QAR) and the future of digital advice in Australia.
Mr Haramis touches on the progress of the proposed digital advice association and whether the government’s slow progress on the QAR has had an impact.
He also covers the role of super funds in advice and whether they can plug the advice gap, as well as exploring some of the broader impacts of the QAR such as the yet-to-be-accepted good advice standard.
Mr Haramis then touches on moneyGPS’s white label digital advice product for super funds, boutique AFSLs, larger AFSLs and accounting firms before giving a preview of what to expect at the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day 2023.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant speaks to Shane Hurst, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at ClearBridge Investments, winner of this year’s Infrastructure Fund of the Year.
Listen as they discuss:
- His 20-year love of global listed infrastructure investing
- The firm’s win at this year’s Fund Manager of the Year Awards
- Why risk management is the most important factor in infrastructure investing
- How ClearBridge considers ESG and sustainability within its investment process
- Why he expects to see outperformance after a challenging year
In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by co-host Keith Ford to discuss the recent concerns raised by Sarah Abood, CEO of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), about ASIC levies and the role advisers play in ensuring Aussies retire comfortably.
Maja and Keith take a closer look at ASIC’s cost recovery implementation statement and share why the FAAA’s CEO believes the numbers just don’t line up. They discuss the steps the group has taken and whether it holds the power to influence the corporate regulator to take another look at its projections.
The conversation shifts to the intergenerational report and its findings on retirement savings. While the report predicts a significant increase in total assets in the super system over the next four decades, the government is concerned about Australians’ reluctance to spend their retirement savings. As such, Treasury is now expected to release a consultation paper to address this issue and strengthen the accessibility of retirement products by taking a closer look at advice, among other things.
The discussion also covers the roundtables being hosted by Treasury, where various stakeholders have been called upon to provide their opinions on the Quality of Advice Review.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Gary Monaghan, investment director for Asian equities at Fidelity, about opportunities in Asia and the firm’s recent win at the Fund Manager of the Year Awards.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why Chinese technology doesn’t equal all Asian technology stocks
- How the US sanctions have helped China
- The firm’s win at this year’s Fund Manager of the Year Awards for its Fidelity Asia Fund
- What factors are making India the next ‘darling of Asia’
- The economic impact of China’s property problems on Australia
In this episode of the ifa Show, stand-in host Keith Ford chats to Peter Johnston, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP), to discuss the proposed good advice legislation and the power advisers have to lobby the government.
Mr Johnston explains why he believes the good advice standard would be detrimental to consumers and gives his thoughts on whether the government is likely to adopt it.
He also discusses the AIOFP’s lobbying efforts, including why the advice profession is in a unique position to influence the government with the backing of their clients, and how the various industry associations can work together to look for positive outcomes.
Additionally, Mr Johnston discusses the AIOFP’s involvement in roundtable discussions with Treasury regarding the Quality of Advice Review (QAR), as well as some highlights from the association’s recent conferences in Bangkok and London.
Simon Aboud, chief product and marketing officer at Allianz Retire+, joins the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about retirement income solutions.
Mr Aboud explains why longevity risk is such a concern for retirees and advisers, and how Allianz Guaranteed Income for Life (AGILE) can help mitigate these issues.
He also covers the need for greater innovation with retirement income products and how product providers are responding to the retirement income covenant
Finally, Mr Aboud highlights how macroeconomic themes are affecting retirees and what to expect from the retirement income landscape over the next 12 months.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant speaks to Justin Blaess, co-founder and portfolio manager at Quay Global Investors and winner of this year’s Global Property Securities Fund of the Year.
Listen as they discuss:
- The importance of a global approach to property investment
- The property winners and losers from COVID-19
- Maintaining a highly concentrated and low turnover portfolio
- What it takes to have five consecutive wins at the Fund Manager of the Year Awards
- Ensuring Quay differentiates itself from competitors
In this special episode of the ifa podcast, our host is joined by QAR review lead Michelle Levy and FAAA CEO Sarah Abood to discuss the government’s QAR response.
This podcast brings you an audio version of our recent webcast hosted by ifa editor Maja Garaca Djurdjevic who was joined by QAR lead Michelle Levy and the CEO of the Financial Advice Association Australia, Sarah Abood.
Ms Levy and Ms Abood share their thoughts on the government’s QAR response and dissect certain recommendations, including the expansion of the super funds’ advisory powers.
At times, Ms Levy and Ms Abood disagree on areas of the review, including the name that should be given to superannuation employees providing information/advice to their members.
Ms Levy discusses why she believes the absence of good advice exposes funds to conflicts of interest, while Ms Abood shares why defining the good advice duty is crucial.
Moreover, the pair discuss the future of statements of advice, and Ms Abood provides an update on the progress of the consultation with government.
Greg Hansen, Executive, Group Strategy at HUB24, and Jo Hurley, General Manager, Growth at Class, join the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about Millennials entering the SMSF space.
Mr Hansen and Ms Hurley explain what is causing the expansion of the SMSF sector and how technological advancements enable customised SMSF service offerings for Millennials.
The pair also cover how advisory firms are adapting their practices to effectively serve the evolving demands and expectations of clients.
Finally, Mr Hansen and Ms Hurley highlight what advisers and accountants need to think about when engaging with a younger demographic to cater to their specific needs and preferences.
In this week's episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant speaks to Jonathan Ng, head of investments at Reach Alternative Investments, to discuss digital disruption and how the boutique plans to scale up the business. Listen as they discuss: * Democratising investment for smaller clients * The attractiveness of private markets * Gaining traction with financial advisers * Building bespoke technology to meet client needs * Navigating liquidity and redemption in closed-ended options
In this episode of the ifa show, stand-in host Keith Ford chats to Nigel Baker, CEO and founder of Scientiam, a pioneering company in the financial advice industry.
Mr Baker shares his journey, from working in renowned accounting firms to establishing his own independent practice, Arch Capital.
The pair delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by the advice industry, particularly in providing accessible and efficient advice to a broader market.
Mr Baker unveils Scientiam’s innovative approach to addressing these challenges by leveraging technology to create a seamless client experience, while also touching on the future of financial advice and exploring how the industry can adapt to changing client needs and expectations.
Moreover, Mr Baker emphasises the importance of separating advice from product recommendations and enabling clients to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
CEO at CryptoTaxCalculator, Shane Brunette, and tax counsel for CryptoTaxCalculator and director of Cadena Legal, Harrison Dell, join the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about taxation and compliance considerations when investing in crypto through an SMSF.
Mr Brunette and Mr Dell explain the key strategies and considerations essential for individuals and entities to master the complexities of capital gains tax and how to ensure compliance with the sole purpose test.
The pair also cover why the security of crypto assets is important for tax purposes and how to master crypto security including fundamental principles, wallets, and private key aspects.
Finally, Mr Brunette and Mr Dell highlight the significance and hurdles associated with maintaining accurate crypto tax records and how crypto tax software can assist in managing cryptocurrency taxes effectively.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Simon Madder, Managing Director and CEO of Prime Financial Group, on the firm’s ambitious growth plans and how it balances working in multiple parts of the financial services landscape.
Listen as they discuss:
- Where it is finding acquisition opportunities
- Prime’s equity ownership model for employees
- Why the business grew its fastest during COVID-19
- Succession planning and staff retention
- How it balances providing financial advice, SMSFs and accountancy
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by the chief executive of Lifespan Financial Planning, Eugene Ardino, to delve into the latest developments in the financial advice industry.
Mr Ardino discusses the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR), the experience pathway, and the increasing ASIC levy.
He shares why, despite the disappointment with the ASIC levy increase, he remains optimistic about the industry.
Mr Ardino also touches on the potential impact of the QAR and the government’s support for certain recommendations and acknowledges there are certain challenges in defining and implementing a good advice duty.
He also shares his thoughts on the simplification of statements of advice (SOAs) and why he anticipates that the government and regulators will work together to define what a good record of advice should look like.
Moreover, Mr Ardino dismisses concerns that licensees would still enforce lengthy documents and emphasises the importance of industry consensus and consumer-centred approach.
Head of Education and Content at Heffron, Lyn Formica, joins the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss how to keep up to date with regulatory changes in the SMSF space.
Ms Formica explains how recent market developments impact the relevance of SMSFs in the current landscape, as well as the latest regulatory updates that industry professionals need to understand.
She also covers the methods that accountants, advisers, and trustees can employ to remain well informed, and touches on some specific strategies SMSFs can utilise that standard funds can’t.
Finally, Ms Formica highlights the enhanced flexibility offered by SMSFs in comparison to standard industry funds and showcases some circumstances in which an SMSF might not be the right recommendation for a client.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Andrew Lockhart, managing partner at Metrics Credit Partners, to share his insights on the current state of the lending market and what he learnt from his banking past.
Listen as they discuss:
- Standing out in a bank-dominated market
- Developing a broad fund range to meet investor needs
- The future of Metrics Credit Partners over the next five years
- Potential growth in private equity and real estate transactions
- The current heavy focus on property in the lending market
In this episode of the ifa show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sits down with Marc Hraiki, the executive director of sales and services at Lonsec.
Together, they delve into the ever-changing landscape of financial advice and discuss why Mr Hraiki believes there has never been a better time to be an adviser.
Amid market volatility, decreasing adviser numbers, and growing complexity in Australians’ financial needs, Mr Hraiki highlights the tremendous opportunities for strong advice businesses.
The pair also discuss the top three concerns keeping advisers awake at night and the ongoing challenge of making advice more accessible and affordable for all Australians.
Mr Hraiki shares his insights on the impact of technology and innovation and offers valuable advice for young professionals considering a career in the advice industry.
Director at businessDEPOT and head of accounting at Ignition Rebecca Mihalic joins the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss what the evolving technology landscape means for SMSF professionals.
Ms Mihalic explains how AI and automation are changing the way SMSF professionals work, from streamlining processes to making it easier to complete actions, and looks at whether this is a positive development.
She also covers how new SMSF technology fits inside your current tech stack and the benefits of taking a holistic view to deliver consistency for clients.
Finally, Ms Mihalic highlights how these technological advances are able to help relieve the ongoing resource burden that SMSF professionals (and all accountants) face.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Aaron Binsted, portfolio manager of the Lazard Australian Equity Fund, to discuss which sectors the fund is favouring and his dislike of REITs.
Listen as they examine:
- His strategy running the $537 million Australian equity fund
- Why its defensiveness is appealing for retirees
- The Aussie equity sectors that have performed well in FY2022–23
- The potential impact of rising interest rates on equity markets and how it poses both risks and opportunities for investors
- How he put a 20 per cent cash weighting to use
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by the head of policy at the Financial Advice Association Australia, Phil Anderson, to discuss the official end of the AFA and the broader advice landscape.
With the Association of Financial Advisers officially winding up, Phil Anderson reflects on the importance of professional associations and shares why he is more optimistic about the future than he has been for a long time.
Mr Anderson also speaks about the Quality of Advice Review, the consultation process that is currently underway, and explains why he doesn’t expect draft legislation for the review’s recommendations this year.
Moreover, he touches on the outcome of the class action brought by advisers against AMP over BOLR changes and shares why he believes there is “real momentum” towards changing the regulatory regime that will make advice less costly to provide and access.
Digital Surge co-founders Josh Lehman and Dan Rutter join the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss why SMSF trustees should consider cryptocurrencies.
Mr Lehman and Mr Rutter explain how the unique asset class can help diversify a portfolio, as well as the factors SMSF trustees need to consider when selecting a crypto exchange, such as fees, available coins, and minimum trade requirements.
The pair also cover the way SMSF trustees can purchase cryptocurrencies through their SMSF, and how to ensure the assets are safeguarded.
Finally, Mr Lehman and Mr Rutter highlight the importance of managed custody and detail Digital Surge’s Corporate Affiliate Program and Client Adviser Portal.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Blair Hannon, head of investment strategy at Global X, to discuss the rise of thematic ETFs as the world makes advancements in climate and technology.
Listen as they discuss:
- The types of thematics popular with Australian investors
- Global X’s range of thematic ETFs
- Distinguishing between a ‘fad’ and a long-term theme
- How advisers can implement them in portfolios
- Avoiding FOMO with ETF launches
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by AstuteWheel’s managing director, Hans Egger, to discuss the most compelling reasons for advisers to consider client portals.
With over 25 years of experience in the financial planning industry, Mr Egger shares his journey of developing tools and modelling calculators to enhance client advice and comprehension of complex strategies.
He discusses the growing adoption of technology by financial advisers, particularly in client engagement and streamlined processes, as well as emphasising the importance of secure client portals which not only protect sensitive data but also provide a comprehensive platform for clients to access their financial information, track goals, and communicate with their advisers.
Mr Egger also touches on the time-saving benefits of using tech tools such as questionnaires and modelling calculators, enabling advisers to focus on meaningful client interactions.
AccSource founder and managing director Boobalan Madhavan joins the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss how advice and accounting firms can benefit from outsourcing.
Mr Madhavan explains the problems that outsourcing can help solve, as well as how to integrate it into your business while retaining buy-in from your current employees.
He also covers how to find an effective outsourcing solution and how to tell that a provider is right for your business.
Finally, Mr Madhavan highlights the legal obligations involved in integrating an outsourcing solution and how you install processes, standards and expectations for an offshore team.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Russel Pillemer, co-founder and chief executive at Pengana Capital Group, to discuss how the firm is solving accessibility to global private markets for both wholesale and retail investors.
Listen as they discuss:
- The role of private markets in a portfolio
- Pengana’s unique global private equity vehicle
- Pengana’s latest joint venture with Washington H Soul Pattinson
- The differences between Australian and global private credit
- Democratising access to private markets
- Plans for upcoming product launches
In this episode, Aaron Dunn and co-host Keith Ford discuss the ASIC adviser levy increase, the ATO’s draft ruling on the interaction on non-arm’s length income and capital gains tax, court rulings on lost trust deeds, and the increase in ATO penalty fees.
Following the discussion, we share an episode of the ifa podcast, the sister brand of SMSF Adviser, in which host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by My Money Buddy and The Savings Squad podcast founder Adele Martin to discuss the government’s Quality of Advice Review (QAR) response and what it means for advisers.
This podcast brings you a one-on-one chat that took place at the ifa’s Adviser Innovation Summit in Melbourne, where our host and Ms Martin dissected the government’s response to the QAR.
Ms Martin talks about the response from an adviser’s point of view and why she would like to see less consultation and more action from the government.
She articulates her perspective on future-fit statements of advice and delves into the proposal that suggests superannuation funds will have a significant role in providing advice, highlighting why this approach may not effectively address the issue of limited access to advice.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Simon Aboud, chief product and marketing officer at Allianz Retire+, to discuss innovation in the retirement space.
Listen as they discuss:
- How the Retirement Income Covenant has changed the industry
- Longevity solution, Allianz Guaranteed Income for Life (AGILE)
- The risk of retirees outliving their funds
- How Allianz Retire+ engages with advisers on product design
- How technology and AI are helping provide info to consumers
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Matthew Esler, the co-founder and co-CEO of Padua Solutions.
Mr Esler discusses the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review, including why the entry of super funds back into advice should not be cause for concern among advisers.
He adds that advisers should instead be looking to set up referral arrangements with super funds to bridge the gap between their different service offerings.
Mr Esler also touches on why the QAR represents a huge opportunity for fintechs, particularly the government’s plans to streamline advice documents.
Labelling the upcoming period the “golden age of advice”, he explains why advisers should be optimistic going forward as technology enables them to scale their business and reach more clients than ever.
In this special episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by My Money Buddy and The Savings Squad podcast founder Adele Martin to discuss the government’s QAR response and what it means for advisers.
This podcast brings you a one-on-one chat that took place at the ifa’s Adviser Innovation Summit in Melbourne where our host and Ms Martin dissected the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR).
Ms Martin talks about the response from an adviser’s point of view, and why she would like to see less consultation and more action from the government.
She articulates her perspective on future-fit statements of advice and delves into the proposal that suggests superannuation funds will have a significant role in providing advice, highlighting why this approach may not effectively address the issue of limited access to advice.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Ross Lees, Head of Funds Management at Centuria, about their specialist property investments and the areas where Australia is leading the way.
Listen as they discuss:
- The differences between listed and unlisted property investment
- Whether offices are recovering from remote working
- Why Australia leads the way on ESG in property
- Centuria’s specialities in agriculture and healthcare property
- The environment for property investment over the next 12 months
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Philip Ryan, managing director of Trilogy Funds, on the role mortgage trusts play in portfolios, particularly in a rising rate environment
Listen as they discuss:
- The different roles for senior and subordinated debt
- Managing strategic duration in portfolios
- Exposure to builders and construction projects
- Location, location, location when buying property
- The difference between development loans and retail mum and dad loan
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Denis Orrock, chief strategy officer of wealth management platform Praemium.
Mr Orrock joins our host to discuss the evolving landscape of wealth management and administration platforms.
He also touches on the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR) and how this might play out for the super funds. “I think the super funds moving to advice-style models will be interesting and how they scale their businesses for that. Are they fit-for-purpose for that today? Will they be reliant on digital or AI-generated advice versus personal advice?”
And discusses a key issue for the industry around data integration. “The bigger impact for platforms is the data that sits within the platforms ... and how do we aggregate and standardise that data to provide advisers with a consolidated view of their customer.”
Moreover, Mr Orrock discusses how wealth management platforms like Praemium can evolve to support the changes to the advice landscape on the back of the QAR, as well as how technology can help streamline and enhance the delivery of advice.
The federal government has released its response to the Quality of Advice Review final report, which could have ramifications for the SMSF industry.
In this episode, Aaron Dunn and new co-host Keith Ford are joined by SMSF Adviser editor Maja Garaca Djurdjevic to discuss how the QAR response will impact advisers and accountants, including the reduced documentation requirements.
They also look at whether the industry will receive clarity surrounding the changes any time soon.
Aaron and Keith also touch on the Treasury opening consultation around the proposed changes to NALI provisions and the rest of the news from the last fortnight.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to John Woods, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Australian Ethical, to discuss how advisers can embed ESG into their investments to meet clients’ requirements.
Listen as they discuss:
- Investing with an ESG focus in an uncertain macroenvironment
- A framework to help advisers select products
- The challenge of thematic approaches
- The transfer of Christian Super members into Australian Ethical Super
- The outlook for ESG strategies after recent market volatility
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by ifa journalist Keith Ford to break down the government’s QAR response.
On Tuesday morning, Financial Service Minister Stephen Jones unveiled the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR) final report, accepting in principle 14 of the 22 recommendations.
The pair give an overview of what the government has announced, including the “quick wins” in its first stream and how the industry has responded to what is largely a streamlining of regulatory red tape.
They also cover the more controversial aspects of the QAR, such as opening the door for superannuation funds to provide personal advice to members, before taking a look at the eight recommendations that the government has not yet accepted.
In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Tom King OAM, chief investment officer at Nanuk Asset Management, to discuss why he dislikes the term ‘ESG’ despite the firm’s sustainable focus and his past as an Olympic sailor.
Listen as they discuss:
- Establishing a sustainable fund manager
- His dislike of the term ‘ESG’
- How advisers can get clients engaged with sustainable investments
- ASIC’s focus on greenwashing
- What his sailing experience has taught him about investing
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Matt van Dijk, general manager distribution Queensland/Northern Territory at Praemium.
Mr van Dijk joins the show to discuss the unmet advice needs of high-net-worth investors, with recent Praemium research showing that as many as 53 per cent of these investors are in need of quality advice tailored to their unique advice needs.
As the volume of HNW investors continues to grow beyond the $2.8 trillion of investable assets they currently hold, Mr van Dijk details these advice requirements and how advisers can respond.
He also touches on the intergenerational wealth transfer and how advisers can support it.
Namely, with HNW investors anticipating to transfer as much as $1.9 trillion to their children, the challenge for advisers is that over half are managing the inheritance themselves. As such, Mr van Dijk elaborates on what advisers should consider when looking to embed themselves in this transfer.
With 30 June just around the corner, there are a number of opportunities to examine with SMSF clients as part of year-end tax planning.
In this episode, Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF and Smarter SMSF chief executive Aaron Dunn share a range of tips, traps and strategies that SMSF professionals can look to employ with their clients in the lead up to 30 June.
Tim highlights some of the key contribution strategies to think about and why increasing mortgage repayments may drive an uptick in downsizer contributions, particularly in the 55 to 65 age group.
He also discusses some of the dilemmas faced by SMSF professionals and their clients in relation to pensions with the general transfer balance cap set to index to $1.9 million on 1 July.
In this episode of Relative Return, host James Mitchell chats to Nick Eatock, chief executive of Intelliflo. The pair discuss Intelliflo’s move into the Australian market as the UK firm launches its software and technology to Aussie financial advisers.
Listen as they unpack:
- His views on the Aussie adviser landscape
- The impact of the UK’s Retail Distribution Review
- The importance of technology and digital advice
- Narrowing the advice gap
- How firms can best implement new technology in their business
In this episode of Relative Return, host James Mitchell chats to David George, chief executive of Magellan Financial Group, to discuss how he is hoping to grow the asset manager to $100 billion in assets under management.
Listen as they unpack:
- Taking over the CEO role at Magellan
- What he learnt from his role at Future Fund
- Staff culture at the firm
- Clients receiving financial advice
- His plans for the next 12 months
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Jacqui Henderson, founder and chief executive of Advice Intelligence.
Ms Henderson discusses the evolution of technology in the advice space over her time in the industry, and how advisers could benefit from embracing digital innovations.
She explains the goals of the Australian Digital Advice Association (ADAA), which includes Advice Intelligence, moneyGPS, abrdn, and Ignition Advice, as well as the process behind forming the association.
The pair also cover why Ms Henderson believes that digital advice can coexist with the best interest duty, and how it can help provide advice at scale to a broader audience.
Ms Henderson will join a panel with ADAA’s other founders at this year’s Adviser Innovation Summit to discuss their goals, and how a unified and coordinated voice for digital providers can revolutionise the industry.
To secure your ticket to the Adviser Innovation Summit 2023, click here.
With younger SMSF trustees driving up SMSF establishments, Jo Hurley highlights the top priorities for trustees in this age group.
Class general manager, growth, Jo Hurley discusses the upwards trend in SMSF establishments in the 44 and below age group as reflected in recent ATO statistics.
Ms Hurley touches on some of the factors driving the increase in SMSF setups in this age group including more efficient solutions in the market and changes in guidance from the regulators.
She also discusses some of the ways this demographic could be better serviced by SMSF professionals including better data visibility and modelling to demonstrate the impact of different strategies.
In this episode of Relative Return, host James Mitchell catches up with Hari Balkrishna, portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price, to discuss his journey from investment banking with Goldman Sachs to running a Global Impact Equity Fund in London.
Listen as they unpack:
- The difference between ESG, sustainability and impact investing
- The underappreciated alpha potential of certain stocks
- Why Nvidia is not in his fund
- Why Intuit is in his fund
- How global supply chains are returning to normal
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by George Haramis, co-founder and chief executive of moneyGPS.
Mr Haramis discusses what led to the formation of the Australian Digital Advice Association (ADAA), which includes moneyGPS, abrdn, Ignition Advice and Advice Intelligence, as well as how the process is progressing and the goals of the association.
He addresses concerns that the advice profession has about digital advice, pointing out that with the dwindling adviser numbers, technology can help streamline the process of advice and allow advisers to service more clients.
The pair also cover some of the Quality of Advice Review recommendations, including around superannuation funds offering personal advice and the ability to offer compliant advice through technology.
Mr Haramis will join a panel with the ADAA’s other founders at this year’s Adviser Innovation Summit to discuss their goals, and how a unified and coordinated voice for digital providers can revolutionise the industry.
To secure your ticket to the Adviser Innovation Summit 2023, click here.
In this episode of Relative Return, host James Mitchell catches up with Milford Asset Management’s Will Curtayne to find out why he believes property price growth will track wage growth over the next decade.
Listen as they discuss:
- The major impact of retiring Baby Boomers on the global economy
- Why it can be tactically beneficial to hold up to 40 per cent cash
- A new era of structurally higher wages and inflation
- Why future economic cycles will be shorter, faster and choppier
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by senior journalist James Mitchell to chat about Labor’s latest budget and missed opportunities.
Maja and James reflect on some of the biggest budget announcements, including superannuation tinkering, cost-of-living measures, and an unpleasant ASIC levy announcement, while reviewing Labor’s relationship with the advice industry, to date.
The duo touch on the Quality of Advice Review (QAR), the government’s delayed response, and more, including how this budget ignored advice at a time when it’s arguably needed the most.
Maja and James then ask the question, “Does Labor need to show more respect to advisers?”
The federal budget has outlined the government’s approach to some key issues for the SMSF industry. In this special budget episode, hosts Aaron Dunn and Miranda Brownlee discuss whether the quieter budget this year is the calm before the storm with the government still in the process of legislating an objective of super. They also discuss in detail the tweaks made to the non-arm’s length expenses rules and industry disappointment. With tax revenue estimates still the same for the $3 million threshold, Aaron and Miranda also touch on the likelihood of the tax calculation measure remaining the same and what changes are needed with this measure. They also outline what was missing from the budget, including an update on the SMSF residency rules.
In this week’s episode of Relative Return, Mayflower Consulting’s CEO, Sarah Penn, chats with host James Mitchell about structural issues in the Australian superannuation sector as Baby Boomers move from accumulation to drawdown.
Listen to James and Sarah delve into:
- The Labor government’s disruption to the financial services industry
- Super funds running out of places to put our money
- Why financial advisers shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for the government
- How critical financial literacy and education are to all Australians
- Sarah’s journey from cafe manager to Macquarie director and financial services consultant
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Stuart Robert, shadow financial services minister and shadow assistant treasurer. Mr Robert shares his and the Liberal party’s views on the final report of the Quality of Advice Review and why they support its adoption in full, explaining why Minister Stephen Jones’ proposed review of the review is an insufficient response. “It’s like an episode of Monty Python. You’ve got a Minister presiding now over the Ministry of Silly Walks. This Michelle Levy review is an outstanding piece of work. The Coalition believes it should be implemented in full and implemented now,” the shadow minister says.
Mr Robert also reflects on how the adviser industry fared under the Coalition and explains why FASEA was an act of “desperation”. The shadow minister doesn’t hold back and accuses the Labor party of holding advisers at an arm’s length.
In this week’s episode, Infinity Asset Management’s chief investment officer, Piers Bolger, shares his insights on BHP, Westpac, Afterpay, managed accounts and the marketing spin surrounding the ESG movement.
Mr Bolger sits down with host and senior journalist James Mitchell to discuss:
- How he started out in financial services
- The impact of rising rates on assets and asset allocation
- Why Infinity never bought (or sold) Afterpay
- Why he likes BHP but doesn’t like Westpac
ASF Audits head of education Shelley Banton discusses the recent shift in the ATO’s compliance approach and some of the emerging compliance issues for SMSFs.
Ms Banton shares her thoughts on the reasons behind the recent spike in trustee disqualifications and where some of the serious breaches are arising.
She also chats about the benefits of early engagement with the ATO where issues arise, and explains some of the recent changes to the way the ATO addresses compliance issues following the release of PSLA 2023/1.
Ms Banton also highlights the top compliance issues at the moment and where the ATO will be focusing its attention over the next year.
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Glen Hare talk about the role of the advice community in promoting ESG.
Glen Hare, co-founder and financial adviser at Fox & Hare, joins the ifa podcast to discuss the power that advisers have to educate more than 2 million Australians about investing ethically.
The pair cover B Corp certification, looking at what it means, why advisers should look into it, and how the certification process works.
He also explains how important ESG is for Fox & Hare’s younger client base and how that can differ from an advice firm that works with retirees and pre-retirees, before touching on how AI could impact the industry as tools like ChatGPT become more widespread.
In this episode, Momentum Media’s managing editor of financial services, Phil Tarrant, sits down with senior journalist and host, James Mitchell, to discuss the vision of Relative Return and the growth of Momentum’s financial services team. In this first episode, James and Phil discuss:
- How the Relative Return podcast was conceived
- The value of long-form content in financial services
- Momentum Media’s acquisition of Money Management
- The importance of storytelling in financial services journalism
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Peter Johnston talk about the experience pathway in light of the government’s recent announcement.
Peter Johnston, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals and a longtime advocate of the experience pathway, returns to the ifa podcast to explain its potential as a game-changer for the industry.
The pair run through how the experience pathway would work in practice and whether Mr Johnston believes certain limitations need to be imposed.
He also reveals how receptive the government is to the Quality of Advice Review following his recent meeting in Canberra with the Treasury department tasked with overseeing the government’s response.
If you are suffering from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, or you’re worried about someone else and feel that urgent professional support is needed, contact your local doctor or one of the 24/7 crisis agencies below:
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Lifeline: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
In this episode of the ifa podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Philippa Hunt, director at AFSL Artemis Investments, to chat through her thoughts on QAR and the need for added focus on the wellbeing of advisers.
Ms Hunt speaks about her support for Minister Stephen Jones taking his time to get things right, given the “catastrophic” outcomes for the industry resulting from the rushed implementation of the royal commission’s outcomes.
She emphasises the importance of considering the human and social cost of legislation and the mental health of advisers, which, she says, were severely impacted by compliance requirements.
The conversation concludes with Ms Hunt’s views on the future of the financial advice industry and the need for a more holistic approach to advice.
If you are suffering from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, or you’re worried about someone else and feel that urgent professional support is needed, contact your local doctor or one of the 24/7 crisis agencies below:
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Lifeline: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
In this episode, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic sits down with Dugald Higgins, head of responsible investment and sustainability at Zenith, to discuss the current state of ESG in Australia. Before diving into the sentiment towards ESG in Australia, Mr Higgins separates ESG from sustainability and explores why it’s important to do so. With so many ESG investment strategies and funds available, he discusses how advisers and asset managers can best align their clients’ values to strategies to maximise returns and adhere to best interest duties. Mr Higgins then shares whether there’s a simple way to carry out ESG assessment of funds and how asset managers and advisers can recognise companies that engage in greenwashing. Looking forward, Mr Higgins explores ESG investment issues that will be front and centre in 2023. Finally, he touches on Australia lagging behind the rest when it comes to regulation and discusses how alignment with international trade partners on key ESG commitments is crucial.
On a new episode of the InvestorDaily Uncut podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Jonathan Shead, the head of investment at State Street Global Advisors. In this podcast, Mr Shead provides a clear definition of ESG and explains how it differs from ethical investing. He talks about why ESG is all about the way in which environmental, social, and governance factors impact the return of an investment or the risk of that investment. Ethical investing, he notes, is all about “values” — meaning investors morally want to avoid certain activities or practices. There is, however, an overlap, he explains. Mr Shead also talks about how important climate is in ESG portfolios, and why he believes climate will become part of all client discussions in the future. Other topics discussed include the United Nations’ upcoming global stocktake report and Australia’s net zero journey.
On a new episode of the InvestorDaily Uncut podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Blake Briggs, CEO at FSC, and Andy Moy, vice president at Objective.
Mr Briggs and Mr Moy joined the podcast to talk about the Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO), standardisation of compliance across the industry, ASIC’s recent activities regarding stop orders, and more.
While Mr Briggs outlined the Financial Services Council’s (FSC) development of version two of its target market determination template, Mr Moy spoke about what it means to be a member of the FSC.
“Since we now represent about 30 financial services companies ourselves, we participate on the FSC working group, particularly on the DDO response and we found it very useful to help influence the industry’s response to the regulator, but also to understand what we need to do with the technology to meet those requirements,” Mr Moy said.
“That ultimately leads to templates that we then implement in our technology to be able to respond more easily to those regulatory requirements.”
The pair also talked about ESG gaining momentum in the financial services industry.
“ESG is certainly one of the other hot issues at the moment,” Mr Briggs said.
“The allocation of capital in both the Australian and global economies is a really important part of moving towards sustainable investment and delivering long-term value for clients. This means recognising the risks climate change poses to an existing portfolio as well as where there are mitigation, emerging technologies or other investment opportunities that can deliver those investment returns that people want to see as this transition occurs,” he added, while outlining the FSC’s role in helping companies on this journey.
Mr Moy also talked about how Objective is aiding companies as this rapidly evolving space moves from aspiration to policy and obligation.
On a new episode of the InvestorDaily Uncut podcast, host Neil Griffith is joined by Joanne Powell, account manager at local platform Objective.
Ms Powell joined the podcast to talk about the upcoming TMDs review, what that means for banks and wealth managers, and where Objective can help the process.
"In the wealth management space, it's come at an interesting time because they've also got their RG97 new fee tables that are due out by 30 September. So really just planning that ahead to make sure that you've actually got every one of your TMDs does go through the review process," Ms Powell said.
"Look, some of them may have already gone through, we've seen certainly with the TMDs coming out of the Objective Keystone software, there's a continual review cycle, which is really interesting. But if you don't have the correct planning in place, one of those could slip through the cracks.
"And with the banking — I mean the sheer volume of TMDs that you've got — some banks have got four or 500 different TMDs that they need to get on market. Some of which have one product in there and others which have up to three. So really making sure those words go through the appropriate review process and giving enough time is really important."
On this episode, Ms Powell also gives her tips to financial services organisations about what they should be looking out for when completing the review, the areas that organisations struggle with the most, and how Objective Keystone solves those issues.
In our special episode of InvestorDaily Meet the Manager, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Intermede’s Barry Dargan.
The CEO and PM of Intermede joins the podcast to discuss Intermede’s core investment philosophies and explain the processes behind the firm’s portfolio construction.
Mr Dargan delves into Intermede’s fundamentals, including the concept of sustainable competitive advantage, while explaining the benefits of investing in businesses that boast these key characteristics.
He also chats through how large companies stay relevant and why innovation is key, as well as how Intermede selects and prepares a portfolio to manage the risk of “being too big to fail”.
The host of InvestorDaily Uncut, David Stratford, sits down with CEO and co-founder of Reach Alternative Investments, Sam Phillips, to discuss the benefits of private equity and how Reach is making funds, run by hard to access private equity managers, available to investors.
Mr Phillips gives a precise definition of private equity and shares why he believes it is going to become an increasingly central part of the investment conversation in Australia.
He also delves into the democratisation of private equity and details Reach’s unique offering which enables investors access to institutional funds, managed by the world's leading asset managers who've been around for decades but have remained inaccessible to most.
“Our job is to reduce those barriers and level the playing field, but do it in a way which is responsible in ensuring that the investments are proven.”
The CEO and co-founder also delves into why private equity is great for de-risking a portfolio away from market volatility.
As part of our ESG Summit Series, host David Stratford is joined by Tim Samway, the chairman at Packhorse, to chat about why agricultural land as an asset class should be taken seriously by investors.
Mr Samway shares the benefits of agricultural land as an asset class, including its high long-term demand and its strength as a hedge against inflation, as well as its super low volatility.
“We can't live for the rest of our lives with ridiculously low interest rates. And so investing in an asset like agricultural land, which is a long-term, real-asset investment, can actually provide a great buffer to investors, but also provide them with that income yield in the long term,” Mr Samway says.
The chairman shares Packhorse’s aims which include increasing the efficiency of the land, while also meeting environmental goals through principles of regenerative agriculture.
As part of our ESG Summit Series, host David Stratford is joined by James Harwood, senior portfolio manager at Russell Investments, to chat through how inflationary pressures and higher interest rates are impacting ESG strategies.
Mr Harwood details the current investment landscape and how ESG-focused funds are faring.
The portfolio manager dives into the dynamic between values versus growth stocks and how Russell Investments designs ESG solutions to neutralise risk factors.
Mr Harwood also details the medium green space that is garnering increasing interest from investors looking for an ESG solution without excessive levels of risk.
Judging how a business engages in more environmentally aware activities isn’t always easy. But in the latest episode of ID Uncut, you’ll learn that younger investors are basing their financial decisions on how business policy affects climate change.
As part of our ESG Summit Series, host David Stratford is joined by Dr Rebecca Huntley, an independent consultant speaking on behalf of Australian Ethical, who explains how a newer crop of investors are applying their environmental values to their financial decision-making.
However, the industry-wide move toward embracing ESG doesn’t end with a more environmentally conscious investor community – in this podcast, Dr Huntley calls for greater government awareness and support for renewable energy technologies, and to help wean industries from conventional fossil fuels.
With investors hoping to contribute to making a positive change for the natural world, Dr Huntley also urges anyone within business workplaces to encourage greater environmental action and awareness.
If you thought investors weren’t interested in reforming ESG in legacy industries, think again. The latest episode of ID Uncut promises to discuss the big issues surrounding investor and corporate awareness of environmental policy.
As part of our ESG Summit Series, host David Stratford is joined by Edwina Maloney, North director platforms, and Dr Irene Guiamatsia, Investment Trends head of research – the panel hopes to dispel any notion that ESG is a “fringe” issue for clients.
Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, engaging with communities, and creating better working conditions, our discussion puts a spotlight on clients eager for ESG to become an essential part of their investment options.
With traditional modes of thinking going by the wayside, a core element of the conversation is that investors are willing to realign their investment choices with their personal values – a newly proven winner for companies looking to make a positive change.
Disclaimer: NMMT Limited ABN 42 058 835 573, AFSL 234653 (NMMT), issues the interests in and is the responsible entity for MyNorth Managed Portfolios through which MyNorth Sustainable Managed Portfolios is offered. Clients should consider their particular circumstances, ESG values, the PDS and TMD available at northonline.com.au or by contacting the North Service Centre on 1800 667 841, before deciding what’s right for them. Any advice is general only.
On the latest episode of the InvestorDaily Summit series, the question is asked: Is Australia on track to achieve net zero by 2050.
Host David Stratford is joined by Fidelity’s director for sustainable investing, Daniela Jaramillo, and Australian equities research analyst, Justin Teo.
Daniela and Justin share their views on where Australia is at in meeting the target—the role that the mining sector plays in decarbonisation and the biggest priorities to achieve net zero.
“To me, the last six months especially have had a sharp change, I guess, in the nuance of the ESG debate, where it’s become very clear that divestment doesn’t really lower emissions if another owner is just going to extract those resources through time,” Justin said.
Daniela added: “And something we do need to see, and we need to see it from companies and from policy makers, is how are we going to help those companies and those communities that rely on fossil fuels? How are we going to help them transition so that they can transition their livelihoods to a lower carbon world?”
In our latest episode of the InvestorDaily podcast, host David Stratford is joined by Magellan Financial Group (MFG) Core ESG Fund’s portfolio manager, Elisa Di Marco.
From discussing the fundamental importance of multinational policies in improving ESG through tangible changes, to how packaging is created, David and Elisa tackle the effective strategies executed by large companies to improve the environment as well as boost their public perception.
Elisa also discusses the importance of engagement and management, as well as how ESG policies significantly reduce the element of risk when investing in a company of any scale.
She also highlights that companies with ESG aren’t just performing lip-service for better publicity, rather, they are genuinely concerned for proper compliance to globally proven environmental policies, as well as adherence to Workplace Health and Safety.
On a new episode of the InvestorDaily podcast, host David Stratford is joined by managing director and senior portfolio manager of ClearBridge Investments, Shane Hurst.
David and Shane discuss Australia’s journey to net zero, including how infrastructure and utility assets benefit from a move to net zero and where it sits globally in 2022.
Shane also discusses how rising inflation – including climate inflation – has affected that journey and why the move to net zero is important for both investors and financial advisers.
Also, what companies in Australia are taking action on achieving net zero and how? Check out the full episode below.
In this ESG Summit special, David Stratford chats with Phil Pilgrim, the general manager for partnerships and distribution at Implemented Portfolios.
The InvestorDaily podcast is back with the ESG Summit special where host David Stratford will be chatting to partners, collaborators, and speakers to help you decipher some of the ESG trends impacting investors and companies in the coming year.
In the first episode of the special, Philip Pilgrim defines ESG investing and illustrates the delicate balance between value-based decision making and financial outcomes.
Mr Pilgrim provides tips to advisers and investment managers navigating their clients’ individual values to provide a truly compelling and individualised investment experience.
It’s one thing to go green, but how do you stay green? The general manager provides this answer and more, dispelling ESG-linked myths while deep-diving into expectation versus reality.
Welcome the first edition of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast with our hosts Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson, former head of the Department of Defence's Information Warfare Division, and Phil Tarrant, director — defence and security at Momentum Media.
The Cyber Security Uncut podcast is a fortnightly podcast unpacking Australia's innovative and vibrant cyber security sector, from the latest business trends facing the industry through to breaking global news.
The pair begin by analysing the emerging trends within cyber warfare and the growing use of information operations as an exploitable domain. They also examine how cyber security is an ever growing financial risk to Australian companies, discussing the importance of cyber security protocols within businesses.
The podcast wraps up by analysing the importance of a sovereign cyber security industry in Australia to service the nation's growing cyber security needs.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Security Connect Team
This year's R U OK? Day serves as an important reminder to open up the conversation on mental health, both in the workplace and at home, according to David Coleman, member for Banks and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
In this special episode, join Momentum Media director Alex Whitlock as he speaks to Mr Coleman.
Together, the pair discuss the importance of shining a spotlight on mental health issues, share why the consequences of stigmatising mental health are significant, and reveal how you can make a difference to your workplace, community, family and friends.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest on the Westpac insider trading allegations, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s proxy push, and the march of the mega funds.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest on AMP’s marathon AGM, ASIC’s new boss, and rising merger activity in the superannuation space.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into the latest developments at AMP, how superannuation funds are lagging on climate change, and the government’s reform agenda ahead of the next election.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest on the superannuation increase and an internal probe at BlackRock.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest from the Senate Economics Committee’s superannuation hearings and discuss the prospects for the economic recovery as the vaccine rollout slows.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest on executive changes at AMP, an industry fund ‘intimidation’ campaign, and new developments around The New Daily.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock try and solve the mystery of AMP boss Francesco De Ferrari’s reported resignation and take a look at the war of words between Industry Super Australia and insurgent backbencher Tim Wilson.
Tune in for the latest on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock examine more fallout from the royal commission and the outlook for the SG increase as the relationship between super funds and Canberra gets increasingly frosty.
Tune in for the latest on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock bring you the latest dispatches from the superannuation wars, figure out whether Ares is offering AMP bottom dollar for its money makers, and dig into more mergers between big super funds.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and politics.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into court action against Rest, increase to ASIC’s industry fund levy, and Hamish Douglass’ outlook for markets.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock discuss Francesco De Ferrari’s vision for the future of AMP, the Morrison government’s plan for superannuation, and how IOOF will take the top spot in Australian wealth management.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into new ideas for superannuation, BOQ’s purchase of ME Bank, and whether the government made the right decision on disclosure laws.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford and Sarah Simpkins dig into frustrations voiced by the minister for super and discuss the fallout of the dumped deal for AMP.
Tune in for the latest on the superannuation industry, AMP and Magellan.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into governance concerns at the RBA and figure out whether Australia can be the world’s next fintech hub.
Tune in for the latest on WallStreetBets, Future Super, and monetary policy.
InvestorDaily’s ESG Summit Showcase is your essential guide to the biggest ESG trends shaping the financial landscape today.
In this episode, which was originally recorded for sister brand ifa, InvestorDaily editor Sarah Kendell is joined by Russell Investments senior portfolio manager James Harwood to discuss how increasing pressure from asset owners is incentivising blue-chip companies to evolve their business model and tackle the new challenges of renewable energy.
And don’t forget to join us on 9-10 February as InvestorDaily casts a spotlight on the strategies, trends, products, services, people and companies that are helping shape the future of Australian ESG.
InvestorDaily’s ESG Summit Showcase is your essential guide to the biggest ESG trends shaping the financial landscape today.
This week, host Lachlan Maddock is joined by Praemium CEO Michael Ohanessian to discuss the rise of the socially conscious investor – and how Australian financial services can meet the demand.
And don’t forget to join us on 9–10 February as InvestorDaily casts a spotlight on the strategies, trends, products, services, people and companies that are helping shape the future of Australian ESG.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock discuss the latest battles in the super wars, the end of the ASIC expenses scandal, and what’s next for ESG investing.
Tune in for more on markets, the economy, and the climate transition.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock share their thoughts on what lies ahead in 2021 as well as digging into key stories in superannuation and monetary policy.
Tune in for the latest on markets, the economy, and inequality.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins dig into sexual harassment claims at IOOF, the case for opt-in super, and the controversial lead-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Tune in for the latest on the economy, markets, and ESG.
InvestorDaily’s ESG Summit Showcase is your essential guide to the biggest ESG trends shaping the financial landscape today.
This week host Lachlan Maddock is joined by Fidelity’s Kate Howitt, voted one of the best portfolio managers in the world by Citywire in 2020, to discuss the new frontiers of ESG investing and why companies are stepping in where governments are checking out.
And don’t forget to join us on 9-10 February as InvestorDaily casts a spotlight on the strategies, trends, products, services, people and companies that are helping shape the future of Australian ESG.
The value of advice is often difficult for financial planners to articulate to clients, but new research has quantified the average amount clients could earn per year by engaging an adviser.
In this episode of InvestorDaily Uncut, which originally featured on sister brand ifa, host Sarah Kendell is joined by Russell Investments head of wholesale partnerships Neil Rogan to discuss the fund manager’s report on both the tangible and intangible aspects of value that advisers can deliver in their relationships with clients.
Neil also unpacks changing perceptions of the value of advice following the COVID crisis and how advisers can better incorporate the idea of value in their marketing and client engagement strategies going forward.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock shine a light on the worst governance failures in Australian finance, from AMP to Westpac.
Tune in for the latest on how Australian finance is handling (and mishandling) the brave new world of ESG.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into the sweeping social changes that Australian finance has seen in 2020 – and which companies are dragging their feet.
Tune in for the latest on how Australian finance is handling (and mishandling) the brave new world of ESG.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into the biggest environmental developments in Australian finance and what the post-COVID future holds for this emerging trend.
Tune in for the latest on how Australian finance is handling (and mishandling) the brave new world of ESG.
InvestorDaily Meet the Manager takes you behind the numbers to tell the real story of markets today.
This week, host Lachlan Maddock chats with AXA IM, Rosenberg Equities’ Jonathan White about the new frontiers of ESG and how active managers can drive change at the highest levels of global finance.
Tune in for the latest insights from some of the world’s best money managers.
For more information on AXA IM Sustainable Equity, please visit www.axa-im.com.au/sustainable-equity-strategy
Key Risk Factors - AXA IM Sustainable Equity
Company specific risk: There may be instances where a company will fall in price (or rise in price) because of company specific factors (for example, where a company’s major product is subject to a product recall).
Highly volatile markets: The prices of financial instruments in which the strategy may be invested can be highly volatile.
Market risk: Changes in legal and economic policy, political events, technology failure, economic cycles, investor sentiment and social climate can all directly or indirectly create an environment that may influence (negatively or positively) the value of your investment in the strategy. In addition, a downward move in the general level of the financial markets can have a negative influence on the strategy.
Please note all investments carry risks. Including but not limited to systematic investing risk, emerging markets risks, investment selection risk, currency management risk, fund risk, parent company discretion risk, depositary receipts risk, liquidity risk, operations risk, legal risk and borrowing risk.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins take a look at the corporate regulator’s roller-coaster year, Westpac’s AGM, and another skirmish in the super wars.
Tune in for the latest on the royal commission and the super reforms.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins dig into the recent positive GDP numbers and the outlook for Westpac as it faces fresh regulatory action.
Tune in for the latest on markets, the economy, and the recovery.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock shine a light on the new super laws, why Australia is dragging its feet on climate change, and whether Tim Wilson’s claims about super fund insider trading were just a furphy.
Tune in for the latest news on Q3 GDP and the future of super.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins dig into the latest revelations about ASIC’s remuneration scandal, the findings of the retirement income review, and why HESTA stayed tight-lipped on sexual harassment claims at IFM.
Tune in for more on the super guarantee, markets, and the economy.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock lay out the latest on the Your Future, Your Super reforms, an ASIC investigation into insider trading, and what Larry Fink has to say on climate change.
Tune in for more on ESG, superannuation, and markets.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins unpack how Australia’s top funds are spending their members’ money, why Rest lost its climate lawsuit, and whether QE was the best idea for Australia’s struggling economy.
Tune in for the latest on the US election, the RBA, and superannuation.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford and Lachlan Maddock dig into a potential takeover at AMP, insider trading at super funds, and what to expect from the RBA on race day.
Tune in for the latest on the election, lockdowns, and the economic recovery.
InvestorDaily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins, and Lachlan Maddock take a deep dive into shocking news at ASIC, massive provisions from the big four banks, and multimillion-dollar penalties for Goldman Sachs’ top executives.
Tune in for the latest on the corporate cop, the election, and AUSTRAC.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins dig into the aftermath of sexual harassment claims at AMP, whether the big four will return to wealth management, and why super funds aren’t happy with industry reforms.
Tune in for the latest on interest rates, the US election, and super.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock dig into the budget, executive changes at MLC, and big moves by Vanguard.
Tune in for the latest on the US election and what to expect from a Trump win.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock lay out what to expect from the budget and dig in to more bad news at AMP.
Tune in for the latest on the budget, markets, and monetary policy.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock shine a light on how Westpac fell short by $400 million, why Andrew Bragg thinks the big institutions need to stop driving politics, and whether another rate cut means the RBA is just trying to look busy.
Tune in for the latest on the budget, markets, and monetary policy.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins unpack where central banks can go next, executive changes at AMP, and those shocking unemployment figures.
Tune in for the latest on the market volatility, interest rates, and all things ESG.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Sarah Simpkins and Lachlan Maddock take a deep dive into the latest developments at AMP, infighting in the Standing Committee on Economics, and what industry funds are really spending their members’ money on.
Tune in to hear about the latest hit to Macquarie’s profits, the outlook for Victoria, and whether markets will be able to get back on track.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins delve into a potential fire sale at AMP, why the recession might not be as bad as it seems, and how the banks are avoiding a repeat of the GFC.
Tune in for the latest on the economy, market volatility, and why investors shouldn’t be too optimistic about the reopening.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins unpack IOOF’s acquisition of MLC, how AMP is handling a new sexual harassment allegation, and whether markets are racing towards a cliff.
You’ll also hear about the latest moves from the US Federal Reserve and what you can expect from Australia’s big four banks when they appear before the Senate later this week.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, Dave Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins take a deep dive into the shock executive changes at AMP, the case against the super guarantee, and why Westpac ditched its dividend.
Tune in to hear about Perpetual’s plummeting profits, Tesla’s stock split, and why investors are more optimistic than ever.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week's episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins reflect on how AMP has handled allegations of sexual misconduct against the former chief executive of the company's Australia division, Alex Wade.
They also discuss surprising results from NAB, CBA and Challenger, expectations for Westpac's financial update, and the potential freezing of the superannuation guarantee.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week's episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins discuss the federal government's extension to JobKeeper, the RBA's economic outlook, and the latest on Victoria's second wave of COVID-19.
You'll also hear about executive changes at AMP and controversy around former prime minister Paul Keating's comments on early super.
Investor Daily Uncut is your essential guide to the biggest news and headlines in financial services this week.
In this week’s episode, David Stratford, Lachlan Maddock and Sarah Simpkins delve into the Australian government's stimulus package extension, industry changes since the onset of COVID-19, and APRA telling banks to halve dividends.
Tune in to hear about First State Super merging with WA Super, Westpac's ongoing AUSTRAC scandal, and AMP and IOOF signaling lower profits.
With a lot of volatility in markets currently and interest rates dropping to new lows this month, investors may need to take a fresh approach to income in the months to come. Taken from the Asset Allocation Series, Schroders fixed income portfolio manager Mihkel Kase discusses what we can expect from markets following the impact of coronavirus, the dangers to yield-seeking investors of heading further up the risk curve, and the importance of accessing broader opportunity sets and newer structures such as active ETFs when it comes to fixed income allocations.
CommSec Adviser Services general manager Eric Blewitt explains a new innovation aiming to reduce burdens for financial advisers and help them better service self-directed investors. Sponsored by CommSec Adviser Services
NAB Asset Management’s Lisa Boyce outlines the benefits of multi-asset investing for advisers and their clients. Brought to you by MLC. http://www.investordaily.com.au