News

While advisers may think they have a lot to be depressed about, what with difficult operating conditions because of tough economic environment and continuing regulatory changes, they shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there are a number of positives that will make 2012 a good year for business, according to Phil Galagher of Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

Fixed interest specialist fund manager Altius Asset Management has appointed Vanessa Thomson to the role of head of credit research.

Kevin Eley has been appointed a non-executive director and a member of the Audit & Compliance Committee of Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

The latest Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index suggests that some categories of investors who currently have a financial adviser are increasingly disengaged with the value of financial advice.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I recently spoke with a number of journalists about their preferences in receiving information from organisations, and some of their likes and dislikes.

Tyndall AM has appointed Matt Russell as head of institutional business, rounding off the appointments it has been making since becoming part of Nikko Asset Management (Nikko AM) as an independent fund manager.

While it might be difficult for investors to understand the details of what is happening in the world economy, they can learn from the big picture and its effects, says Mr Chad Padowitz, chief investment officer at Wingate Asset Management.

Australian Unity Investments’ (AUI) chief executive officer David Bryant says the government’s recent decision to commission a study on ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ and the continued shrinking of the Australian sharemarket highlights the increasing importance of Asia to Australian investors.

People entering retirement need help to reassess their ongoing approach to superannuation and their changing income needs from superannuation savings during the rest of their lifetime, says Mr Michael Hutton, wealth management partner at HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

Recent developments have combined to suggest that mortgage funds still have a valuable place in investors’ portfolios, says Mr John Terlikar, portfolio manager – mortgages, at Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

Tyndall has updated its corporate identity and trading name, representing the final stage in the creation of the business as an independent fund manager in Australia. It will now trade as Tyndall AM (Tyndall Asset Management).

Many people understandably think that charitable foundations and trusts, which make donations to a charity or good cause forever, are the reserve of the very wealthy, and that hundreds of thousands of dollars are needed as a starting point, says Equity Trustees Limited.

Investors concerned about market volatility should look at equities in a different way – as an excellent yield proposition, advises Mr Warwick Cumming, deputy head of equities at Tyndall.

Since the onset of the global financial crisis, the role of the Australian dollar (AUD) and its correlation to global markets have changed markedly, a trend that could continue for some time, according to the latest white paper from Tyndall.

Tyndall has made further new appointments to enhance its asset management, client service and business development activities.

From time to time, clients ask me whether a draft media release is too long or whether it is too short and needs to be expanded. It’s a good question and one to which there is no simple answer other than “a media release should be as long as it needs to be”.

When businesses’ financial results are completed, as is currently the case with many small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), too often they are simply filed with a sigh of relief that it’s another task finalised for another year.

Following Australian Unity Investments’ (AUI) acquisition of the responsible entity for Investa Funds Management Limited’s retail property funds, Mr Mark Lumby, Mr Grant Nichols and Mr Simon Beake will join AUI’s property funds business from Investa.

Nikko Asset Management Group (Nikko AM) has successfully completed its acquisition of DBS Asset Management Ltd (DBSAM), one of the leading investment management firms in Southeast Asia, from DBS Bank Ltd (DBS).

In the debate about adviser remuneration, not enough attention has been given to improving the understanding of what clients can expect for their money, says Mr Philip Galagher, head of wealth management for Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

Despite continual changes to the tax rules regarding family trusts, they still offer many benefits, particularly in wealth accumulation and intergenerational wealth transfer, Mr Peter Bembrick, tax partner with accountants and advisers HLB Mann Judd Sydney, advises.

Neuberger Berman Australia has launched its first Australian-domiciled unit trust, the Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Equity Trust, aimed at institutional investors.

To continue managing its expansion and following a period of solid growth, Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has restructured its business operations, including making several senior appointments.

Directors of Big Sky Credit Union Ltd have unanimously decided to recommend a merger with Australian Unity to its members and will call a general meeting of members later this year to vote on the proposal. The recommendation follows the announcement in June that the two mutuals were evaluating a potential merger.

In its results for the financial year ending 30 June 2011, the financial services, healthcare and retirement living company Australian Unity Limited has reported annual revenue of $1 billion for the first time.

Australian Unity’s Retirement Village Property Fund has made its first purchase, the Geelong Grove Retirement Village in Grovedale, Victoria.

People affected by the increasing number of redundancies currently being offered in the workforce need professional advice on how to best structure their financial affairs – especially if they are likely to be unemployed for some time.

A research paper by US asset management firm Neuberger Berman holds that while emerging markets continue to show strong growth, those companies focused on local rather than global markets deliver the best returns for investors.

The Government’s move to align the taxation treatment of foreign managed funds with other countries is a useful further step in harmonising the Australian approach to managed funds with that of other centres, says Mr Harvey Kalman, head of corporate fiduciary and financial services at Equity Trustees Limited.

Foster carers in Victoria will receive much-needed support following an agreement by the Grosvenor Foundation and the Jack Brockhoff Foundation to support Berry Street’s foster care work, through a grant of $150,000 over three years.