News

Platypus Asset Management has awarded a grant of $150,000 to fund a three year academic study that will look at anomalies in the Australian stock market and the implementation of anomaly-based investment strategies.

Owners of residential properties other than their home – whether for investment or lifestyle purposes – can end up paying more capital gains tax (CGT) than they should because they don’t understand how it works, says Mr Peter Bembrick, tax partner at accountants and advisers HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

Depressing news about the American and European economies and their even more depressing impact on investment markets should not discourage people from boosting their super savings, says Mr Jonathan Philpot, wealth management partner with HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

Fund manager Neuberger Berman Australia has been awarded new mandates from HOSTPLUS and IOOF, bringing its Australian-sourced assets under management to almost $400 million in just four months.

Different financial models need to be considered for self-funded retirees when they look at their financial needs throughout retirement, suggests Mr Philip Galagher, head of wealth management at Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

As a further step in its strategy to expand its property funds management business, Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has entered into an agreement with Investa Property Group to acquire the Responsible Entity for its retail funds business.

Recent discussion about the so-called ‘de facto death duty’ levied on superannuation payouts to non-dependants, which includes payouts on life insurance held in super, highlights that pre-retirees should reassess how insurance is held and what cover is needed, says Mr Michael Hutton, head of wealth management at accountants and advisors HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has launched the Altius Bond Fund aimed at retail investors.

Research into treatment for injuries and diseases, such as Lupus, skin grafts and uterine bleeding, that find it difficult to attract funding, has been boosted by grants totalling $108,000 from the Brennen Benevolent Trust.

The latest Tyndall Investments white paper, “Fixed income: demystifying the myths about bonds”, looks at the critical role played by bonds in investor portfolios and demystifies five major myths about bonds that may cause investors to undervalue their benefits.

The benefits of mortgage funds in investor portfolios are largely being ignored because of misunderstandings about their role and benefits, says Mr John Terlikar, portfolio manager – mortgages, at Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

Ensuring they act according to the highest levels of care and duty towards clients is not just a regulatory requirement for financial planners today, it is also sensible risk management for both their clients and themselves, says Mr Harvey Kalman of Equity Trustees.

With the first of the babyboomer generation reaching retirement age, there have been predictions of a large number of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) coming onto the market and depressing sales prices but business owners who plan ahead can still achieve an attractive price even in a “buyers’ market”, says Mr Simon James of HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

In public relations, we talk about managing perception, because what people think about an issue is often more important than the reality.

Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has refinanced its Healthcare Property Trust (HPT) borrowings with a $200 million loan at a lower interest rate, significantly boosting distribution returns for investors in the Trust.

Why is it that organisations like to include information about themselves in an explicit way in media statements and announcements that would be more effective if it were implicit?

simpleWRAP today launched a full service administration wrap offering a simple and fully transparent pricing model – a flat fee irrespective of account balances – that it believes is the first in Australia for both superannuation funds and investors.

Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has strengthened its business development team with the creation of the position of national adviser solutions manager, appointing Mr Simon Reed to the role.

Big Sky Credit Union Limited and Australian Unity Limited have today signed a Heads of Agreement to explore and evaluate a potential merger opportunity between the two organisations.

Equity Trustees Limited (EQT) is in negotiations with Paragon Care Limited (PGC) to acquire PGC’s aged care services businesses – Lifetime Planning and Tender Living Care.

It is increasingly recognised that the need for financial advice grows rather than declines in retirement. Yet many baby boomers will find that their financial adviser will also retire at around the same time they do, and won’t be around to give them the help they will need to protect their comfortable retirement, warns Mr Phil Galagher from Equity Trustees.

The current correction in Asian equity markets will lead to an extended period of consolidation that gives investors the opportunity to take advantage of price weaknesses in strong companies, says Mr Evan Erlanson, chief investment officer at Asian equities manager Seres Asset Management.

In the first step of its strategy to build its business and administrative support capabilities following its acquisition by Nikko Asset Management, Tyndall Investments has established an enterprise risk, compliance and legal team.

Equity Trustees Ltd has appointed Mr John Terlikar as portfolio manager – mortgages, responsible for its EQT Mortgage Income Fund.

Events such as the recent Trio compensation debate and last week’s release of ASIC research findings on the effects on investors of lack of compensation suggest that prevention and protection is being overlooked, says Mr Harvey Kalman from Equity Trustees.

With a big turnover expected in financial planning businesses as babyboomer owners retire and other changes come into effect, the sector can learn from mistakes made in other professions about preserving goodwill.

SMSF trustees must consider cash flow needs when fund portfolios are adjusted going into pension mode, Mr Michael Hutton, head of wealth management at HLB Mann Judd Sydney says.

As part of its continued improvement of liquidity to investors in its mortgage funds, Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has introduced a regular monthly withdrawal facility for its High Yield Mortgage Trust, offering three percent of the Trust’s net assets for withdrawals each month.

Mr Philip Galagher, head of wealth management for Equity Trustees Limited (EQT), warns that, since the financial crisis, Australia is no longer the same nation of investors it used to be, and at best is a nation of savers.

Lifeplan Funds Management has continued to strengthen its sales team, appointing three new business development managers – Mr Colin Falls, Mr Jarrad Gray and Mr Greg Bird.