Legislation

As the world undergoes potentially the greatest economic calamity since the 1930s, Australians of all ages are experiencing anxiety and fear about their financial wellbeing In fact, the great majority of Australians do not have a relationship with a financial adviser. According to the latest research by AMP, the advice gap is wide and getting…

BNK Banking Corporation’s chief executive Simon Lyons has stepped down after over four years in the role. Lyons was chief executive of Goldfields Money prior to its renaming at BNK. The company’s deputy chair Don Koch has been appointed as interim chief executive while a search for a permanent replacement is undertaken. Koch has over…

Commonwealth Bank executive Andrew Hall has joined the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as its new chief executive. Hall was previously Commonwealth Bank’s executive general manager for corporate affairs for over seven years and before that was director of corporate and public affairs at Woolworths for over six years. Hall will take over from outgoing…

Following the March equity market correction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global equity markets rebounded sharply in April, with the small cap sector outperforming. Although the short-term outlook remains uncertain, the market recovery was spurred on by several factors. Many companies were deeply oversold, with valuations having fallen significantly. Governments and central banks have responded…

Dividends from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares and the ‘Big Four’ have been put under the microscope. So far, CBA has held up the best of the majors. Below, I take you through how an analyst would look at the shares and ways to put a valuation on it. Obviously, I’ll keep things…

Investors hoping that the big banks will restore their dividends sooner rather than later are likely to be disappointed, as the earnings pressure on the banking sector will continue into the 2020/21 financial year. The banks’ March-half earnings (December-half in Commonwealth Bank’s case) fell by an average of 33 per cent, driven by big increases…

Stock markets have crashed, we can be confident of that. History suggests there is no quick recovery from crashes like these, which means lasting consequences for investors.

The ETF landscape continues to rapidly expand beyond the replication of major stock market indices such as the S&P/ASX 200 and S&P 500. Today’s investor can choose ETFs across different sectors, based on certain themes or even offering alternative weighting schemes, like yield or value, captured by the phrase smart beta.

We are used to being able to pay for things with legal tender. Other than in special circumstances, refusing to accept cash can have legal consequences.

Asked to conduct an independent review of Australia’s retirement income system, the panel appointed by treasurer Josh Frydenberg reported on Friday that it was all tied up with the family home.

The unwillingness of the major (and other) banks to immediately cut their headline mortgage rates by as much as the Reserve Bank cuts its cash rate always attracts bad press, as well as condemnation from treasurers and prime ministers.

Superannuation funds need to get on the front foot and respond to the strategic challenge of developing good retirement solutions now. Although superannuation funds can follow the Government’s legislative timetable to develop a Comprehensive Income Product for Retirement (CIPR) by 1 July 2022, that’s hardly an optimal outcome for fund members who have retired or are making retirement plans now.