Unemployment's black October Nov 7, 2009
" Kelley bellows back at him. Typically I hate this tough-love routine. But financial planners yelling at self-pitying former child stars? That's entertainment. After the dust has settled, Aames holds a yard sale. Strangely, when he sees all of his neighbors gathered outside to buy all of his furniture and his DVDs and his gigantic flat-screen TV, he seems to find it touching rather than flatly depressing. As they clamor around him to buy his stuffed deer and buffalo heads, as women ask him to... (Salon)
Investing provides far better odds than gambling Nov 7, 2009
IONCE wrote that if all the kings and queens, presidents and heads of state, the central banks, banks, investment banks, regulators, CEOs, brokers, fund managers, financial planners, accountants, investors and even the taxi drivers didn't know there was going to be a global financial crisis, then no one knew. And it is true. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Unemployment Nov 7, 2009
Follow News & Politics. Editor: Updated: Today Topic. (Salon)
Maximise your money Nov 6, 2009
Through you can ask our Certified Financial Planners from acsis about any financial planning issue that might be bugging you. We also have a specialist sectional title lawyer on board should you have a legal issue you need advice on. (iAfrica.com)
Free-switch option in ULIPs pays Nov 6, 2009
However, many Ulip holders fail to make use of even one, say financial planners. Since a Ulips performance is market-linked, it is imperative for policyholders to actively monitor the markets and take a call on switching funds accordingly. (India Times)
Plan for investor dispute mediation Nov 5, 2009
Once in place, this will be another avenue for retail investors to seek an end to disputes with intermediaries such as stockbrokers, unit trust companies, financial planners and investment advisers. In coming up with this so-called alternative dispute resolution framework, the Securities Commission (SC) is consulting industry players as well as public interest groups such as the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group and the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Recessionary rubbernecking, VH1-style Nov 4, 2009
But financial planners yelling at self-pitying former child stars. That's entertainment. (Salon)
Managing mental traps Nov 3, 2009
Do your research on good financial planners. This will assist with issues of overconfidence and anchoring. (iAfrica.com)
Health policy: Pick the right fit Nov 2, 2009
Individuals in the age bracket of less than 30 years would require a cover of Rs 3 lakh, while those over 30 will have to scale up this amount to Rs 5 lakh, say financial planners. For senior citizens, though, it is advisable to opt for dedicated policies, if possible, and the coverage amount will depend primarily on their affordability. (India Times)
Time to review portfolios Oct 30, 2009
Financial planners always advise investors to stick to an asset allocation plan. On the basis of their age, risk profile, long-term financial goals and objectives, a financial planner decides how much money should go into equities and how much in debt. (India Times)
Investors win $6m payout over Westpoint collapse Oct 30, 2009
PIS was one of seven Australian financial planners that ASIC launched legal action against in the wake of the Westpoint collapse. It also launched proceedings against accounting group KPMG, the directors of nine Westpoint mezzanine companies including the founder Norm Carey, and State Trustees Limited. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
"Your Money Bus" coming to Greensboro Oct 29, 2009
Dennis Stearns, president of , said his firm's involvement with the National Association of Personal Financial Planners helped Greensboro land a spot on the bus tour schedule. NAPFA is an industry organization for fee-only financial planners. (Triad Business Journal, NC)
Financial planning software uses real-life variables to reach retirement targets Oct 29, 2009
Four versions of ESPlanner software exist, from a free online ESPlannerBASIC to more advanced ESPlanner, ESPlannerPLUS, and ESPlannerPRO (for financial planners), available for purchase and download at. I used ESPlannerPLUS, which costs $199 with free program updates for one year ($50 a year for updates afterward) and includes so-called Monte Carlo computer simulations showing how investment choices can affect the variability of our living standard. (Boston Globe)
Make Kids Pay Student Loans Oct 28, 2009
But in the end, financial planners say pay back, should be your child's responsibility even if they need to seek out an additional job. . (W-USA News, DC)
Why aren't Canadians taking advantage of tax free savings accounts? Oct 27, 2009
RBC poll finds lack of funds and knowledge listed as key reasons (Canada Newswire)
3 vie for Blackfoot mayor post Oct 26, 2009
"Making her second run for office, Morrison said if she's elected, she would not only work to ensure that the municipal pool remains open, but will also research the possibility of building a recreation center in Blackfoot.In response to what she saw as neglect in the downtown area, Morrison formed the Blackfoot Business Alliance to promote the city. Currently, 70 local businesses are involved in the alliance.After she retired, Morrison taught school in Louisiana and 4-H in Alabama, but she said... (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Why risk profiling sucks Oct 26, 2009
This practise is commonly known as 'Risk Profiling', which is seen as a method to help financial planners understand their clients better, and for clients to understand themselves better. The problem is that many people view Risk Profiling as a sacred cow, and to challenge this is probably more radical than suggesting that a cricket match be played in three hours. (iAfrica.com)
Planning for the retirement years Oct 23, 2009
As financial planners say, its a stage where you have a healthy mix of debt and equity. The idea is to build a portfolio which is safe and generates a steady monthly stream of income. (India Times)
Custody is like flying a jumbo jet: not much ever goes wrong, but when it does ... Oct 22, 2009
Like its peers, Astarra does the usual marketing jig, paying commissions to financial planners who slot their clients' savings into its products. The best performing fund in the Astarra stable is the Astarra Strategic Fund (formerly dubbed Alpha Strategic). (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Less complicated than the sum of its works Oct 22, 2009
Colman's genius had been to generate commissions for financial planners out of unlisted property investments. His sales pitch was clever, too: new-fangled listed property trusts performed like equities. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
ASIC puts urgent stop order on funds Oct 21, 2009
The Astarra funds, some of which are rated as five-star by Morningstar and are actively marketed to financial planners, was among the top-performing funds during the depths of the financial crisis at the end of last year ... Financial planners were entitled to a commission of up to 4 per cent up front after tipping their clients into the fund. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Rewriting the retirement rules Oct 21, 2009
John Hewison, the founder of financial planners Hewison and Associates, which charges fees only, does not recommend reverse mortgages or annuities to his clients. He designs investment strategies that have an underlying reliable income stream for his clients. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Overload of money? Wealth managers can help you Oct 21, 2009
Financial planners, or wealth managers as they are called, help investors manage their money across asset classes. In return for their services, they get a commission or charge a fee from the client. (India Times)
Have you got a wealth manager? Oct 21, 2009
Financial planners, or wealth managers as they are called, help investors manage their money across asset classes ... There are different kind of financial planners who can help you manage your wealth ... They could be independent financial planners, banks (private as well as public sector), or even brokerage houses that will manage your wealth for you. (India Times)
End of the trail for Macquarie: fee terminated Oct 19, 2009
Trailing commissions are paid to many financial planners for placing their clients in investments, usually as a percentage of the investment paid annually. Mr Turner successfully switched off the trailing commission, but he fears other former Storm Financial clients of Macquarie may unwittingly find themselves in the same position. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Estate planning: What should producers do to prepare for it? (3) Oct 18, 2009
During the past few years certified financial planners and wealth management specialists have been advertising their services. These individuals can also assist with exploring alternatives for estate planning. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Disputes: A market slump's hangover Oct 18, 2009
Arbitration is the process by which disgruntled investors can resolve disputes with brokers, financial planners and advisers who handle securities. Here are some facts about the process. (AZCentral -- Business)
U.S. Rollover For Moscow Is Nobel-Worthy Oct 17, 2009
eIBD Investor's Business Daily Digital Edition. Access recent eIBD issues easily. (Investors Business Daily)
Don't leave it too late Oct 14, 2009
Financial planners strongly favour what is called a transition-to-retirement (TTR) strategy for pre-retirees who are still working. It is a tax-effective way of reducing income tax and boosting super. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Money Matters heading to Glasgow Oct 13, 2009
The BBC's financial journalists will join a team of experts, advisers and financial planners to help navigate the money maze and allow people to make more informed decisions about their finances. Coverage. (BBC News -- Business)
Employees May See New Insurance Plan This Fall Oct 13, 2009
A consumer-directed health plan can help people on both extremes of the health care spending spectrum, but it can be risky for some who fall in between or for those who don't fund their HSA, financial planners and insurance brokers say. "It doesn't fit most people," said Jon Beyrer, vice president of wealth management for Blankinship & Foster, a Solana Beach, Calif. (KIRO TV, WA)
CDHPs and HSAs? The ABCs of Health Insurance Oct 12, 2009
Financial planners say these plans generally work best for people who use little health care. Those customers can pay a smaller premium, receive a tax break on money they put in their HSA and build up that account. (ABC News -- Wire)
ULIP service to come cheap Oct 8, 2009
While financial planners recommend buying a life cover solely with the objective of getting protection in mind, if you have zeroed in on ULIP as the suitable wealth creation instrument, you can consider buying ULIPs once insurers launch new policies. It would make sense to delay making the purchase till life insurers come up with products compliant with IRDA guidelines, says Optima Insurance Brokers CEO Rahul Aggarwal. (India Times)
Mistras Group to offer 8.7 million shares, raising up to $139 million, at IPO Thursday Oct 8, 2009
Securities attorney David Weintraub has been testing and entertaining financial planners and trust officers, bankers and estate attorneys, with his Jeopardy-style game of financial questions. For example. (FOX61, CT)
Your money-management questions answered Oct 8, 2009
The Arizona Republic sponsored a free telephone call-in event Oct. 6, 2009, during which readers asked questions of local certified financial planners, Internal Revenue Service officials and representatives of credit-counseling firms. Readers also submitted questions online. (AZCentral -- Business)
Miss. College forum offers investment tips Oct 7, 2009
Three financial planners spoke to a small crowd at Mississippi College earlier today, giving them advice on things such as estate planning. With the state of the economy, Michael Denny, an accountant and certified financial planner, said hes seen an increase in those withdrawing money from 401Ks. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Submit your questions Oct 6, 2009
Certified financial planners will be available to answer money management questions Tuesday from readers in a free program hosted by The Arizona Republic from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Call 602-444-4323 Tuesday evening, or click "Watch now" to submit your questions. (AZCentral -- Business)
Advice from financial planners Tuesday Oct 6, 2009
Advice from financial planners that won't cost you a penny ... Advice from financial planners that won't cost you a penny ... The Arizona Republic is sponsoring a free telephone call-in event during which readers will be able to ask questions of local certified financial planners, Internal Revenue Service officials and representatives of credit-counseling firms. (AZCentral -- Business)
Compulsory contribution? PM's salary outstripped Oct 5, 2009
Industry super funds have called for a new ''best-interests requirement'' that would prevent licensed financial planners from receiving payments from product providers or fund managers, outlawing commissions and volume rebates. Instead, payments would come from clients based on the amount of time or advice provided. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Fixed fee band for insurance advisors? Oct 5, 2009
The proposed Financial Well Being Board of India, a self-regulator for financial planners, will set the fee structure. Now financial firms, particularly, insurance companies take away up to 40% of a customers first years premium often without their knowledge to pay for the agents canvassing thema practice which the government wants to stop. (India Times)
Alberty: New economy swaps strategy for saving, reducing credit Oct 4, 2009
Now, you will find that financial planners are bit more conservative and recommending consumers save at least double the amount of the former recommendation. In the past, the advice was to use your savings to pay down high-interest loans first before depositing savings into a low-interest paying account. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Our system still needs some fixing Oct 4, 2009
These have led to calls from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, among others, for all financial planners to be forced to abandon commissions. Financial planners would be forced to work on hourly rates or fixed fees. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Winning ideas Oct 3, 2009
These offices employ full-time C.P.A.s, attorneys, financial planners, financial analysts and, sometimes, fraud examiners. So when Joe Kopcynski was looking at ways to expand his investment-management firm, Universal Advisory Service, in Albuquerque, he first studied the family-office model. (CNN -- Money)
Financial advice by our team of experts, Oct. 6 Oct 3, 2009
Certified financial planners will be available to answer money management questions Tuesday from readers in a free program hosted by The Arizona Republic from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Call 602-444-4323 Tuesday evening, or submit your questions below and we will work to get them answered. (AZCentral -- Business)
Money bus offers free tips on saving, spending Oct 2, 2009
Specialists, financial planners share advice ... There isn t actual cash on the Your Money Bus, but Boston is the first stop on the nationwide tour of 25 cities in which local business specialists and financial planners offer free one-on-one financial advice. (Boston Globe)
Gen Y faces credit hurdles Oct 1, 2009
He has had mixed results with financial planners. One, from a bank, was more interested in putting him into share-based investments despite his preference for property. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Time to exit fundamentally weak stocks Oct 1, 2009
MUMBAI: It may well be tempting to be carried away by the upswing in stock prices over the past few months but increasingly, investment advisors and financial planners are advising retail investors to exit from fundamentally weak stocks as well as mutual fund schemes ... On the other hand, if investors are underweight on equities, financial planners say they could invest in the market in a phased manner. (India Times)
Age-group poser Sep 30, 2009
My parents are 86 and 87 and theyre going strong, with my dad driving all over the place, so Ive already told my financial planners that Im going to live to at least 96, said Susan Ryckman, 61, as she walked around New York City, an iPod and iPhone in hand. As long as Im not mentally and physically infirmed, Id like to live as long as I can, she said. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Crisis heightens investor awareness Sep 26, 2009
To improve awareness, practitioners are moving away from the traditional role of solely selling life insurance towards becoming financial planners. The concept of need-based selling was introduced with the implementation of the Proper Advice Practices for Life Insurance Business in July 2004. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Call for inquiry into liquidators Sep 24, 2009
A MEMBER of the parliamentary committee examining financial planners and the Storm Financial collapse says a similar investigation of the insolvency industry is needed, citing allegations of over-charging by some liquidators and the antics of banned practitioner Stuart Ariff. The Nationals senator John Williams, a member of the parliamentary joint committee for corporations and financial services while the Storm inquiry runs, said he would be pushing for the committee to scrutinise insolvency... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Profile - Chris Cuffe Sep 23, 2009
Like any industry, there are bad elements but there's no doubt financial planners get kicked around in the press, the whole industry gets tarred with a negative brush ... The group's financial planners mainly charge on a fee-for-service basis but other parts of the group, such as insurance products, still have commissions attached. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Macquarie deal with Storm allegations Sep 23, 2009
BusinessDay understands the usual loan-to-value ratio offered by financial planners was a more conservative maximum of 80 per cent.. A Macquarie spokeswoman refused to answer BusinessDay's questions on the issue. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Business Buzz: Sept. 17 Sep 20, 2009
com) focuses on the top tier of financial professionals and provides guidance to investors who use financial planners and advisors. Barker founded his firm more than 12 years ago and has built it into a successful fee-only independent wealth management business consisting of credentialed planners and advisors. (Burlington Union, MA)
Meltdown jolts consumers from financial fairyland Sep 18, 2009
But financial planners around the country say there is a sense that people are returning to basic principles that were shunted aside: Maximize your savings; limit your use of credit cards; keep a substantial emergency fund; know how much risk you can tolerate; diversify your investments; don't try to short-cut your way to wealth ... Others financial planners say people still believe in the market; they're just more realistic. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
ELIZABETH KNIGHT Sep 17, 2009
It's undoubtedly of great concern to financial planners that their reputations have been decimated thanks to the demise of two large managed investment schemes, Timbercorp and Great Southern - not to mention Storm Financial Group ... THE corporate regulator has escalated its campaign against the billion-dollar tax minimisation industry by raiding the homes of financial planners. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Investor confidence in fund managers dives Sep 16, 2009
"The problem is that many investors ... don't necessarily distinguish between greedy Wall Street investment bankers and local fund managers,'' he said. Fifty-four per cent of investors preferred to invest directly, up from 48 per cent in November 2008, the survey found. The survey also found that 24 per cent of retail super fund members were looking to switch funds, up from 17 per cent in November. Mr Johnston said the results reflected a loss of trust in the managed fund industry. Investors... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Complacency helped super survive crisis Sep 16, 2009
- A requirement that financial planners act in the best interests of consumers as advocated by ASIC, consumer advocate Choice, the Australian Institute of Super Trustees and the industry super movement. - The annual publication of long-term (say five-year) rolling data by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Planner concedes to Westpoint compo Sep 15, 2009
Ben Whitwell, a Sydney associate with Slater & Gordon in charge of the PIS case and also the Great Southern inquiries, noted claims against financial planners for alleged poor advice ''seem to be getting bigger ... The settlement was the largest since ASIC entered a ''global mediation'' about legal actions it had taken against seven financial planners, Westpoint directors - including founder Norm Carey - and accounting firm KPMG in relation to Westpoint's collapse ... ASIC said that it expected... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
7 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers Sep 15, 2009
Here are seven bits of wisdom from economists and financial planners for anyone contemplating a home purchase today. Old-fashioned basics are more important than ever. (Realtor Magazine Online)
Price on Westpoint advice Sep 15, 2009
IN WHAT looms as the largest settlement paid by financial planners for inappropriate advice, Brisbane-based Professional Investment Services has agreed to compensate clients for advising them to invest in the Westpoint Group companies ... Professional Investment Services, Australia's largest financial planning group with more than 2000 financial planners, has made no admissions of liability in the settlement ... Professional Investment Services also remains under scrutiny for its role in... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Household Investing Tips Sep 13, 2009
Financial planners in banks and other financial institutions will also often sell their companies financial products. Ideally, find an independent money adviser or financial planner who is not connected to any product or company. (Suite101.com)
Banning commissions: Are we ready? Sep 12, 2009
We hope that ultimately, the market will mature in that direction in which consumers, recognising the value of a financial plan, will happily pay the fees for it and financial planners, having been recognised as professionals in their own right, can choose to focus on fee-earning financial plans without having to depend on commissions, it says. The FPAM says at this stage, financial planners are largely remunerated in the work through a combination of fees and commissions and that even in mature... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
The Flight from Risk Sep 11, 2009
Clients come to financial planners like Frank Boucher, based in Reston, Va ... "Financial planners are experiencing a tremendous backlash from their clients," says Zvi Bodie, a professor of management at Boston University and a leading advocate of a more conservative investing industry. (BusinessWeek)
Fixed Income Investments - tread with care Sep 9, 2009
Short term bond funds are being preferred by some financial planners over the fixed deposits due to their tax efficient nature when it comes to short term investments. As fixed maturity plans have dried up, due to stringent conditions put forth by SEBI to protect the investors interests, there are few tax-efficient options left in the hands of the fixed income investors. (India Times)
Govt to adopt common qualifying exam for financial advisors Sep 9, 2009
Under the law, financial planners are supposed to serve the end customer and not their employers since these middlemen get their pay either directly from the end consumer or from his investments without his knowledge ... Now many financial planners know only about the products they push and are ignorant about the competing products in the market. (India Times)
