Retirees left to flounder after they leave work

Original article by Karen Maley, Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 16-Jul-14

The financial system inquiry has found that retirees are not given sufficient guidance by the superannuation sector. It is argued in the interim inquiry report that the sector does not offer sufficient risk management options to retirees in the draw-down phase. For instance, few income stream products with longevity risk cover are available in Australia. A new round of submissions on how to cope with an ageing population is sought by the inquiry

CORPORATES
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CHALLENGER FINANCE PTY LTD, THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

CBA rip-off no setback to lighter rules

Original article by Patrick Durkin, Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 30-Jun-14

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia scandal will not deter the Federal Government from its plan to lighten regulation of the financial planning sector. Federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said that regulation should be dropped if it increases the cost of financial advice without increasing consumer protection. However, Industry Super Australia CEO David Whiteley argued the matter shows that the Government should abandon its plan to change the Future of Financial Advice laws

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, MACQUARIE PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, MAURICE BLACKBURN PTY LTD

Ban on financial fees

Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 and 4 : 20-Jun-14

The Australian Government will wind back key measures of the Future of Financial Advice reforms, including the requirement that financial planners must act in the best interest of clients. Planners will also be barred from receiving up-front or trailing commissions for providing general advice to clients, while the requirement that clients must "opt-in" to receive financial advice will also be scrapped

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL SENIORS AUSTRALIA LIMITED, COUNCIL ON THE AGEING

ASIC won’t act on FoFA changes

Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 23-Jun-14

Both new regulations and legislative amendments will be used by the Australian Government to change some aspects of the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) laws, effective 1 July 2014. However, there is resistance to the amendments in the Senate by the Australian Labor Party, Australian Greens and Palmer United Party. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is currently not penalising any breaches of those sections of the FoFA laws that are to be repealed, and will maintain this approach if the deadline of 1 July is missed by the Federal Government

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED