Archive for April 2012

Future of Financial Advice Reforms

By on April 5, 2012
This entry is filed under General.

In late March 2012 the House of Representatives passed the Future of Financial Advice legislation.

The objective of these reforms is to (i) improve access to financial advice through the introduction of ‘scaled’ or limited/single issue advice, (ii) remove conflicted forms of remuneration in the financial advice industry which have (or are perceived to have) influenced the advice provided, and (iii) strengthen investor protection. <<Read more>>

Gross Domestic Product – what does it mean, why is it important, and where does Australia rank relative to its global peers?

By on April 3, 2012
This entry is filed under Technical.

Given the media’s continued focus on the short-term (usually negative) outlook, we at Banksia Partners have undertaken some basic research to demonstrate why the glass is at least half-full, rather than half-empty. << Read more>>

Economic & Market Review March 2012

By on April 2, 2012
This entry is filed under Economic Commentary.

Much seems to have changed since our last economic commentary in early January. Greece dropped some of its debt burden and most major central banks in the world loosened the monetary strings further. In the US the macroeconomic data for December, January, and February was surprisingly positive which has had a flow on effect to global equity markets.

Yet, under the surface, things are not so different. <<Read more>>