2019: The year in review, as seen by CoreData

The past 12 months have been nothing short of extraordinary as the first wave of changes driven by the Royal Commission rolled through the industry and as personal and company reputations …

Who will help consumers see the true value of life insurance?

Australia’s life insurance industry is facing significant headwinds, driven by regulatory reform, margin pressure and the evolving adviser landscape. The Life Insurance Framework (LIF) review, Protecting Your Super and Putting …

An Apple to pay keeps BNPL away

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payments System Board Annual Report 2019 has revealed that they are scheduled to review card payments regulation in 2020, which could lead to regulatory changes. …

Give financial planners a break and let them focus on the client

Financial planner bashing has become a national sport. The financial advice industry has battled consumer and media perceptions that advisers are a bunch of cowboys flogging products to line their …

The twilight of China’s population and the dawn of its retirement industry

Most of the developed world has enjoyed a population growth dividend lasting for five or six decades in preparation for dealing with an ageing population. But China has enjoyed only …

Can robo cross the chasm to offer advice to the masses?

Australia’s robo-advice sector continues to battle a lack of awareness among consumers and has struggled to gain a foothold in the Australian investor market. Some early entrants to the market …

Facing up to the aged-care challenge demands innovation and flexibility

Australia’s ageing population is one of the biggest challenges facing the country in the next 20 years.  In its second background paper published in May, the Royal Commission into Aged …

In robo we trust – for our money but not our hearts

A blog published last weekclaimed that almost a third of Australians would be happy to receive financial advice from a robot.  According to the blog’s author, futurist Anders Sorman-Nilsson, the study showed that …

If you build a killer robot, don’t forget the “off” switch

The government recently dismantled a final argument in defence of grandfathered conflicted remuneration when it released regulations providing that from January 1, 2021, conflicted payments can no longer be made …

Four ways financial services providers can support better choices by customers

Freedom of choiceIs what you gotFreedom from choiceIs what you want In ancient Rome there was a poemAbout a dog who found two bonesHe picked at one he licked the otherHe …

Best in Show: Are you on the list?

Over the past few months, both the Superannuation Productivity Commission and the Financial Services Royal Commission have recommended changes to the default super system. If implemented, the changes will weaken …

How well does your licensee support you through the challenges of being an adviser?

There’s one thing we can be sure of as the financial advice industry professionalises and realigns to deliver services in the best interests of consumers: the cost to financial advisers …

The new way of working could be killing our retirement outcomes

It’s the new work order: abandon the shackles of the 9 to 5 in favour of working multiple jobs, for multiple employers. Drive for Uber, take some paid board positions, …

Advice as a business is alive and well; advice as product distribution is not

In the short term, the exit of major financial institutions from the advice industry will cause disruption to advisers, and potentially to clients. But in the long run, it will …

What’s best for superannuation fund members transcends sector labels

Already this year the Productivity Commission has released the final report on its review of the superannuation sector, and the final report of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the …