This issue: February

Cover story

Conflicting loyalties

The Ripoll inquiry report recommends making the planner-client connection a legally recognised fiduciary relationship.

UpFront

Editor’s letter: CBA's poach play

Commonwealth Bank of Australia's flippant response to serious allegations it is monitoring its customers' transaction records for evidence of payments for financial planning has angered several planners.

RetireInvest to take on risk | FPA defends third party program | Aviva rebates carry on under MLC

News analysis: BT, Colonial should follow Macquarie's lead

The Macquarie Wrap is making life easier for financial planners and helping them look good in front of clients, by stripping the rebate out of its administration fees and charging clients one clear, transparent price.

Influential: The right time to leave

Money is merely a means to an end, Peeyush Gupta says, and after a spell off the corporate treadmill, he's bringing his valuable experience to directorships in a number of companies.

In practice: Quality, not quantity

Clients of Michael Phillips Financial Planning are able to reach their adviser almost 24 hours a day, by mobile or email. It's just one of the perks the small practice offers.

InDepth

Whistleblowing: Truth be told

In the wake of reports of reckless advice that bankrupted clients, planners are being encouraged to report peers who are acting inappropriately.

Education: A question of standards

Continuing education is seen as essential in raising the professional standards of financial advisers, but now there are moves to toughen entry-level requirements as well.

Technical strategies: Super insurance revisited

With more change on the way to the regulation of superannuation, the matter of whether to include insurance in a member's fund or outside it becomes more complex.

Profit plus: Take it on board

The major challenges for planners' boards of advice are to enlist great team members, to develop great referral sources, finding time to do it all and getting the price right.

Investment specialist: Seeing the pattern

It's a misconception that value and growth investing always move in opposite cycles. This year, as has happened in the past, both approaches could deliver positive returns.

InSight

Road to reform: Time to tackle the problems

The inquiry triggered by the collapse of Storm Financial has delivered its findings, and they could do much for the professionalism of the financial planning industry.

Incidental advice: Betting on the house

Changes to the tax and super systems are on the cards and policymakers may take steps to curb the enthusiasm for investing in residential property.

Gatekeeper: Hedging back into favour

Improved transparency and more conservative management are helping hedge funds win back hearts and assets, and their recent performance has been impressive as well.