Financial Services Podcast Network

In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to Patrick Clarke, general manager of retirement solutions at Generation Life, to discuss how super funds can help members transition into retirement.

Listen as they discuss:

• The 4.2 million Baby Boomers heading into retirement.
• Super funds’ efforts to meet the Retirement Income Covenant.
• How to encourage retirees to spend their retirement savings.
• The product development of Generation Life’s investment-linked lifetime annuity product.
• What is needed for a good retirement plan.

In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Hans Egger, founder and managing director of Astute Wheel, to discuss how digital advice can enhance the client-adviser relationship.

Mr Egger explains how digital advice is a much broader term than robo-advice, and how implementing tech-driven solutions can provide efficiencies and ease the challenges financial advisers face.

He also touches on the key benefits of using technology in financial advice, including its ability to bring financial plans to life, and the crucial role of technology in improving the adviser-client relationship.

Finally, Mr Egger talks about Astute Wheel’s approach to digital advice and the value of client portals, before predicting where digital advice is heading over the next few years.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic speaks to Adam Scully, senior portfolio manager at Alexander Funds Management, to help investors demystify credit and fixed income funds.

Listen as they discuss:

• Exploring the differences between credit and fixed income
• The role they can play in portfolios
• How interest rates affect bond and credit portfolios
• Considerations when investing in credit securities
• The importance of stress-testing portfolios

In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by Adele Martin, founder of My Money Buddy and the Savings Squad podcast, to discuss how she is giving back through her business.

Ms Martin touches on how and why she implemented a profit first model in her business and speaks about why setting aside funds for charitable donations and random acts of kindness is important to her.

Ms Martin also introduces her new initiative which, in addition to charitable benefits, strives to foster a sense of community within the financial advice industry by offering support and mentorship to financial advisers.

Lastly, Ms Djurdjevic and Ms Martin touch on the latest news in financial advice, including her views on the experience pathway. 

In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to James Martin, managing director and head of global client solutions at Hamilton Lane, about why true democraticisation of private markets is still on the horizon.

Listen as they discuss:

• Challenges to accessing private equity
• Solving the illiquidity problem of private market investments
• Why Australia is leading the way globally
• Inflation’s impact on private markets
• Questions to consider during the due diligence process

In this episode of the ifa Show, Keith Ford is joined by the CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, George Haramis, to discuss the impact of the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review (QAR) and the future of digital advice in Australia.

Mr Haramis touches on the progress of the proposed digital advice association and whether the government’s slow progress on the QAR has had an impact.

He also covers the role of super funds in advice and whether they can plug the advice gap, as well as exploring some of the broader impacts of the QAR, such as the yet-to-be accepted good advice standard.

Mr Haramis then touches on Treasury roundtables and the outcomes from government consultations before explaining moneyGPS’s white label digital advice product for super funds, boutique AFSLs, larger AFSLs, and accounting firms.

George Haramis, CEO of moneyGPS and accountantsGPS, joins the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss the impact of the government’s response to the Quality Advice Review (QAR) and the future of digital advice in Australia.

Mr Haramis touches on the progress of the proposed digital advice association and whether the government’s slow progress on the QAR has had an impact.

He also covers the role of super funds in advice and whether they can plug the advice gap, as well as exploring some of the broader impacts of the QAR such as the yet-to-be-accepted good advice standard.

Mr Haramis then touches on moneyGPS’s white label digital advice product for super funds, boutique AFSLs, larger AFSLs and accounting firms before giving a preview of what to expect at the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day 2023.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant speaks to Shane Hurst, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at ClearBridge Investments, winner of this year’s Infrastructure Fund of the Year.

Listen as they discuss:

• His 20-year love of global listed infrastructure investing
• The firm’s win at this year’s Fund Manager of the Year Awards
• Why risk management is the most important factor in infrastructure investing
• How ClearBridge considers ESG and sustainability within its investment process
• Why he expects to see outperformance after a challenging year

In this episode of the ifa Show, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic is joined by co-host Keith Ford to discuss the recent concerns raised by Sarah Abood, CEO of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), about ASIC levies and the role advisers play in ensuring Aussies retire comfortably.

Maja and Keith take a closer look at ASIC’s cost recovery implementation statement and share why the FAAA’s CEO believes the numbers just don’t line up. They discuss the steps the group has taken and whether it holds the power to influence the corporate regulator to take another look at its projections.

The conversation shifts to the intergenerational report and its findings on retirement savings. While the report predicts a significant increase in total assets in the super system over the next four decades, the government is concerned about Australians’ reluctance to spend their retirement savings. As such, Treasury is now expected to release a consultation paper to address this issue and strengthen the accessibility of retirement products by taking a closer look at advice, among other things.

The discussion also covers the roundtables being hosted by Treasury, where various stakeholders have been called upon to provide their opinions on the Quality of Advice Review. 

In this episode of Relative Return, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic chats to Gary Monaghan, investment director for Asian equities at Fidelity, about opportunities in Asia and the firm’s recent win at the Fund Manager of the Year Awards.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why Chinese technology doesn’t equal all Asian technology stocks
• How the US sanctions have helped China
• The firm’s win at this year’s Fund Manager of the Year Awards for its Fidelity Asia Fund
• What factors are making India the next ‘darling of Asia’
• The economic impact of China’s property problems on Australia

In this episode of the ifa Show, stand-in host Keith Ford chats to Peter Johnston, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP), to discuss the proposed good advice legislation and the power advisers have to lobby the government.

Mr Johnston explains why he believes the good advice standard would be detrimental to consumers and gives his thoughts on whether the government is likely to adopt it.

He also discusses the AIOFP’s lobbying efforts, including why the advice profession is in a unique position to influence the government with the backing of their clients, and how the various industry associations can work together to look for positive outcomes.

Additionally, Mr Johnston discusses the AIOFP’s involvement in roundtable discussions with Treasury regarding the Quality of Advice Review (QAR), as well as some highlights from the association’s recent conferences in Bangkok and London.

Simon Aboud, chief product and marketing officer at Allianz Retire+, joins the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about retirement income solutions.

Mr Aboud explains why longevity risk is such a concern for retirees and advisers, and how Allianz Guaranteed Income for Life (AGILE) can help mitigate these issues.

He also covers the need for greater innovation with retirement income products and how product providers are responding to the retirement income covenant

Finally, Mr Aboud highlights how macroeconomic themes are affecting retirees and what to expect from the retirement income landscape over the next 12 months.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant speaks to Justin Blaess, co-founder and portfolio manager at Quay Global Investors and winner of this year’s Global Property Securities Fund of the Year.

Listen as they discuss:

• The importance of a global approach to property investment
• The property winners and losers from COVID-19
• Maintaining a highly concentrated and low turnover portfolio
• What it takes to have five consecutive wins at the Fund Manager of the Year Awards
• Ensuring Quay differentiates itself from competitors

In this special episode of the ifa podcast, our host is joined by QAR review lead Michelle Levy and FAAA CEO Sarah Abood to discuss the government’s QAR response.

This podcast brings you an audio version of our recent webcast hosted by ifa editor Maja Garaca Djurdjevic who was joined by QAR lead Michelle Levy and the CEO of the Financial Advice Association Australia, Sarah Abood.

Ms Levy and Ms Abood share their thoughts on the government’s QAR response and dissect certain recommendations, including the expansion of the super funds’ advisory powers.

At times, Ms Levy and Ms Abood disagree on areas of the review, including the name that should be given to superannuation employees providing information/advice to their members.

Ms Levy discusses why she believes the absence of good advice exposes funds to conflicts of interest, while Ms Abood shares why defining the good advice duty is crucial.

Moreover, the pair discuss the future of statements of advice, and Ms Abood provides an update on the progress of the consultation with government. 

Greg Hansen, Executive, Group Strategy at HUB24, and Jo Hurley, General Manager, Growth at Class, join the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about Millennials entering the SMSF space.

Mr Hansen and Ms Hurley explain what is causing the expansion of the SMSF sector and how technological advancements enable customised SMSF service offerings for Millennials.

The pair also cover how advisory firms are adapting their practices to effectively serve the evolving demands and expectations of clients.

Finally, Mr Hansen and Ms Hurley highlight what advisers and accountants need to think about when engaging with a younger demographic to cater to their specific needs and preferences.

In this episode of the ifa show, stand-in host Keith Ford chats to Nigel Baker, CEO and founder of Scientiam, a pioneering company in the financial advice industry.

Mr Baker shares his journey, from working in renowned accounting firms to establishing his own independent practice, Arch Capital.

The pair delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by the advice industry, particularly in providing accessible and efficient advice to a broader market.

Mr Baker unveils Scientiam’s innovative approach to addressing these challenges by leveraging technology to create a seamless client experience, while also touching on the future of financial advice and exploring how the industry can adapt to changing client needs and expectations.

Moreover, Mr Baker emphasises the importance of separating advice from product recommendations and enabling clients to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.

CEO at CryptoTaxCalculator, Shane Brunette, and tax counsel for CryptoTaxCalculator and director of Cadena Legal, Harrison Dell, join the SMSF Adviser Show to talk about taxation and compliance considerations when investing in crypto through an SMSF.

Mr Brunette and Mr Dell explain the key strategies and considerations essential for individuals and entities to master the complexities of capital gains tax and how to ensure compliance with the sole purpose test.

The pair also cover why the security of crypto assets is important for tax purposes and how to master crypto security including fundamental principles, wallets, and private key aspects.

Finally, Mr Brunette and Mr Dell highlight the significance and hurdles associated with maintaining accurate crypto tax records and how crypto tax software can assist in managing cryptocurrency taxes effectively.

In this episode of Relative Return, host Phil Tarrant chats to Simon Madder, Managing Director and CEO of Prime Financial Group, on the firm’s ambitious growth plans and how it balances working in multiple parts of the financial services landscape.

Listen as they discuss:

• Where it is finding acquisition opportunities
• Prime’s equity ownership model for employees
• Why the business grew its fastest during COVID-19
• Succession planning and staff retention
• How it balances providing financial advice, SMSFs and accountancy