The ASIC report into death benefit claims revealing the devastating impact of poor industry practices on grieving Australians has again highlighted the pressing need for change. While some funds have taken up the cudgels, others are still playing hardball on improving their service offering.
A Retirement Income Covenant obligation notwithstanding, there is still a paucity of these complex products on offer. The Advice Through Superannuation draft legislation might offer a way forward.
Cuffelinks gets down and dirty with markets analysis
(Pictured: Graham Hand)
Cuffelinks, the free weekly newsletter about investments started by former Colonial executives Chris Cuffe and Graham Hand, has introduced a monthly markets analysis service and opened the doors to paid sponsorship for the first time.
The monthly ‘Market Monitor’ section is: “A short review of the economic conditions in major global markets including growth trends, plus our estimate of long term value across a wide range of asset classes”, says its author, Ashley Owen, who is a fund manager and director of Third Link Investment Managers, which Chris Cuffe established to get managers to raise and run funds for charities. The Market Monitor assessment process is fairly complex and can be seen on the Cuffelinks website: www.cuffelinks.com.au
The Cuffelinks news service and associated website blog have become a well-regarded addition to the range of information products provided to the superannuation and wider financial services industries since its launch early last year.
Until now, it has been funded privately by its founders, with no advertising. Cuffe said in his letter to readers last week: “My thanks to FINSIA (the Financial Services Institute of Australasia), RAFI (Research Affiliates Fundamental Index), SMSF administrator SuperIQ, and Magellan Asset Management for becoming our initial sponsors. While we retain complete editorial independence and operate as a not-for-profit, their support will ensure Cuffelinks remains free for readers and allows us to hire more resources.”
Hand, who is the editor of Cuffelinks, said that the sponsorship enabled the organisation to recruit a couple of staff to share the workload. He said the first year of publication had been about attracting a large audience and sustaining the quality of content.
