Grandfathered commissions is a term that is receiving a lot of airplay at the moment through the Royal Commission. The term is used so often and to cover so many different concepts that I thought it might be helpful to spend some time discussing just what “grandfathered commissions” actually refers to. It’s also helpful to…
Fees and Bias
Discussion on how fees, independence and bias operate in the field of providing advice on financial matters.
Financial Planning Ethics – part 1
by Michael O'Hara •
Financial planning ethics are of paramount importance to sound financial planning. Yet this self-explanatory and seemingly obvious statement cloaks the areas of ‘grey’ within which financial planning ethics may not be at all obvious or not at all relevant. Financial planning ethics is all about communication. What works and what doesn’t; how things work and…
Financial planners and insurance
by Michael O'Hara •
Proposals are afoot for major changes in the world of financial planning advice for insurance cover. If you are interested, here’s a brief note from myself and links to some of the key points being looked at by regulators and commentators.Financial planners continue to be in the news – gosh, we must be an interesting…
Financial Planning Ethics
by Michael O'Hara •
Financial Planning Ethics – from a financial planner’s point of view.It’s Philosophy Friday, so let’s spend a moment or two musing on the place of “Ethics” in the world of the financial planner. Financial Planning Ethics It may seem obvious that there is a place for ethics in financial planning. Financial planning scandals of one…
Do-it-yourself financial bias
by Michael O'Hara •
Australia’s cheapest super?
by Michael O'Hara •
Financial Planning Bias
by Michael O'Hara •
Who is behind the name that is behind the advisor that gives you advice? Financial Planning Bias – All is not as it seems We have covered the bias that is inherent in the Australian financial industry a few times now. The key reason for this bias is the government regulatory requirement that all Financial…
Financial advisors are cheating you
by Michael O'Hara •
At least, that is the impression you can get when tuning in to some sections of the media. As covered in previous posts, the post-GFC world is a tumultuous one, with many long cherished “laws” of investment being turned on their head, and many investors feeling helpless in the face of small, zero or negative…
Financial Planning for the “me” in You
by Michael O'Hara •
Investment Advice and Bias
by Michael O'Hara •
Everyone has a form of bias built into their decision-making processes. It could be based on bad outcomes from past experiences or better than expected results from one activity over another. It may be that you gathered your relevant knowledge from a source that itself contained an inate bias. The trick is to know how…