Michelle Levy’s Quality of Advice Review (QAR), seems keen to put the banks back in business flogging their products to trusting customers, with the only protection that the advice be “good”, rather than in the customer’s “best interests” Will bank employees who thought their job was to help customers with their banking needs be given…
According to Reuters, as of Feb 1, ChatGPT (the new AI robot on the block), reached 100 million monthly active users in two months after launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. It has passed law exams in four courses at the University of Minnesota and another exam at the University of Pennsylvania’s…
Most people assume we seek financial planning advice to help us achieve our financial goals, but the truth may be a little “darker”. I have often wondered why the percentage of people seeking financial planning advice remains so constant, despite scandals (like the Hayne Commission), onerous compliance requirements and a service that is costly, inefficient…
The QAR (Quality of Advice Review) is proposing that “good” financial advice be “good enough”, rather than following the current “best interests” rule. If the advice is reasonably likely to benefit the client, based on their circumstances at the time the advice is given, then it will pass the test. Following the banking royal commission,…
In the future, every company will become an IT company. Those who don’t will fumble on with a “Frankestein tech stack” giving them little or no advantage. According to Chad Brooks of Business.com, “The most successful and highest performing companies have little separation between their business strategy and their technology strategy. In short, they have technology as…
Mirror, mirror on the wall, what is the best product of all? APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the new “magic mirror”, opening up a wealth of information curated by someone else who maintains and updates the data. We use them regularly, “Hey Google, give me directions to Martin Place”. Financial services have been invited to…
I work 24/7, 365 days a year without a salary. I communicate with natural voice and can do any financial planning calculation on request, as well as gathering client information and doing product research. I can even implement insurance applications. I remember everything and am not intrusive, only responding to verbal requests directed at me….
Conventional wisdom suggests we delegate to a financial adviser because they have the time and expertise to help us achieve our financial goals. The truth may be a little “darker”. It seems “Delegators” just need someone to blame if things go wrong. Michael Kitces, Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners had a good look…
Financial planning advice is a slow, expensive and, it seems, unprofitable business. Firstly, it can take weeks or even months before a comprehensive statement of advice is ready. Secondly, research conducted by KPMG and commissioned by the Financial Services Council found the average cost of providing comprehensive financial planning advice is $5,335 a client, while…