Advisory firms Future Plan and OneSure have decided to merge their business with the aim of becoming a "significant player in the financial services market place."

The merger involves their insurance, mortgage, will and trusts services. The wealth management business will remain as Future Wealth Management.

Future Plan director Peter Daymond and OneSure director Kevin Brailey say the product offering and distribution model of the new, merged business "will attract quality advisers."

Risk provides returns
Balanced funds have delivered a strong positive return for the second consecutive quarter, recording a median return of 7.6% for investors over the September 2009 quarter, up from the 6.4% median return experienced last quarter and a 7.2% median average per annum over the last five years, according to the latest Mercer Quarterly Survey of New Zealand Wholesale Balanced Funds.

Mercer's September 2009 Survey results showed the highest performing fund for the quarter was Mercer, which recorded a return of 11.2% before tax and fees, while the lowest return was from NZAM/Milford Balanced Portfolio at 4.8%.  Milford/NZAM Balanced Portfolio produced the highest return over a full year (at 13.4%) while AMP Capital Investors produced the lowest return (at 1.5%). 

Mercer's NZ Business Leader, Martin Lewington, says the findings reveal those funds that have maintained faith in the view that risk and return are related over the longer term have again been rewarded this quarter and performed above the median return for the past five years.