Australian investment managers predict an increase in alternative investment mandates and weaker returns for listed property securities, according to the latest Fearless Forecast survey by Mercer Investment Consulting.

Tools to help you get going for the new year, Retirement Commission says write that plan, AIA supports Tsunami Appeal.

Listed investment company Kingfish says its returns have been substantially ahead of its benchmark in the first nine months of trading, but it is warning investors to expect more modest returns going forward.

More and more local branches of the Financial Planners and Insurance Advisers Association are starting to run all-day education events tailored for the public.

While New Zealand mortgage brokers are approaching some form of regulation, Australia is working on producing a new nation-wide regulatory regime.

After such a great year for investors in 2004, it’s natural to ask whether 2005 will see a reversal. Certainly there are plenty of bears predicting just that (and perhaps hoping for worse). AMP Capital's assessment is that while returns won’t be as strong as they were in 2004, they should still be solid.

The Securities Commission is warning New Zealand investors in an Australian based fund, the Platinum International Fund about unsolicited mail from Geared Equities.

Standard & Poor’s has completed its rating review of the Southern Cross Medical Care Society, and reconfirmed its A+ rating.

The taskforce set up to look at whether advisers should be regulated has published an issues paper asking people what issues it should focus on.

ANZ is a wonderful bank