This week saw two important court rulings affecting the financial services sector, but while one made headlines the other one has passed largely unnoticed (except by Good Returns).

A court case involving an adviser who was denied authorisation has sparked a call for all advisers to be subject to the same ‘good character' threshold, but not everyone agrees the rules should be changed.

Former Bridgecorp managing director Rod Petricevic has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail for misleading investors in the failed finance company.

Advisers who have become authorised even though they don't need to have made a smart career choice, according to Institute of Financial Advisers president Nigel Tate.

A high-profile property figure has failed in his appeal against the Financial Markets Authority's decision to reject him as an Authorised Financial Adviser.

The price of gold may have dipped from its recent record high but there are a number of positive signs for investors in the precious metal, according to a local expert.

Hotchin asset freeze remains; Auckland Council gets a rating; F&P Finance rating affirmed; Five Star director pleads guilty

As more evidence emerged this week of the ignorance of many KiwiSaver investors, questions were raised about whether the bar has been set too high for providing KiwiSaver advice.

Questions have been asked over whether unnecessary hurdles for advisers are preventing consumers getting access to advice on KiwiSaver.

Changes to KiwiSaver that could have a big impact on how much money people contribute the scheme have passed largely unnoticed by many members, a KiwiSaver boss says.

New Zealand’s economy is doing better than many people think, and the dollar is set to benefit from that with a surprisingly strong run, a fund manager says.

Former Bridgecorp director Gary Urwin has been sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to 10 Securities Act charges.

It may be several more weeks before it becomes clear how tough new regulations on UK pension transfers have affected New Zealand’s QROPS market.

Bank profitability grows; fraud on the increase; more criticism of FMA over Hanover

Do the minimum qualifications for AFAs need to be increased?  That issue was one of the big stories this week on Good Returns.

The Financial Markets Authority has revealed its case in its civil proceedings against former directors and promoters of Hanover Finance.