AMP Capital is altering its portfolio allocation after a September quarter which reflected international market turmoil.

The latest set of proposals for financial adviser regulation has been greeted with a cool response from the Financial Advisers Associations of New Zealand (FAANZ).

A permanent financial adviser representative on the Securities Commision is one of the latest options to come out of moves to reform how the sector is regulated.

Tax changes before Parliament will alter the way life insurance policies are taxed and mean higher premiums for consumers.

The industry has told officials working on the changes introduced to Parliament as part of the omnibus Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance and Remedial Matters) Bill premiums could rise anywhere between 1% to 30%.

New Zealand investors are being offered the chance to invest in property in emerging markets.
Kinloch Funds Management is launching its Emerging Markets Property Securities Fund.

The government should revisit the co-regulation model for its new rules for financial advisers says the Investment Savings and Insurance Association.
Hearings began yesterday on the Financial Advisers Bill and the related Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Bill.

Advisers who think KiwiSaver is a waste of their time are in danger of missing the boat, says ING's head of distribution, Wayne Becker.

Changes to how life insurers are taxed will be introduced to Parliament later this month. Figures included in the recent Budget show how much the tax man will be giving back by making life policies subject to the PIE (portfolio investment entity) regime – and at the same time how much will be clawed back through taxation of the risk business.

Overseas-owned insurers operating in New Zealand may be required to set up locally incorporated firms under proposed new rules.

Overseas-owned insurers operating in New Zealand may be required to set up locally incorporated firms under proposed new rules.

The Reserve Bank is encouraging banks to create mortgage-backed securities.

Global credit concerns have led the country's largest fund manager to tilt towards a more conservative portfolio.

Investors not taking the options for longer periods of term deposits may be turning money away.

Asteron is boosting its trauma policies as part of a bigger push into that part of the market.

"Trauma insurance is the least sold part of our product range," Asteron's general manager, Antony Vriens, told a Roadshow for advisers in Wellington.

A major drafting error in last year's tax legislation means a large number of employers will not be able to access the full KiwiSaver tax credit.

Investors should wipe the last dozen years of equity performance from their memories, says Russell Investments' Stephen Wood.