Pension transfer provider Britannia has launched a new scheme, with lower fees and exposure to New Zealand assets.

The process of licensing of fund managers is coming to an end and next up with be an even bigger job, the second round for financial advisers.

New Financial Markets Conduct Act requirements have been a high hurdle for fund managers to pass but should leave advisers and clients better off, says AMP's general manager of investments and insurance, Therese Singleton.

Advice businesses are being told it should now be much cheaper and easier to set up roboadvice platforms than it might have been as little as three years ago - and soon a good robo offering will be expected by clients.

Government is making it easier for earthquake-affected KiwiSaver members to withdraw their money if they suffer financial hardship – but one adviser is warning it is not a good idea.

Advisers are being urged to use the Christmas break to check their business statements and professional development plans are up-to-date.

An online tool has been launched to help advisers give feedback and make suggestions about the development of Financial Advice New Zealand.

Bank KiwiSaver providers are worried that proposed changes to annual statement requirements could lead to members chasing the lowest-fee providers.

New Zealand’s newest peer-to-peer mortgage lender is promising to offer mortgage brokers an easier way to get deals done for clients struggling to access funds from the banks.

Improving term deposits rates are putting pressure on other asset classes to provide a better premium.

An investor who put $8000 in a growth portfolio for his son, only to find that the balance had dropped to $7000 when he tried to access it 20 years later, has complained about the advice he received.

Investors may want more of a risk premium on their investments in New Zealand in the short term because of this week’s earthquakes.

Advisers are being urged to talk to their clients about the performance of their investments in terms of their goals, rather than referring to benchmarks and indexes.

Advisers’ clients are particularly vulnerable to illegal cold callers offering scam investments, the Financial Markets Authority has warned.

Advisers must have their business practices updated in line with the new Code of Conduct requirements by March 1, the Financial Markets Authority has warned.

As markets rebound from their initial shock at the Trump victory in the US, New Zealand investors are being told there are opportunities to be found.