A mentoring programme for new financial advisers could avoid meltdowns like the Ross Asset Management collapse, says IFA president Nigel Tate.

Australian insurance industry players are calling for a forensic approach to assessing and managing mental health disability claims.

New Zealand’s real estate investment trusts are in a better position than their counterparts across the Tasman, says Forsyth Barr’s property analyst Jeremy Simpson.

The strongest consumer confidence figures in three years are not enough to convince ASB that the Reserve Bank will move the official cash rate before the end of the year.

Massey University is considering offering a new financial adviser degree-level qualification and is looking for input from advisers.

If interest rates rise soon it will not make yield-focused equity investment strategies any less appealing or effective for advisers looking to provide retirement income for clients, says Nick Dravitzki, of Devon Fund Management.

Concern has been raised about the far-reaching implications for insurers’ solvency standards of one of the clauses in the Reserve Bank’s latest consultation paper.

Financial advisers are not buying into responsible investing at the same rate as institutional investors, says Matt Mimms, of the Investment Store.dvise

KiwiSaver should be adjusted so that money cannot be withdrawn in the event of any hardship, in order to clear up confusion about bankruptcies, says one provider.

There’s new clarity on tax for advisers who have clients with foreign superannuation scheme interests.

Apartment purchasers are being caught out by legislation that requires developments to have a maintenance plan - but not the money needed to implement it.

Handing some regulatory responsibilities to dealer groups would help to streamline processes, says Camelot Group’s Peter Cave.

Economists expect the official cash rate to remain at 2.5% when the Reserve Bank releases its Monetary Policy Statement and expect that it won't start rising till March next year.

Property values will continue to rise over the coming months, Quotable Value predicts, and Auckland's hot market may be prompting some buyers to make hasty decisions.

One of the questions that has been asked by many people this week is how aware consumers are of exactly what they are doing with their personal finances.