It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the "prudent person" approach to playing it as safe as possible in portfolio construction might undergo a significant shift.

A recent survey found "an alarming 60 percent of clients did not know or were unable to answer if they were on track to meet their defined goals". Can yours?

Investment management has long been the backbone of financial planning. But is it the future for financial advisers? I think not.

New research found 78% of consumers care about being comfortable in the future - that alone tells us where the future is for advisers.

NZ FMA new CEO, Rob Everett, gave an interesting briefing by way of introduction. It contained a very strong warning for the short term, and an intriguing line of thinking for the longer term. Both focused on behaviour.

There is an enormous power and prestige for a profession in doing public good. Done correctly, we will stand a good chance of earning more respect than politicians in future Reader's Digest polls.

While most financial advisers aspire to work with HNW clients, very few successfully do so with any scale or significance. Most advisers will have a few HNW clients, but all too few of them. Why?

The boom demographic joining Facebook is age 65+ at the moment. If retirees are flocking to social media channels, shouldn't you?

It is that time of the year where practitioners think in detail about the year ahead - most are hoping for that big "break through" year. You just need to focus on the right TASKS.

We have not achieved visibility in professional standards - we have achieved obscurity. That must change if we are to achieve public confidence as a profession.

Recently, I spent time reflecting carefully on how regulatory reform has worked thus far in New Zealand, and where things might head next.

The new wave of jargon around financial planning should be a concern to us all. There is a very real risk that we will begin to lose sight of the good we do.

I’ve discovered scientific evidence of the value that good advice creates! The impact of good advice has been quantified in a 83-page study, with surprising findings.

Regulatory reform of financial advisers is still taking shape around the world. As advisers, we remain (just!) in the time of creation and opportunity – but there is no time to waste.

Consumers have a minimum level of expectation of a profession - requiring fundamental shifts in the ethical, educational and protection of public interest standards of some representative financial adviser organisations.

A superb snapshot of the NZ advice industry has been provided by The Skills Organisation (formerly ETITO), that confirms some widely held views - and should change some of our other perceptions of the industry at large.

The vexed issue of replacement business is bubbling up again. An adviser's obligations under the Code essentially pitches adviser against product supplier.

There are any number of ways to approach and discuss the issue of valuing financial advice. Perhaps, though, it is time to consider it from a slightly different perspective. Could it be that financial advice is worthless because of the client?

A recent study confirms that expert financial advice does change consumer behaviour - and consumers see it as more valuable.

Investing in yourself is worthwhile for financial advisers – but that message doesn't seem to have got through. Now hard evidence is starting to emerge from overseas that higher education pays for financial advisers.