Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Joel Robinson

Iwan Sunito secures approval for $1.9 billion Five Dock mixed-use precinct

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

Financial Advice

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Landlords and real estate agents could face court, and prison or penalties up to $1.3 million, if they advice renters to use their superannuation to cover their rental payment during the coronavirus crisis.
In a note sent by ASIC's financial services enforcement group director Tim Mullally to the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Mullally said it could breach financial advice laws.
“ASIC is aware that some real estate agents are advising tenants who are unable to pay their rent, or who may find themselves in such a situation in future, to consider applying for early release of their superannuation," the letter read.
“Recent media reports and social media commentary outlining this conduct by some real estate agents is of significant concern to ASIC and, we would hope, you."
“ASIC intends to monitor this situation closely, and if contraventions of the licensing requirements of the Corporations Act are found, ASIC will not hesitate to act swiftly to protect vulnerable consumers,” Mullaly said.
The letter comes after workers who have been laid off due to COVID-19 were given permission to access up to $20,000 worth of superannuation over the next two years.
Mullaly continued stating that financial advice must only be provided by qualified and licensed financial advisers, not by real estate agents.
Individuals can be fined up to $126,000 and up to five years in jail for providing unlicensed financial advice. Corporations can be slapped with fines up to $1.26 million.
<div>
“Tenants facing financial difficulty need sound financial guidance and potentially debt counselling. Specifically pointing them to and recommending them to consider the specific possibility of accessing superannuation is, again, likely to amount to a breach of the Act,” Mullaly said.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Landlords and real estate agents could face five years in prison by telling tenants to pay rent with their superannuation

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The barriers faced by consumers when considering financial advice have been highlighted in new research published by the Australian Securities &amp; Investments Commission (ASIC).
The report, titled Financial advice: What consumers really think, presents independent research into consumer experiences of, and attitudes towards, financial advice.
The study analysed an online sample of 2545 people (weighted to reflect the overall population), and focused on the overall use of financial advisers, motivators and barriers to seeking personal advice, and consumer attitudes towards the financial advice industry.
Just 27 per cent of the sample had received financial advice in the past, and only 12 per cent had received advice in the past 12 months.
Managing investments such as shares and managed funds, retirement income planning, growing superannuation, and budgeting or cash flow management, represented the most common reasons for which financial advice was sought. 
‘While Australians believe financial advisers can offer significant expertise on financial matters, our research shows that many don’t seek advice because they are put off by factors such as high costs, significant distrust of the industry and a perception that financial advice is only for the wealthy’ said ASIC commissioner Danielle Press.
The research shows that, while 41 per cent of Australians intend to get personal financial advice in the future, many of them will not proceed because of these perceived barriers.
‘Financial advisers have an important role to play in helping consumers improve their financial position, and there is a real opportunity for the advice industry to rebuild that trust by reorienting itself and putting consumers at the heart of its services… it is imperative that people wanting advice when making critical financial decisions are able to access high quality advice and equally, feel confident that the advice is in their best interests’ Ms Press concluded. 
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ASIC report highlights lack of consumer trust in financial advice industry

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Assistant Minister for Financial Services Jane Hume announced that financial advisers will be given up to an extra two years to upgrade their professional standards and qualifications.
The Morrison government concession means that currently operating financial planners will have until January 2022 to pass a financial advice exam and until January 2026 to graduate from a financial advice university or TAFE degree accredited by Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority, she said.
Labor shadow minister for financial services Stephen Jones slammed the delay, he said "the government are being negligent and dragging their feet on urgent reform." 
Some financial adviser lobbyists were grateful for the changes but said they didn't go far enough.
In particular, the executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals, Peter Johnston said the government should give further leeway to advisers specialising in life insurance and income protection.
"Risk insurance advisers should not need a four-year degree. They should need a 12-month refresher diploma in risk insurance because they're only dealing in that area," he stated.
 
Senator Hume said the financial advice exam was available only in capital cities and would not be available in regional areas until September 2019.
"The extension of the exam will ensure that all advisers, including rural and regional advisers, will have two years to sit the exam, as originally intended," she said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Financial advisers given extra two years to upgrade their professional qualifications

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
A significant number of Australians are embarrassed by their financial situation.
The Mortgage Choice and CoreData’s Financial Fitness whitepaper explores Australians’ attitudes and behaviours towards their finances.
Our research has found that when it comes to their finances, many Australians say they are embarrassed, which may stem in part from their personal debt and overall money habits.
According to the whitepaper research, 34% of respondents say they feel embarrassed by their financial habits. Furthermore, it revealed that 42% of Australians feel embarrassed by their personal debt, and one third hide the fact that they are in debt.
The research gave some insight into how Australians are using their credit cards, with a fifth of respondents saying they pay only the minimum amount on their credit card each month and 11% said they have not paid off their credit card in full for the last three months or more.
The fact that people are not paying off the balance on their credit card each month is worrying. However what is also particularly concerning is the number of Australians who pay only the minimum amount of their balance each month.
This prolongs the amount of time they are in debt as a considerable proportion of the payment is servicing the interest, rather than the balance and is one way consumers feel trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of debt.
The research found that more than a quarter (27%) of Australians spend more than they earn, which may explain why they are racking up personal debt.
These habits may be contributing to the shame and embarrassment some Australians say they feel about their finances. Indeed, the whitepaper reveals that almost a fifth (19%) of Australians say they are living secret financial lives.
This begs the question, are the feelings of embarrassment keeping Australians from taking an active role in managing their money? 
The research suggests this might be the case, as one-fifth of Australians said they often do not regularly monitor their finances.
The problem with avoiding the topic of money altogether is that often, a small problem can snowball into something more serious if it is not dealt with early on.
I encourage anyone feeling embarrassed or ashamed of their financial situation to seek professional help. The reality is you are not alone and there are things you can do to take control of your personal debt, but you need to start sooner rather than later.
SUSAN MITCHELL is the Chief Executive Officer of <a href="https://www.mortgagechoice.com.au/" target="_blank">Mortgage Choice</a>.
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A third of Australians feel embarrassed by their finances: Susan Mitchell

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EXPERT OBSERVER
I have been working in and around investment markets for 35 years now. A lot has happened over that time.
The 1987 crash, the recession Australia had to have, the Asian crisis, the tech boom/tech wreck, the mining boom, the Global Financial Crisis, the Eurozone crisis. Financial deregulation, financial re-regulation. The end of the cold war, US domination, the rise of Asia and then China. And so on.
But as someone once observed the more things change the more they stay the same. And this is particularly true in relation to investing. So, what I have done here is put some thought into the nine most important things I have learned over the past 35 years.
1. Make the most of the power of compound interest. This is one of the best ways to build wealth and this means making sure you have the right asset mix.
2. Don’t get thrown off by the cycle. The trouble is that cycles can throw investors out of a well thought out investment strategy. But they also create opportunities.
3. Invest for the long term. Given the difficulty in getting market and stock moves right in the short-term, for most it’s best to get a long-term plan that suits your level of wealth, age, tolerance of volatility, etc, and stick to it.
4. Diversify. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. But also, don’t over diversify as this will just complicate for no benefit.
5. Turn down the noise. After having worked out a strategy thats right for you, it’s important to turn down the noise on the information flow and prognosticating babble now surrounding investment markets and stay focussed. In the digital world we now live in this is getting harder.
6. Buy low, sell high. The cheaper you buy an asset, the higher its prospective return will likely be and vice versa.
7. Beware the crowd at extremes. Don’t get sucked into the euphoria or doom and gloom around an asset.
8. Focus on investments that you understand and that offer sustainable cash flow. If it looks dodgy, hard to understand or has to be based on odd valuation measures or lots of debt to stack up then it’s best to stay away.
9. Seek advice. Given the psychological traps we are all susceptible too and the fact that investing is not easy, a good approach is to seek advice.
Below Shane Oliver goes into more detail about each of the 'The nine most important things he learned about investing over the past 35 years'.
# 1 There is always a cycle
Droll as it sounds, the one big thing I have seen over and over in the past 35 years is that investment markets constantly go through cyclical phases of good times and bad. Some are short term, such as those that relate to the 3 to 5 year business cycle. Some are longer, such as the secular swings seen over 10 to 20 year periods in shares. Some get stuck in certain phases for long periods. Debate is endless about what drives cycles, but they continue. But all eventually contain the seeds of their own reversal. Ultimately there is no such thing as new eras, new paradigms and new normal as all things must pass. What’s more share markets often lead economic cycles, so economic data is often of no use in timing turning points in shares
# 2 The crowd gets it wrong at extremes
What’s more is that these cycles in markets get magnified by bouts of investor irrationality that take them well away from fundamentally justified levels. This is rooted in investor psychology and flows from a range of behavioural biases investors suffer from. These include the tendency to project the current state of the world into the future, the tendency to look for evidence that confirms your views, overconfidence and a lower tolerance for losses than gains. So, while fundamentals may be at the core of cyclical swings in markets, they are often magnified by investor psychology if enough people suffer from the same irrational biases at the same time. From this it follows that what the investor crowd is doing is often not good for you to do too. We often feel safest when investing in an asset when neighbours and friends are doing the same and media commentary is reinforcing the message that it’s the right thing to do. This “safety in numbers” approach is often doomed to failure. Whether its investors piling into Japanese shares at the end of the 1980s, Asian shares into the mid 1990s, IT stocks in the late 1990s, US housing and dodgy credit in the mid 2000s or Bitcoin in 2017. The problem is that when everyone is bullish and has bought into an asset in euphoria there is no one left to buy but lots of people who can sell on bad news. So, the point of maximum opportunity is when the crowd is pessimistic, and the point of maximum risk is when the crowd is euphoric.
# 3 What you pay for an investment matters a lot 
The cheaper you buy an asset the higher its prospective return. Guides to this are price to earnings ratios for share markets (the lower the better – see the next chart) and yields, ie the ratio of dividends, rents or interest payments to the value of the asset (the higher the better). Flowing from this it follows that yesterdays winners are often tomorrows losers – because they became overvalued and over loved and vice versa. But while this seems obvious, the reality is that many find it easier to buy after shares have had a strong run because confidence is high and sell when they have had a big fall because confidence is low. But the key point is that the more you pay for an asset the lower its potential return and vice versa.
# 4 Getting markets right is not as easy as you think
In hindsight it all looks easy. Looking back, it always looks obvious that a particular boom would go bust when it did. But that’s just Harry hindsight talking! Looking forward no-one has a perfect crystal ball. As JK Galbraith observed “there are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.” Usually the grander the forecast – calls for “great booms” or “great crashes ahead” – the greater the need for scepticism as such calls invariably get the timing wrong (in which case you lose before it comes right) or are dead wrong. Market prognosticators suffer from the same psychological biases as everyone else. If getting markets right were easy, then the prognosticators would be mega rich and would have stopped doing it long ago. Related to this many get it wrong by letting blind faith - “there is too much debt”, “house prices are too high and are guaranteed to crash”, “the Eurozone will break up” – get in the way of good investment decisions. They may be right one day, but an investor can lose a lot of money in the interim. The problem for ordinary investors is that it’s not getting easier as the world is getting noisier as the flow of information and opinion has turned from a trickle to a flood and the prognosticators have had to get shriller to get heard.
# 5 Investment markets don’t learn A key lesson from the history of investment markets is that they don’t seem to learn. The same mistakes are repeated over and over as markets lurch from one extreme to another. This is even though after each bust many say it will never happen again and the regulators move in to try and make sure it doesn’t. But it does! Often just somewhere else. Sure, the details change but the pattern doesn’t. As Mark Twain is said to have said: “history doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes.” Sure, individuals learn and the bigger the blow up the longer the learning lasts. But there’s always a fresh stream of newcomers to markets and in time collective memory dims.
# 6 Compound interest is like magic
This one goes way back to my good friend Dr Don Stammer. One dollar invested in Australian cash in 1900 would today be worth $240 and if it had been invested in bonds it would be worth $950, but if it was allocated to Australian shares it would be worth $593,169. Although the average annual return on Australian shares (11.8% pa) is just double that on Australian bonds (5.9% pa) over the last 119 years, the magic of compounding higher returns leads to a substantially higher balance over long periods. Yes, there were lots of rough periods along the way for shares, but the impact of compounding at a higher long-term return is huge over long periods of time. The same applies to other growth-related assets such as property.
# 7 It pays to be optimistic The well-known advocate of value investing Benjamin Graham observed that “To be an investor you must be a believer in a better tomorrow.” If you don’t believe the bank will look after your deposits, that most borrowers will pay their debts, that most companies will grow their profits, that properties will earn rents, etc then you should not invest. Since 1900 the Australian share market has had a positive return in roughly eight years out of ten and for the US share market it’s roughly seven years out of 10. So getting too hung up worrying about the next two or three years in 10 that the market will fall risks missing out on the seven or eight years out of 10 when it rises.
# 8 Keep it simple stupid
Investing should be simple, but we have a knack for overcomplicating it. And it’s getting worse with more options, more information, more apps and platforms, more opportunities for gearing and more rules &amp; regulations around investing. But when we overcomplicate investments we can’t see the wood for the trees. You spend too much time on second order issues like this share versus that share or this fund manager versus that fund manager, so you end up ignoring the key driver of your portfolio’s performance – which is its high-level asset allocation across shares, bonds, property, etc. Or you have investments you don’t understand or get too highly geared. So, it’s best to keep it simple, don’t fret the small stuff, keep the gearing manageable and don’t invest in products you don’t understand.
# 9 You need to know yourself to succeed at investing
We all suffer from the psychological weaknesses referred to earlier. But smart investors are aware of them and seek to manage them. One way to do this is to take a long-term approach to investing. But this is also about knowing what you want to do. If you want to take a day to day role in managing your investments then regular trading and/or a self managed super fund (SMSF) may work, but you need to recognise that will require a lot of effort to get right and will need a rigorous process. If you don't have the time and would rather do other things like sailing, working at your day job, or having fun with the kids then it may be best to use managed funds. It’s also about knowing how you would react if your investment suddenly dropped 20% in value. If your reaction were to be to want to get out then you will either have to find a way to avoid that as you would just be selling low and locking in a loss or if you can’t then you may have to consider an investment strategy offering greater stability over time (which would probably mean accepting lower returns)
DR SHANE OLIVER is the Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist for AMP Capital 
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Nine key points for successful investing: AMP Capital's Shane Oliver

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ASIC has commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against Port Phillip Publishing Pty Ltd (PPP), an online financial publisher and Australian financial services licence (AFSL) holder, and its director and CEO, Kris Sayce.
The proceeding concerns an article promoting an investment strategy which, according to PPP, consumers could adopt to “piggyback”, or mimic the performance of, the Australian Government’s Future Fund. 
<a href="https://newslettercollector.com/newsletter/wednesday-how-you-could-pocket-an-extra-540-to-6-667-every-month/" target="_blank">The 2017 article</a> which said that the investment strategy would generate monthly income of $540 to $6,667 was not written by Sayce, but Matthew Hibbard.
Sayce promotes himself as "never one to pull punches, especially when it comes to Australia’s hapless bureaucracy and special interest groups."
Once dubbed the ‘Jeremy Clarkson of Australian finance’, Sayce began as a London finance broker specialising in small-cap stock analysis on London’s Alternative Investment Market — which covered everything from Kazakhstani gold miners to toy train companies. 
Sayce is a fully accredited advisor in shares, options, warrants and foreign-exchange investments, who spent several years at a leading Australian wealth-management company before he began working at Port Phillip Publishing, where he is the publisher and CEO of the Albert Park-based company. 
The article, which included client testimonials purportedly supporting the strategy, was targeted at retirees.
It was published on two of PPP’s websites and emailed to some 120,000 subscribers. It's open rate has not been revealed.
Readers were able to access the promoted investment strategy by purchasing a detailed guide from PPP for $49.
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<div class="column">
The document entitled “Your Quick Start Guide to ‘Piggybacking’ the Future Fund” was sent to 833 of PPP’s subscribers during the relevant period between September 2017 and January 2018.
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ASIC alleges that the article and the guide were misleading and deceptive because consumers could not mimic the performance of the Future Fund by adopting the promoted investment strategy.
ASIC allege PPP did not disclose that the touted returns could only be achieved by investing approximately $154,286 and $1.9 million.
ASIC allege the article did not represent the opinions of Matthew Hibbard, the PPP retirement investment expert.
"Instead, it was substantially copied by one of PPP’s copywriters from an article published by an American related entity of PPP in the United States entitled, Americans Now Legally Piggybacking Canadian Social Security ... And Collecting Extra Monthly Checks from $400 to $4,700.”
ASIC further allege Hibbard had not conducted, as outlined, "research in the order of 900 hours in relation to the investment strategy; and had not connected with over 5,400 people who had generated income by adopting the investment strategy."
ASIC also allege that the three testimonials contained in the article were false.
The testimonials were advised as "folks like":
<ul>
<li>77 year-old M H a retired farmer living in South Australia, he stumbled across this weird - but lucrative - income strategy a few years back. Since then he’s open to monthly income amounts like $575 and $1,362...</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Retiree Leon M switched on this secret strategy inside his self-managed super fund...and now collects a monthly income stream of around $540...</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Or Jolly, who – on average – collects $6,667 each month using this loophole.</li>
</ul>
ASIC alleges that PPP and Sayce breached various consumer protection provisions of the ASIC Act and Corporations Act, that PPP breached its AFSL obligations, and that Sayce breached his duties as a director of PPP. 
In addition to declarations and financial penalties, ASIC seeks corrective advertising orders, injunctions and disqualification orders against the Frankston South-based Sayce. 
The first hearing of the matter is listed for 22 February 2019.
It is regulatory guide 234 Advertising Financial Products and Services (including credit): Good Practice Guidance (RG234) that provides guidance to help promoters comply with their legal obligations not to make false or misleading statements or engage in misleading and deceptive conduct, ASIC advised.
Port Phillip Publishing claims with its 20 subscription services and five free daily emails that its readers get a "comprehensive insight into the ideas that the mainstream media frequently neglects – or is too lazy to research."
PPP's most recent addition to the stable was Harry Dent Daily, which offers the thoughts of <a href="/expert-insights/investing/harry-dent-says-he-was-early-with-his-dire-sydney-price-collapse-forecast">the controversial doomsday property analyst</a>.
Port Phillip Publishing was established in 2005 as the Australian outpost of US publisher, Agora Inc, which was founded by best-selling author and entrepreneur Bill Bonner.
Many of its subscription newsletters are paid: 
• Australian Small Cap Investigator – A$99 annually • Secret Crypto Network – A$99 annually • Exponential Stock Investor – A$99 annually • Phillip J Anderson Cycles, Trends and Forecasts – A$99 annually • The Gowdie Letter – A$99 annually • Global Investor – A$99 annually • Harry Dent Boom &amp; Bust letter – A$99 annually • Wealth Eruption – A$99 annually • Money Morning Trader – A$49 monthly • Crisis &amp; Opportunity – A$149 annually • Gowdie Family Wealth – A$449 annually • Revolutionary Tech Investor – A$1,499 annually • Quant Trader – A$3,499 annually • Gold &amp; Commodities Stock Trader – A$2,499 annually • Microcap Trader – A$4,999 annually • Crash Market Investor – A$2,999 annually • Crypto Tech Investor – A$2,499 annually • Extreme Crypto Trader – A$2,999 annually • Billion Dollar Breakout Trader – A$2,999 annually • Microcap Global Trader – A$2,999 annually • Phil Anderson’s Time Trader – A$2,999 annually • Options Trader – A$3,499 annually
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ASIC seek to take financial services licence off Kris Sayce, the Port Phillip Publishing boss

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EXPERT OBSERVER
A few months ago Reserve Bank Governor Phillip Lowe provided four common sense points we should all keep in mind regarding borrowing to finance a home.
I thought they made sense and so summarised them in a tweet to which someone replied that every checkout operator knows them.
Which got me thinking that maybe many do know them, but a lot don’t, otherwise Australians would never have trouble with their finances.
So I thought it would be useful to expand Governor Lowe’s list to cover broader financing and investment decisions we make.
 1. Shop around
We often shop around to get the best deal when it comes to consumer items but the same should apply to financial services. As Governor Lowe points out “don’t be shy to ask for a better deal whether for your mortgage, your electricity contract or your phone plan”.
The same applies to your insurance, banking, superannuation, etc. It’s a highly-competitive world out there and financial companies want to get and keep your business.
So when getting a new financial service it makes sense to look around. And when it comes time to renew a service – say your home and contents insurance - and you find that the annual charge has gone up way in excess of inflation (which is currently around 2%) it makes sense to call your provider to ask what gives.
I have often done this to then be offered a better deal on the grounds that I am a long-term loyal customer.
 2. Don’t take on too much debt
Debt is great, up too a point. It helps you have today what you would otherwise have to wait till tomorrow for.
It enables you to spread the costs associated with long term “assets” like a home over the years you get the benefit of it and it enables you to enhance your underlying investment returns.
But as with everything you can have too much of it. Someone wise once said “it’s not what you own that will send you bust but what you owe.”
So always make sure that you don’t take on so much debt that it may force you to sell all your investments just at the time you should be adding to them or worse still potentially send you bust.Or to sell your house when it has fallen in value.
A rough guide may be that when debt servicing costs exceed 30% of your income then maybe you have too much debt – but it depends on your income and expenses.
A higher income person could manage a higher debt servicing to income ratio simply because living expenses take up less of their income.
3. Allow that interest rates can go up as well as down 
Yeah, I know that it’s a long time since offical interest rates were last raised in Australia – in fact it was way back in 2010.
So as Governor Lowe observes “many borrowers have never experienced a rise in official interest rates”. But don’t be fooled by the recent history of falling or low rates.
My view is that an increase in rates is still a long way off (and they may even fall further first) - but that’s just a view and views can be wrong.
History tells us that eventually the interest rate cycle will turn up.
Just look at the US where after six years of near zero interest rates, official US interest rates have risen 2% over the last three years.
So, the key is to make sure you can afford higher interest payments at some point. And when official rates move up the moves tend to be a lot larger than the small out of cycle moves from banks that have caused much angst lately.
4. Allow for rainy days
This is another one raised by Governor Lowe who said: “things don’t always turn out as we expect. So for most of us having a buffer against the unexpected makes a lot of sense.”
The rainy day could come as a result of higher interest rates, job loss or an unexpected expense.
This basically means not taking all the debt offered to you, trying to stay ahead of your payments and making sure that when you draw down your loan you can withstand at least a 2% rise in interest rates.
5. Credit cards are great, but they deserve respect
I love my credit cards. They provide me with free credit for up to around 6-7 weeks and they attract points that can really mount up (just convert the points into gift cards and they make optimal Christmas presents!).
So, it makes sense to put as much of my expenses as I can on them. But they charge usurious interest rates of around 20-21% if I get a cash advance or don’t pay the full balance by the due date.
So never get a cash advance unless it’s an absolute emergency and always pay by the due date.
Sure the 20-21% rate sounds a rip-off but don’t forget that credit card debt is not secured by your house and at least the high rate provides that extra incentive to pay by the due date.
 6. Use your mortgage for longer term debt
Credit cards are not for long term debt, but your mortgage is. And partly because it’s secured by your house, mortgage rates are low compared to other borrowing rates – at around 4-5% for most.
So if you have any debt that may take longer than the due date on your credit card to pay off then it should be on your mortgage if you have one.
7. Start saving and investing early
If you want to build your wealth to get a deposit for a house or save for retirement the best way to do that is to take advantage of compound interest – where returns build on returns.
Obviously, this works best with assets that provide high returns on average over long periods.
But to make the most of it you have to start as early as possible. Which is why those piggy banks that banks periodically hand out to children have such merit in getting us into the habit of saving early.
Of course, this gives me an opportunity to again show my favourite chart on investing which tracks the value of $1 invested in Australian shares, bonds and cash since 1900 with dividends and interest reinvested along the way.
Cash is safe but has low returns and that $1 will have only grown to $237 today.
Shares are volatile (&amp; so have rough periods highlighted by arrows) but if you can look through that they will grow your wealth and that $1 will have grown to $526,399 by today.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/15/Share%20VS%20Cash%20100%20years.JPG" alt="">
8. Allow that asset prices go up and down
It’s well known that the share market goes through rough patches.
The volatility seen in the share market is the price we pay for higher returns than most other asset classes over the long term.
But when it comes to property there seems to be an urban myth that it never goes down in value.
Of course property prices will always be smoother than share prices because it’s not traded daily and so is not subject to daily swings in sentiment. But history tells home prices do go down as well as up.
Japanese property prices fell for almost two decades after the 1980s bubble years, US and some European countries’ property values fell sharply in the GFC and the Australian residential property market has seen several episodes of falls over the years and of course we are going through one right now.
So the key is to allow that asset prices don’t always go up – even when the population and the economy are growing.
9. Try and see big financial events in their long-term context
Hearing that $50 bn was wiped off the share market in one day sounda scary – but it tells you little about how much the market actually fell and you have only lost something if you actually sell out after the fall.
Scarier was the roughly 20% fall in share markets through 2015-16 and worse still the GFC that saw roughly 50% falls.
But such events happen every so often in share markets – the 1987 crash saw a 50% in a few months &amp; Australian shares fell 59% over 1973-74. And after each the market has gone back up.
So, we have seen it all before even though the details may differ.
The trick is to allow for periodic sharp falls in your investment strategy and when they do happen remind yourself that we have seen it all before and the market will find a base and resume its long-term rising trend.
10. Know your risk tolerance
When embarking on investing it’s worth thinking about how you might respond if you found out that market movements had just wiped 20% off the value of your investments.
If your response is likely to be: “I don’t like it, but this sometimes happens in markets and history tells me that if I stick to my strategy I will see a recovery in time” then no problem.
But if your response might be: “I can’t sleep at night because of this, get me out of here” then maybe you should rethink your strategy as you will just end up selling at market bottoms and buying tops.
So try and match your investment strategy to your risk tolerance.
11. Make the most of the Mum and Dad bank
The housing boom in Australia that got underway in the mid 1990s and reached fever pitch in Sydney &amp; Melbourne last year has left housing very unaffordable for many.
This contributed to a huge wealth transfer from Millennials to Baby Boomers and some Gen Xers.
Hopefully the current home price correction underway will help in starting to correct that. But for Millennials in the meantime, if you can it makes sense to make the most of the “Mum and Dad bank”.
There are two ways to do this.
First stay at home with Mum and Dad as long as you can and use the cheap rent to get a foot hold in the property market via a property investment and then using the benefits of being able to deduct interest costs from your income to reduce your tax bill to pay down your debt as quickly as you can so that you may be able to ultimately buy something you really want.
(Of course, changes to negative gearing if there is a change to a Labor Government could affect this.) Second consider leaning on your parents for help with a deposit.
Just don’t tell my kids this!
12. Be wary of what you hear at parties
A year ago Bitcoin was all the rage.
Even my dog was asking about it – but piling in at around $US19,000 a coin just when everyone was talking about it back then would not have been wise (its now below $US6500) even though many saw it as the best thing since sliced bread.
Often when the crowd is dead set on some investment it’s best to do the opposite.
13. There is no free lunch
When it comes to borrowing &amp; investing there is no free lunch – if something looks too good to be true (whether it’s ultra-low fees or interest rates or investment products claiming ultra-high returns &amp; low risk) then it probably is and it’s best to stay away
In closing, I have focused here mainly on personal finance and investing at a very high level, as opposed to drilling into things like diversification and taking a long-term view to your investments.
DR SHANE OLIVER is the Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist AMP Capital
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Shane Oliver's 13 common sense tips to help manage your finances

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Former financial adviser and accountant, Satvir Singh Birk, of Reedy Creek, was today sentenced in to two and a half years imprisonment, following an ASIC investigation.
On 25 May 2018, Mr Birk, 42, pleaded guilty to five counts of dishonestly using his position as director of The Carter Group with the intention of gaining an advantage, for himself or others, in the amount of approximately $800,000.<a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2016-releases/16-216mr-gold-coast-former-financial-advisor-and-accountant-charged-with-multiple-counts-of-fraud-involving-approximately-800-000/" target="_BLANK"> </a>
The charges relate to conduct between September 2010 and October 2011, while Mr Birk was an authorised representative of Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd (PIS) and a director of the Carter Group (now in external administration) which was a corporate authorised representative of PIS.
ASIC alleged that Mr Birk dishonestly used his position as a director in that he:
· caused cheques to be drawn on a client’s superannuation account without authorisation;
· deceived some clients as to the use of funds withdrawn from their superannuation funds;
· deceived another client as to the price at which units in an unlisted registered managed investment scheme had been sold for and used a portion of the proceeds for the benefit of Mr Birk’s father; and
· misled clients in relation to the value and other details of units they had purchased in an unlisted registered managed investment scheme.
‘Mr Birk’s actions were dishonest and betrayed the trust of his clients. Today’s decision shows this type of behaviour will be met with serious consequences,’ said ASIC Commissioner Danielle Press.
Mr Birk has been convicted and imprisoned for two and a half years, to be released after serving four months upon entering into a recognisance order of $10,000 upon the condition that he be of good behaviour for a period of two and a half years.  
The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
In July 2017, ASIC permanently banned Mr Birk from providing financial services. (<a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2017-releases/17-245mr-asic-permanently-bans-gold-coast-financial-adviser/" title="17-245MR ASIC permanently bans Gold Coast financial adviser">MR17-245</a>).
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Former Gold Coast financial adviser sentenced to two and a half years in jail

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Financial adviser Noel Whittaker says headlines about property booms can lure inexperienced buyers into traps.
He also wrote recently that headlines with doom and gloom scenarios can scare people from making a good decision to buy.
"So, if you are serious about investing in property, stop reading the headlines and set yourself a specific plan," advised Noel Whittaker, the author of Making Money Made Simple and numerous other books on personal finance.
"One day we are told that real estate is booming, the next day people like Steve Keen and Harry Dent are predicting falls of up to 40%.
"When a boom is on we are even subjected to articles telling us how much our home is increasing each day, often accompanied by comments that it’s a tax-free gain and worth more than we are earning.
"Of course, it’s all nonsense – capital gain is not something that is happening, it is something that has happened.
"And the sad reality is that a big capital gain last year is a red flag that next year may be very different."
Whittaker noted the principal is called regression to the mean.
"I am not at all troubled by the usual negative comments about property that are circulating at the moment. 
"Australia’s population is on track to reach 40 million within 35 years – this has to be positive for anybody who buys well-located, quality real estate today and hangs on to it for the long term."
He advised there is no such a thing as a single property market – not for Australia, not even for a single capital city – there are myriad property markets all doing their own thing.
"How can you compare a townhouse in Cairns with a mansion in Point Piper?
"All over Australia some markets may be rising, other markets may be falling, and some may be flat."
He also noted real estate figures are notoriously unreliable because they take no account of improvements by owners,
Whittaker advised the first task for prospective investors was to find out exactly what they could afford, which means talking to a lender or mortgage broker, and laying all your cards on the table.
"Then, having worked out your price bracket, you need to research areas where you can buy a property you like for the price you’re able to pay.
"Once you have established that you are in the running, take the time to research the market thoroughly so that you become an expert on the area.
"You do this by going to open houses, befriending local real estate agents, and reading everything you can about your preferred location.
"Then when you come across a genuine bargain you will know that you have struck a winner.
"Always keep in mind that the secret of success in real estate is to buy well, and then add value." 
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Noel Whittaker says if you want to invest in property, stop reading the news

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The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has announced changes to reporting dates for a number of required notifications in the transition to the new financial adviser professional standards reforms. 
The revised schedule is intended to simplify licensees’ disclosure obligations. ASIC is also clarifying the process for recognising advisers as ‘existing providers’. 
Existing Providers
Financial advisers who are listed on the Financial Advisers Register (FAR) between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2019 will be recognised as an ‘existing provider’ under the new professional standards. 
Therefore, financial advisers who are currently authorised to provide personal advice to retail clients on more complex financial products should make sure they are on FAR. 
Without recognition as an ‘existing provider’ an adviser must pass an exam and complete an approved qualification by 1 January 2019 to work as a financial adviser. They must also undertake a year of work and training. 
If a person is an ‘existing provider’, they have until 1 January 2021 to pass the exam, and 1 January 2024 to complete an approved qualification. In the meantime, they can continue to work as a financial adviser. 
Financial advisers can demonstrate that they are an ‘existing provider’ if they are:
<ul>
<li>‘current’ on the Financial Advisers Register (FAR) at any time between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2019; and</li>
<li>not banned, suspended or disqualified as at 1 January 2019.</li>
</ul>
Changes to FAR notifications
ASIC will also make changes to the timing of the earliest notification requirements under the professional standards reforms.  These changes will simplify licensees’ notification obligations and enable ASIC to implement the required systems changes more effectively.
These changes do not affect advisers’ and licensees’ substantive obligations under the professional standards reforms. Advisers and licensees must still comply with the new substantive professionalism and education requirements and licensees must keep appropriate records for compliance purposes.
A key change is that ASIC will push back the timing for licensees to notify of new advisers who are joining the industry for the first time after 1 January 2019. As a result, new ‘provisional relevant providers’ can only be added to FAR from 15 November 2019.
Further information about the changes to notification dates can be found on ASIC’s Professional standards for financial advisers – reformswebsite.
<h2>Background</h2>
The Corporations Amendment (Professional Standards of Financial Advisers) Act 2017 commenced on 15 March 2017. It introduces a number of new requirements for advisers who provide personal advice to retail clients on more complex financial products.
For further information, please visit ASIC’s website: <a href="https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/professional-standards-for-financial-advisers-reforms/" target="_blank">Professional standards for financial advisers – reforms</a>. ASIC will update content on this website from time to time to provide further information about the reforms.
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