There's been widespread comment in both the mainstream and industry media over the past couple of weeks about the proposed changes to FoFA, particularly relating to conflicted remuneration (a.k.a. commissions) and financial advisers' fiduciary obligations (a.k.a. acting in the client's best interests). Without wishing to enter into the debate in too much detail we would have thought both were only aimed at a small minority of financial advisors, with the vast majority complying irrespective of any legal obligations.
As with many such things it is always the actions of the minority that lead to the creation of laws, rules and regulations, as generally common sense and sound ethics prevail. In the case of financial services when a product issuer has to offer significant incentives, such as a commission of over 5% to an advisor, to gain support for their product it is pretty safe to assume there's a catch, and its the investor who's caught. Think Trio's Astarra for example.
As a result the whole industry ends up with a significant ongoing regulatory burden, and as at present, more change and potential uncertainty. To be fair the government's stated objectives of the current changes to FoFA are to reduce compliance and the regulatory overhead, but one aspect which does help the consumer is simple and clear transparency. Generally speaking disclosure over fees and costs is now transparent, even if not always easy to fully understand. Similar disclosure over an advisor's potential conflicts, commissions and parent ownership would not go astray.
Meanwhile regulatory changes around licencing and custody of assets are also in the wind, both of which will increase compliance costs for fund managers, and hopefully towards the end of 2014 we will see the outcome of the David Murray chaired inquiry into financial services, which is almost guaranteed to change the regulatory landscape further.
Specific results received this week include the following PERFORMANCE and NEWS UPDATES:
Monash Absolute Investment Fund returned 0.80% for January, a strong performance against the Index (-3.03%) and 26.7% for the latest 12 months.
The Pengana Australian Equities Market Neutral Fund returned -2.5% during January, a weak month for local equities which fell -3.03%, and 12.52% for the previous 12 months.
The Paragon Fund focusses on core competencies in the resource and industrial sectors. The Fund deploys a high conviction, long bias strategy, focusing on proprietary, fact based research. The fund returned -1.1% for January and 14.10% over the previous six months. It has recorded a Sharpe ratio of 2.00 since inception and strong up and down capture ratios of 0.70 and -0.18 respectively
FUND REVIEWS RELEASED THIS WEEK:
Bennelong Kardinia's Absolute Return Fund returned -2.12% in January 2014, taking returns for the year to 9.91%, with annualised returns since inception of 13.62%.
27-29 March 2014: Superannuation Fund Back Office: 2014 Forum in Sydney convenes those responsible for superannuation member administration and investment operation services. It has been designed to explore emerging efficiencies and best practice in a number of key areas.
If you know of any upcoming hedge fund industry Events, or would like your Event listed in our calendar, please contact us.
On that note, I hope you have a happy and safe weekend.
Best wishes,
Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS
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Australian Fund Monitors are helping to raise awareness to support research into prevention and cure for cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. But despite the incidence of CP, on average only $1 million is invested into CP research each year. To put that into perspective, Australia spent over $10 million on New Year's Eve fireworks last year. We're not suggesting that fireworks money should be spent on CP research, but it just goes to show how drastically underfunded research into cerebral palsy is.
If you believe, like us, that something must be done about this, please sign the pledge and share with your friends today. Your name will help us raise awareness for more CP research funding. Thank you! For more information visit www.cpresearch.org.au or contact me by email.
