Accountants get green light for AFSLs
The government has finally announced that it is altering exemptions on accountants providing a broader range of financial advice. The minister for financial services and superannuation Bill Shorten announced on the weekend that a new limited Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) is expected to see up to 10,000 accountants become licensed and able to increase the range of financial advice they offer.

Ex-Guardian FP adviser pleads guilty
A former Guardian Financial Planning financial adviser has pleaded guilty to falsifying 65 insurance applications between August 2009 and May 2011.

Shorten scores a sensible outcome
THERE’S just a touch of Alice Through the Looking Glass about the compromise solution that’s been arrived at to allow accountants a bit more leeway in talking superannuation and planning with their clients, as released a week ago by Financial Planning and Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten.

Bravura Solutions adds to product team
FINANCIAL software specialist Bravura Solutions has strengthened its product team with two new appointments and a renewed product focus in its organisational structure. Michelle Lusty has been promoted to product manager of Sonata, which offers a single product for life insurance, trusts, pension/annuity, group superannuation/pensions and so-called wrap products.