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- November 2009: Another ARC Linkage Success
- October 2009: "The Future for Property Investment and Financing" Symposium
- June 2009: ARC Linkage Success
- May 2009: International Centre for Financial Services Advisory Board Member Matt Walsh appointed Chief Executive of Lifeplan
2009
Another ARC Linkage Success
A team lead by Associate Professor Alfred Yawson and including Professor Ralf Zurbruegg and Mr John G Tretola as Chief Investigators has been successful in obtaining an ARC Linkage Grant to research "The adequacy and sustainability of self-managed superannuation funds: Governance, performance, asset allocation, fee structure and compliance".
The application with SPAA as the Linkage Partner, means that a PhD student, Monte Engler, and a part-time Research Assistant will work for three years with the Chief Investigators on this project. This project has the potential to influence long term policy on self-managed superannuation. The CEO of SPAA, Ms Andrea Slattery, has put the full resources of the SMSF Professionals Association of Australia Ltd behind the project.
"The Future for Property Investment and Financing" Symposium
Property as an investment has always been favoured by Australian investors. The global financial crises have forced all investors, developers and financiers to reassess the property market. The presenters at the Symposium revealed their agenda for property investors and discussed exciting opportunities that exist in property investment and the various ways that this investment can be made. Attendees were also given the opportunity to question an expert panel of bankers, developers, professional property investors and academics on investment opportunities and financing.
Speakers included:
- The Hon Paul Holloway, MLC, Minister for Urban Development & Planning
- Professor Stephen LeRoy, Emeritus Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara
- Ms Antoinette Plater, Senior Portfolio Manager (Asia/Pacific) Colonial First State
Panel Members:
- Associate Professor Barry Burgan (Chair)
- Ms Antoinette Plater, Senior Portfolio Manager (Asia/Pacific) Colonial First State
- Mr Terry Walsh, Executive Director Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) SA
- Professor David Gallagher, Professor of Finance University of Technology Sydney
Download the article featured in the Advertiser on 26th October
ARC Linkage Success
A team lead by Professor Ralf Zurbrugg and including other Chief Investigators Dr Jean Canil and Professor Randy Stringer have been successful in obtaining an ARC Linkage grant for the project "Survival of Australia's Family Farms: Credit Raising & Credit Access". Prof Zurbrugg says that the unique cooperation between the Business School and Prof Stringer from the Discipline of Agri-Food and Wine was vital in the success of the application. The industry partner, AWB, has been very supportive and will contribute continuously over the next three years with data, high level management input and industry contacts. Mr Colin Taylor, General Manager Financial Services, is the coordinator from AWB. Mr Taylor is a foundation member of the ICFS Advisory Board.
This is one of a number of projects that have been generated with the support of ICFS Advisory Board members. Two other ARC Linkage applications have been submitted with the financial and in-kind support of Advisory Board members. In addition, two other projects are in the formation stage and may also result in further Linkage applications.
International Centre for Financial Services Advisory Board Member, Matt Walsh appointed Chief Executive of Lifeplan
Inaugural ICFS Advisory Board member, Matt Walsh, has been appointed Chief Executive of Lifeplan. Should the merger between Lifeplan and Australian Unity proceed Matt will lead the Lifeplan business as part of Australian Unity's Investment business.
2008
Review of APRA Investment Performance Statistics of the Australian Superannuation Industry
The International Centre for Financial Services (ICFS) has today released a 'Review of APRA Investment Performance Statistics of the Australian Superannuation Industry'. The report was commissioned by the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) who requested the ICFS provide an independent and objective view on the way in which APRA report and interpret the data they receive as part of their prudential oversight of the superannuation industry.
Download the Media release now.
Download the article featured in The Australian on 24th July 2008.
Download the articles featured in Money Management magazine on 31st July 2008
"Challenging Financial Markets" Symposium - Monday 21st July 2008
Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, is the keynote speaker for the "Challenging Financial Markets" Symposium being hosted by the International Centre for Financial Services.
The symposium will feature an expert panel of industry professionals and academics on the challenginf facing financial markets.
Speakers include:
- The Hon. Kevin Foley, Deputy Premier of South Australia
- The Hon Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law
- Andrea Slattery, CEO, Self-Managed Super Fund Professionals' Association of Australia
- Associate Professor Chris Medlin and Dr Syed Ali, University of Adelaide
Media releases for this event can be downloaded here:
The Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index - latest findings
- Download media reports on the latest findings of the Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index.
- Further information on the Index can be viewed here.
Dr Syed Ali invited to the judging panel for "Future Leaders of the Wealth Management Industry"
Dr Syed Ali has recently been invited to join the judging panel for the IFSA and Deloitte 2008 "Future Leaders" Award programme. This programme has been designed to recognise, reward and promote young talent in the Wealth Management Industry.
Due to his expertise and high standing in the industry, Dr Ali will be on the panel to assess the following topic: "Discuss what financial advice is, examine the current Australia definition and compare and contrast Australia and overseas models."
2007
Hussain G Rammal features in Islamic Finance magazine "The Analyst"
Hussain G Rammal lectures for the International Centre in Financial Services Graduate Diploma in Global Wealth Management program. Hussain has recently been quoted in the Islamic Finance magazine "The Analyst".
"Islamic financing as a whole is still in its infancy. While the concepts have been there for centuries, it only became commercially available in the 1970's. Since then it has grown at a phenomenal rate."
"The size of the sukuk market is estimated at around $100 bn (estimates suggest that over $800 bn of assets are managed according to Islamic investment principles.). The advantages of sukuk include the flexibility it provides. For example, sukuk can be issued both on existing assets as well as specific assets that may become available at a future date."
"The future of sukuk seems very bright indeed. This is clear from the fact that, at present, there is a shortage of sukuk. An Islamic money market still remains a dream and is yet to be developed due to differences in interpretation of Shari'ah requirements."
The Professional Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation program ps146 compliant
The Professional Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation has been included on the ASIC Training Register for ps146 compliance in the areas of Self Managed Superannuation Funds, Generic Knowledge and Skills.
View details on the training register.
The Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index
This is a detailed academic study that establishes the relationship between various attributes of investors' satisfaction with their financial advisors. In particular it examines quality of technical advice, levels of trust in the advisor and perceptions of portfolio performance. It provides the data that establishes the INDEX which has a starting point of 75. Future studies will evaluate, over time, the movements in investor satisfaction with their financial advisors.
This study also identifies and establishes data on investor traits such as age of the investor, duration of taking financial advice and levels of investment. It identifies many other possible areas for future research including satisfaction with fees charged and ascertaining how investors judge approporiate performance.
The research sponsor, Lifeplan, will release various aspects of this study to the financial press.
The study was conducted by Associate Professor Chris Medlin and Dr Syed Ali and they will update this Index each six months until at least the end of 2009.
The Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index can be downloaded here.
Certificate in Rural Estate Planning Accredited by the Financial Planning Association of Australia
The International Centre for Financial Services created the specialised short course Rural Estate Planning from it's Tax, Estate and Wealth Planning course. The course, delivered over two consecutive days to financial planning practitioners has been Accredited by the Financial Planning Association of Australia. Accreditation number 002928 for 16 credits of continuing professional development.
This is an exceptional endorsement of the quality of the course that is designed and presented by Neil Page LL.B.
International Centre for Financial Services Advisory Board Member Andrea Slattery featured in CareerOne
Andrea Slattery, Chief Executive Office and Director Self Managed Super Funds Professional's Association of Australia Lts (SPAA) and ICFS Advisory Board member, was featured in the May 5th 2007 edition of CareerOne.
University of Mainz EMBA visit to University of Adelaide
In March last year Prof Ralf Zurbrugg visited the University of Mainz to promote links with the Faculty of Professions. As a result of that meeting Prof. Dr. Volker Hentschel and 10 EMBA students from the University of Mainz visited the University of Adelaide in April 2007. The trip included workshops provided by the International Centre for Financial Services, company visits and tourism activites.
Prof. Fred McDougall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President (Academic) also hosted a welcome function during the visit.
This visit will become an annual event, and the Adelaide Graduate School of Business and School of Commerce hope to further develop this relationship.
2006
Self Managed Superannuation Courses Accredited by Financial Services Education Agency Australia (FSEAA)
The Professional Certificate and Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation courses have been included on the FSEAA Industry Accredited Education Register.
For more information on the Professional Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation click here.
For more information on the Certificate in Self Managed Superannuation click here.
October 2006: Official Opening of the International Centre for Financial Services
The official opening of the International Centre for Financial Services was held at the National Wine Centre on Friday 6th October. The event, hosted by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Fred McDougall, was attended by leaders in the financial services industry, members of parliament and academics.
As well as providing information on the Centres' origins, courses and research activities the ICFS Advisory Board was also formally introduced.
August 2006: SPAA accredits its first University Self Managed Superannuation Funds courses
The Self Managed Superannuation Fund courses offered by the ICFS have just honoured by becoming Australia's first courses accredited by the peak industry body. The courses were awarded the highest ranking in Australia: an 83% quality rating.
Read the full article as seen in the Adelaidean.
As seen in MoneyManagement.com.au:
"Two self managed superannuation fund courses offered by the University of Adelaide have become the first ever university courses to be accredited by the SMSF Professionals' Association of Australia (SPAA)."
$200 Billion+ Pension Fund Awards contract to ICFS
It was recently announced that one of the world's largest pension funds has awarded a contract to ICFS for the design of a new stock market trading system.
The International Centre for Financial Services has engaged SolveIT Software and researchers from the School of Commerce who will work cooperatively to design a new trading signal system using adaptive Evolutionary Algorithms and Fuzzy Logic.
"Although Evolutionary Algorithms have certain advantages for optimising complex trading models, they also have some drawbacks," said Martin Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer for SolveIT Software. "To deal with some of these drawbacks, this project intends to build a Fuzzy Logic rule base that is constructed with the help of Evolutionary Algorithms. This will speed up response times such that signals are determined in real-time. Furthermore, it is out intention to design an adaptive Evolutionary Algorithm model that allows to adapt to changing market conditions, rather than a static system."
"The cooperation between SolveIT and researchers from the School of Commerce is likely ro result in a unique solution to a very complex financial markets trading situation," said Clive Perring, Director, ICFS. "The ICFS is fulfilling its role as a centre of research in the high growth area of international financial services."
May 2005
ICFS Lecture Series for China
The China Professional Development and Executive Training Centre is an initiative of the China Cluster, an advisory group to the Premier of South Australia. This group has organised a program, the "Shandong Department of Personnel Executive Training Program" and the ICFS is offering a series of lectures covering Project Management, Staff Selection & Human Resource Management, Principles of Knowledge Management, Leadership & Motivation Techniques, Risk Analysis & Management, Financial Statement Analysis for Business.
Uni offers unique financial services to industry
New ICFS Appointments
Former Colonial First State, State Manager, Clive Perring has been appointed as Director of the ICFS and Professor Ralf Zubrugg of the School of Commerce has been appointed to the position of Chair in Finance.
