Weekly Wrap: Regulatory changes to impact advisers

A summary and some comments on the big news stories of the week.

Friday, March 23rd 2007, 10:05AM

Good Returns has lots of big stories this week on how a raft of regulatory changes are going to impact on advisers and investors.

First up, advisers need to be thinking about the new Securities Law Bill. As we report today this presents some new challenges which many people may not yet have got their minds around.

In the same vein the sweeping changes to investment tax rules mean a whole rethink of asset allocation. Simon Botherway outlines some of the issues in this story, but there is plenty more to come on this one.

Yesterday we ran a story about the New Zealand Investment Trust, which is telling its shareholders the PIE tax changes mean it should wind up and reinvent itself. A story well worth reading for anyone using this listed vehicle or other such trusts.

Of interest to life writers this week is AXA's current product launch. This includes a rethink on commissions with various new options available. Check out the story in Insurance News.

The end of last week was dominated by the Super Funds conference I chaired. In Supertalk we have a wrap up of the main points to come out of the conference.

Meanwhile over at Phil's Blog I ponder whether the National Party leadership are on the same wavelength on the subject. I have had a good range of feedback to my first Blog on the implementation of KiwiSaver from an employer's perspective. These will be posted on the site early next week.

Do the Nat agree on Super?
One of the highlights of last week’s Super Conference was the unequivocal speech from National Party finance spokesman Bill English. [more]

Home loan rates look to be on the up again with increasing wholesale rates coming through. Financial planners may think this, plus new tax changes on managed funds, will steer people away from residential property.

Two stories suggest property investors are a resilient bunch. One is the results of the annual property investor survey which you can read over at www.landlords.co.nz and the other is in Good Returns' Mortgage Centre where Mike Pero's ceo gives his views on rate rises.

During the week the Securities Commission banned a small finance company offering while a big player, UDC has added new rates and changed its tier structure for deposits. All this and more at depositrates.co.nz.

While there are all these changes going on there are plenty of moving 'n shaking with appointments. One long-standing industry figure is logging off and Hanover has a new BDM For all the up-to-date news go to People.

Peter J's Guide to Kiwisaver
The essential guide to Government's new savings plan.
**Stock arriving soon**

Peter J's Guide uses the analogy of sending your savings on a road trip and outlines the main points that individuals should be aware of.[more]