Hi

It's easy to see what was the biggest story of the week, and that was progress on sorting out the rules around adviser regulation and some discussion is starting on measuring competency.

We have a story on the latest developments, plus a copy of the Securities Commission discussion document.

One of the questions is, what will advisers be measured against? It seems the answer is Level Five on the National Qualifications Framework. Now, if you are like me you would have no idea what that means.

Luckily the latest issue of ASSET provides the answer. If you would like a copy please call Amy on 0800-345675. A single issue is just $9.95 and she can offer you a special deal on a six-month subscription.

The regulation story also, I suspect flows through into today's piece. This piece (which was a little late going on the site) reports on how the IFA has dealt with an adviser who put a conservative investor into failed finance companies. It is useful too as it gives an insight into how some advisers had operated.

The same theme comes through in last week's Blog on CDO backed funds. This Blog: Product recall argument daft has had quite a few responses. It's worth a read to see what people are saying including some investors.

A question I have started to ponder is maybe some advisers are too casual and willing to take on everything they are told, rather than question information. Just a thought.

During the week we also published the Morningstar data on KiwiSaver fund performance. Besides the story we have a comprehensive performance table on the site which is well worth going through.

Product recall argument daft I was hoping not to write about the ING credit funds for a while however some of the commentary in the industry has encouraged me to revisit what's happening. [more]

The other story we ran during the week was an update on AXA's investment business. It seems the UK pension transfer scheme is proving quite lucrative.

Good Returns' People page has a number of new appointments this week including: the make-up of the IFA's investment special interest group, changes at Guardian Trust and we name the three people who are heading up ING's distribution teams in the funds management business.

Also in this section there are a number of job ads (if you are looking for a change!).

The insurance sector keeps moving, slowly, through regulatory changes with a draft of a new bill on prudential regulation for life offices out. Some parts of the industry were "a little disappointed" that local incorporation for insurance companies would not become mandatory under draft legislation released this week.

Next week will no doubt have plenty of focus on the official cash rate announcement. Good Returns will have a preview of what to expect later today. Also we have added some new features to our tables. You can now see what lenders are offering for revolving credit or line of credit mortgages.

Have a great weekend.
Philip

www.goodreturns.co.nz