Exam Flashcards
Lectures 1-11
what is financial wellbeing
People who both perceive and have each of
1. financial outcomes in which they meet their financial obligations
2. financial freedom to make choices that allow them to enjoy life
3. control of their finances
4. financial security
assumptions of financial wellbeing conceptual model
- people’s lives are divided into discrete periods
- in each of these periods, people care primarily about the amount of goods and services they consume
- the consumption of these goods and services generates what we observe as ‘financial behaviour’
- people use their household economic and material resources to pay for the expenditures
- people’s economic and material resources are affected by their own behaviour as well as economic conditions around them
- people derive satisfaction from both their current expenditure and their beliefs about their future expenditure potential
- the correspondence between people’s derived satisfaction and their expenditures is characterised by their preferences and attitudes.
- people make expenditure decisions in the best way possible given their personal capabilities and based on the access to financial products and services
reported financial wellbeing advantages/disadvantages
subjective lens
advantages:
- more easily measurable
- people differ in their preferences and attitudes
*the same objectively observed material resources may lead to different levels of perceived financial wellbeing
disadvantages:
- set-point theories which claim that people’s subjective wellbeing is relatively stable and not affected permanently by major adverse life events
- discrepancy between perceived and objective wellbeing
observed financial wellbeing and advantages/disadvantages
objective lens
advantages:
- can be measured without input from person
- provides a more objective assessment of a person’s financial wellbeing
disadvantages:
- proper assessment of a person’s financial wellbeing requires data that is typically not readily available in one place
- computing financial well-being based on a person’s financial information is difficult both conceptually and computationally
what is ‘complexity barrier’ in financial decision-making
- complexity of products
- complexity of contracts
- complexity of distribution
- size of search space (choice overload)
financial planning main areas
- wealth creation
- asset protection
- retirement planning
- estate planning
how to wealth creation
- superannuation
- purchasing equities (bonds, property, etc.)
- gearing
- investment in family home
- investment in business
- salary packaging
- etc.
retirement income streams
superannuation assets
- draw a pension from a super fund
- purchase a term certain annuity
- purchase a life annuity
- apply a theory based lump sum allocation stragety
non-superannuation assets
- e.g. rental income from assets, interest and dividends from cash, bonds and equity investments etc.
consumption function
C = α + c.Yd
=> S = Yd - C
C = consumption expenditure
S = saving
Yd= disposable income
c = MPC (1>c>0) (‘multipler’)
α > 0
i.e. consumption and expenditure are linearly related. if income increases, so will consumption expenditure but on a 1:1 basis
- there is also a minimum amount that an individual will consume, regardless of the level of income (negative saving is possible)
life-cycle hypothesis
- link between savings and consumption decisions of individuals through years of childhood, work and retirement
- based of the model of ‘saving decision’
- reflects an individual’s relative preference between present and future consumption at different times of life
- assumes rational behaviour i.e. optimal saving decisions are made
assumptions of life cycle hypothesis
- individuals prefer a higher standard of living i.e. they want to maximise current consumption
- most individuals want a relatively constant standard of living throughout their lives - avoiding ‘feast followed by famine’
life cycle ‘phases’
i. young single, no commitments - accumulation phase (growth oriented)
ii. younger couple, two incomes, no children - accumulation phase (growth oriented)
iii. one-income family, young children, tight budget - accumulation phase (growth oriented)
iv. one or two income family, older children - consolidation phase (consolidation)
v. retired, living off private income and/or government pension - spending phase (income-oriented)
paid parental leave amount
up to $915.80/week for 22 weeks
compulsory contributions to super amount
11.5% of salary
‘saving decision’
- reflects an individual’s relative preferences between present and future consumption at different times of life
- life-cycle hypothesis is based off this model
definition of money
- medium of exchange
- eliminates inefficiencies of barter
- facilitates financial transactions - store of value
- can be stored and used for future consumption - unit of account
- enables valuation of different elements using a common unit
- can be used for calculation, valuation, comparison
types of income for individuals
- earned (salary/wages)
- passive (return on investments)
- other receipts e.g. gambling winnings/gifts from family
what is a real wage
wage that is inflation adjusted that is the most informative measure
credit and debt
credit is the earlier portion of debt, i.e. borrower should obtain credit prior to taking on a debt
types of credit
- fixed payment loans (repaid in instalments e.g. personal loans, car loans, buy now pay later, home mortgage loans)
- revolving credit (credit cards, overdrafts and lines of credits)
what is ‘bad debt’
the use of debt to fund short-term consumption e.g. nights out, meals, holidays, clothing - is considered financially irrational
- no asset being purchased
- interest paid is not tax deductible
- once spent, there are only intangible benefits gained from debt
compulsory mortgage insurance percentage
80% (effectively the upper limit on home-equity loans as well)
company tax rate
30%
credit traps
- hidden costs
- credit cards with interest free periods
- low introductory credit offers
taxable income =
accessible income - allowable deductions
assessable income of individuals
- earned income
- interest income
- dividends and distributions
- rental income
- royalties
- short/long-term capital gains
what are allowable deductions
expenses incurred in gaining or producing assessable income or in carry on a business. excludes expenses of a private or domestic nature e.g. housing costs, living expenses, personal travel (including to and from work)
dividend imputation system
takes into account the amount of tax corporate income tax that was paid before dividends are paid
what happens if an asset is held for >1 year
tax discount of 50% is applied to capital gain
what is fundamental analysis
- looking at company data, profit/loss
- evaluating current management
- comparing with similar companies in same line of business
paradox of fundamental analysis and EMH
- to be efficient, market requires fundamental analysis to be undertaken
- EMH assumes that information has already been taken into share prices
- hence paradox
technical analysis
charting/looking at trends
- evaluate patterns
- analyse trends
- evaluate indicators derived from time series
- evaluate “bear/bull dominance”
refutes weak-form EMH
weak-from EMH
historical data
semi-strong-form EMH
historical data and publicly available data
strong-form EMH
all publicly available and private data
index fund
a fund that aims to match returns of an index (e.g. ASX200)
managed fund
all assets from investors are pooled together and invested into investments by a manager
know your client (KYC)
requires advisors to be aware of client’s circumstance to a degree that ensures they have a reasonable basis for their advice
know your product (KYP)
requires advisors to have an appropriate level of understanding of financial products
when is an advisor providing financial service
- providing financial advice
- dealing in a financial product
- making a market in a financial product
- operating a registered scheme
- providing a custodial or depository service
who is an advisor
- principles
- authorised representatives
- paraplanners
who is a principle
- the holder of a dealer’s or adviser’s licence
- any person who obtains a licence under FSRA
- a registered life insurance broker
- a life insurance company
what is an AFSL (Australian financial services licence)
license that covers those who carry on the business of providing financial services
‘carrying on a business’ refers to activities that are systematic continuous, and repetitive.
who needs an AFSL
- any person providing financial advisory services
- any person who issues or deals in financial products
who is exempt from an AFSL
- authorised representatives
- directors and employees of the business
- any other person acting on behalf of the principle
when general advice is provided, the advisor must:
- warn that the advice is not based on the knowledge of client circumstances and objectives
- indicate that the client must consider that advice in this light if inclined to act
- suggest that a Product Disclosure Statement should be considered (if applicable) before acting
- give a sufficient warning: “this advice is general; it may not be right for you”
when personal advice is given, the advisors must take into account
knowledge of client circumstances and objectives. it does take into account knowledge of client circumstances and objectives
quality of advice must satisfy three elements
i. reasonable enquiries have been made into client’s relevant personal circumstances
ii. the provider gives considered advice, the subject matter of which has been investigated and is reasonable in all circumstances
iii. the advice must be appropriate for the client
suitability rule (quality of advice)
- KYC, KYP rules
- consideration of alternative products suggested
- risk assessment (e.g. questionnaire)
informed consent (quality of advice)
- advice to the client must be communicated in a clear and concise manner
- advice is not misleading, deceptive, incomplete or provided in a pressured environment
- if the advisor is responsible for implementation of the plan, a written signed statement to the effect that the client understands the projected course of action and agrees to the adviser’s implementation of it, should be obtained and kept.
best practice requires advisers to act __________, ___________ and _________.
efficiently, honestly, fairly
- ‘efficiency’ in conducting business, e.g. providing a plan and documentation in a timely manner
– ‘honesty’ relates to ethics, conduct and fiduciary principles
– ‘fairly’ requires advisers to treat clients equally, i.e. not discriminate between clients
disclosure to client
issues that have the potential to impact the objectivity of advice provided
conflict of interest
limitations of operating capacity
methods of remuneration, (fees, commissions)
internal and external complaints resolution system
identify services that can be provided upfront
when providing financial services to a client, an advisor must operate under an ____ and provide
AFSL
- a Financial Services Guide (FSG)
- a Statement of Advice (SoA)
- a Record of Advice (RoA)
- Product Disclosure Statements (if applicable)
what is a Financial Services Guide (FSG) and what must it include (9 points)
discloses the services offered to the client and must be offered to a client at commencement of negotiations
contents of FSG:
- on the cover it must be called: a “Financial Services Guide” but can be referred to as an FSG (note for assignment) and must be dated
- name and contact details of the adviser; any special instructions (e.g. feel free to email, etc.)
- similar information about the authorising principals, or each of them
- the kinds of financial services provided and the financial products to which they relate
- who the adviser acts for when services are provided
- the remuneration and other benefits that the principal, the adviser or any other associated person will receive for providing the financial services
- information about any business relationships or associations between principal and issuers of any products
- details of internal and external complaints resolution mechanisms (one page may be sufficient)
- a statement that the FSG has been authorised by the principle
what is a Statement of Advice (SoA) and what must it include
sets out the advice provided to the client by the adviser
it must be given to a retail client when providing personal advice, prior to any action required to be taken to implement the advice
must contain:
- the title ‘Statement of Advice’ on the cover
- the advice
- the basis on which it was given
- the adviser’s name and contact details
- the name and details of the authorising principle, stating that the adviser is an authorised representative of the principle
- information on remuneration and benefits anyone may receive; i.e. fees, charges and how and to whom they are distributed
- information about any associations which might reasonably by construed as influencing the advice given
- a warning if the advice is based on inaccurate or insufficient information
- information on replacing one product with another
best interest (Corporations Act) duty principles
- perform a detailed investigation of the client and research the client’s needs
- carefully record all relevant aspects of the client
- formulate clear advice for the client
- obtain the client’s decision and implement it
competencies, experience and training
principles must ensure their advisers have proper experience and training and keep up to date
- training in investment principles, preparation and formulation of suitable personal advice, knowledge of how the business operates
- ongoing learning: keeping up-to-date with economy, financial markets, legislative and regulatory environments and changes
- product training: provided by the principal if the principal is the issuer, otherwise (usually) by the issuer
any adviser must be adequately supervised by the principal, who should provide advisers with written directions that they are bound to implemen
what must a statement of advice include
i. the title ‘Statement of Advice’ on the cover
ii. the advice
iii. the basis on which it was given
iv. the adviser’s name and contact details
v. the name and details of the authorising principal, stating that the adviser is an authorised representative of the principle
vi. information on remuneration and benefits anyone may receive; i.e. fees, charges and how to whom they are distributed
vii. information about any associations which might reasonable by construed as influencing the advice given
viii. a warning if the advice is based on inaccurate or insufficient information
ix. information on replacing one product with another
SoA documentation requirements
i. information elicited from client e.g. assets, family circumstances, expectations, existing cash flows, risk profile, etc.
ii. information on fees - the amount and nature of fees for the service (SoA) should be disclosed in the first meeting with the client as part of the FSG
iii. recommendations made by the adviser that address client needs in the four main areas, or as limited by agreement
product switching additional information to be included in SoA
- the client’s existing product has been considered
- costs and charges payable on reduction or disposal
- benefits the client may lose as a result of disposal or reduction
- entry or ongoing fees attaching to the replacement product
- any other significant consequences of the switch
when is a SoA not required
- advice consists solely of an offer to sell a product
- client makes it clear that they do not intend to buy
- no issue or sale results from the offer
- advice related to a CMT where the client is not retail
- a basis deposit product, or traveller’s cheques
- where the advice relates to general insurance
- advice over the telephone on traded products, subject to client’s approval
what is a Record of Advice (RoA)
may be provided rather than an SoA in these circumstances:
- previously been provided with client circumstances
- the relevant circumstances have not changed significantly
- the relevant basis has not changed significantly
what is the minimum amount for a SoA or RoA to be required
investments of less than $15,000
what is a Product Disclosure Statements (PDS)
a PDS is designed by an issuer of a product to provide clients with sufficient information to make an informed decision about whether or not to buy (invest in) a financial product
what must a PDS include
- it must be entitled ‘Product Disclosure Statement’ on the cover, but PDS can be used elsewhere
- details of significant risks of the product
- fees, expenses, charges and taxation implications
- any other information that would influence a client
four elements to consumer protection provision
Corporations Law, TPA (third party administrator), FSRA (financial services reform act 2001)
- misleading and deceptive conduct
- restrictive trade practices
- Corporations Act 2001 requires advisors to provide services ‘efficiently, honestly, fairly’
ACCC administers the TPA generally
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commissions) administers provision in relation to financial services
what counts as misleading and deceptive conduct
- either intentional or inadvertent
- it is not necessary that someone is actually misled, rather, it is only necessary that there is a real chance that they might be
– it is enough that a gullible, not-so-intelligent or poorly educated person is misled - an accurate statement can be misleading because of context
- a disclaimer does not absolve responsibility when the conduct as a whole is misleading
how can misleading and deceptive conduct be conducted
- making or writing a statement
- doing something
- failing to say or do something which is needed to prevent someone from being mislead
complaints procedure (8-step)
- Is there a complaint? If so, assist the client to put it in writing
- Can the adviser satisfy the client immediately?
- If the complaint cannot be resolved immediately:
i. Internal system: adviser and client state their case
ii. Decision by principal - Make decision and advise the client
- If the complaint is justified: amend procedures, apologise in writing, and pay compensation if applicable
- If client not satisfied with decision. Advise client of external procedures
- If client not satisfied with external (industry) procedures? Client may need to go to court
- Court or regulator action
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
FOS is an independent body existing to handle complaints:
- in relation to investment advice to a retail client, or insurance contracts;
- on handling of a complaint by a member
- about the operation of managed investment or superannuation schemes sold to retail investors
- also aims to conciliate any dispute between members but if necessary, can then move to arbitration and adjudication where it has powers to make decisions
aspects to constructing a diversified investment portfolio
- asset allocation (‘macro’ decision)
- security selection (micro decision)
asset allocation refers to
the percentage of available funds invested in the different asset classes (i.e. equity, cash/fixed interest, property)
security selection refers to
selection of and investment in individual securities within each asset class
strategic asset allocation (SAA)
setting target (%) allocations amongst asset classes
- buy and hold
tactical asset allocation (TAA)
asset allocation that managers would choose if they believed that certain asset classes are mispriced
- engaging in market timing
- active/aggressive application of asset allocation decision