UNIT PRICING 2014 FORUM, 19th - 20th May, Sydney

This 2 days forum will be exploring Unit Pricing operational challenges for 2014 & beyond

• New APRA reporting requirements & implementation: impacts on unit pricing reporting
• Comparison of unit pricing in Australia to Europe
• Tax benefits of rolling from accumulation to pension phase - How to pass these to the members
• Unit Pricing operational risks & unit pricing errors
• Custodial unit pricing embracing change whilst driving improvement in the client experience
• Trustees new after-tax investing responsibilities under stronger super and the fund operations can help.
• Bottom up Versus top down tax provisioning
• Juxtaposition between an increase in unit pricing complexities alongside the desire for more simplified unit pricing process
• Internal Controls - How to minimise the risk of a unit pricing error & operational efficiency

Dates: 19^th-20^th May 2014
Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Location: Grace Hotel, Sydney

Click here to view the Agenda and more information on the event.

To register for the conference please download the brochure and fax the form to us or you can email us on [email protected] or give us a call:

Registrations Manager
IBR Conferences Pty Ltd
Tel: +61 (0) 2 9896 0776 | Fax: +61 (0) 2 9896 0796 | [email protected] | http://www.ibrc.com.au

Advent Connect, 2014

3 April 2014 - Taxi Kitchen, Melbourne

Stay up to date on industry trends with fresh insights from industry thought leaders, your peers, and Advent¹s executive management team.

Event highlights include:

• Advent Overview with Chris Momsen, Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Solutions Management
• Panel on Cloud Computing and the Future of Financial Services, moderated by Alex Wise, Select Funds

Panelists include:

• Brian Smith, Risk Metrics and Chris O¹Connor, Eze Castle Software

Keynote presentations on:

• Regulatory issues by Nikki Bentley, Partner at Henry Davis York
• Current economic conditions in the region by Savanth Sebastian, Equities Economist at Commonwealth Bank 
• Regional Advent Community and Global Services Update

Being held in MELBOURNE on Thursday 3 April 2014: 5-9pm at the Taxi Kitchen. Register Here.

Advent Connect, 2014

1 April 2014 - The Establishment Hotel, Sydney

OR

3 April 2014 - Taxi Kitchen, Melbourne

Stay up to date on industry trends with fresh insights from industry thought leaders, your peers, and Advent¹s executive management team.

Event highlights include:

• Advent Overview with Chris Momsen, Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Solutions Management
• Panel on Cloud Computing and the Future of Financial Services, moderated by Alex Wise, Select Funds

Panelists include:

• Brian Smith, Risk Metrics and Chris O¹Connor, Eze Castle Software

Keynote presentations on:

• Regulatory issues by Nikki Bentley, Partner at Henry Davis York
• Current economic conditions in the region by Savanth Sebastian, Equities Economist at Commonwealth Bank 
• Regional Advent Community and Global Services Update

Seats are limited. RSVP for the Sydney Event here. We look forward to seeing you! 

Also being held in MELBOURNE on Thursday 3 April 2014: 5-9pm at the Taxi Kitchen. Register for Melbourne Here.

SRLeaders Series 2014 Powered by Super Review

Tuesday 1 April 2014 7:45 - 10am, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney

What is the future of financial services regulation?

It's fast becoming apparent that an understanding of the potential scope and impact of the current Parliamentary Inquiry into ASIC, will have an enormous impact on professionals and businesses in financial services.

At our upcoming Leaders Series breakfast, Money Management and Super Review will bring together key players involved in this inquiry, including the deputy chairman of ASIC, Peter Kell, and one of the politicians at the centre of the Parliamentary Inquiry into ASIC, Senator David Bushby. They will provide unique insights into what the future of the financial services regulator will look like and the implications which may flow from the Financial Systems Review

HEAR FROM SPEAKERS AT THE CENTRE OF THE INQUIRY

Peter Kell, Deputy Chairman, ASIC

Senator David Bushby, Liberal Senator for Tasmania

This seminar will provide you with opportunities to:

• Hear the scope of the possible changes and their likely impact on your business.
• Examine how you and your business can prepare for and manage any potential changes in policy.
• Share your opinion and experiences of how the regulator has performed and whether a change is actually needed.
• Debate whether Australia needs three regulators or will just one do?
• Gain insights into the possible scope of the changes from a panel of industry leaders.

By attending this event, not only will you gain valuable insights into the looming changes at ASIC and their impact on you and your business, but it's also an opportunity to be a part of an important agenda setting event.

Expert Panel

Sam Dastyari, ALP Senator for NSW
Phil Anderson, COO, AFA
Andrew Bragg Director, FSC
Dante De Gori, GM, Policy and Conduct, FPA

View Agenda
Register Now

Operations Risk Management & Mitigation - from assessment to implementation

27-28 March 2014

Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney,

"Operations Risk Management & Mitigation - from assessment to implementation" - This course is approved by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy). Seminar attendees are eligible for 16.5 CPE credits upon completion of training.

This course provides a complete structured package for learning in all main aspects of the subject of Operational Risk. It will enable participants to prepare and manage the planning and implementation of operational risk management processes in their bank/ financial institution or firm.

Key objectives and learning outcomes:

The aim of the course is to provide:

• An understanding of Risk in all its facets
• An understanding of Operational Risk Techniques for assessing, managing and mitigating Operational Risk
• A link between Operational Risk management theory & practice
• A clear "road-map" on how to implement an Operational Risk management structures them in practice in a banking organization.

Objective:

The objectives of this training course is to provide all staff, irrespective of whether they work in the front, middle or back-office, with a sound foundation in the theory and practice of Operational Risk Management. This training is provided in a practical "hands-on" manner that allows them to implement what they have learned easily and effectively.

Methodology:

This training course uses a combination of prepared tuition, examples, discussions, exercises and case studies. Most importantly it will offer participants, opportunities to share experiences and plan work within small working groups, providing practice in the application of the techniques and tools generating active participation. Case study materials as well as lecture presentations to set out the key issues in developing good operational risk management in banks.

Agenda:

Day 1:

THE WHY, HOW & WHAT OF OPERATIONAL RISK

• What is risk?
• Risk Types
• Risk & Capital - An Introduction to Basel I, II and III
• Managing Operations Risk
• Operational Risk Practical Examples
• Case Study
• Key Elements in Managing Operational Risk
• Operational Risk Financing
• Methods & Models
• COSO ERM Framework
• The Black Swan
• Case Study
• Operations Risk & Basel (II and III)
• Managing Operations Risk under Basel - A Hands-on approach
• "Sound Practices for the Management and Supervision of Operational Risk"

Day 2:

IMPLEMENTATION

• Developing an appropriate Risk Management Environment
• Defining the Categories of Operational Risks
• Products & Operations Risk
• Case Study
• MANAGING OPERATIONS RISK TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
• Causes & Consequences The Bow Tie
• Methods for Assessing Operational Risks
• Desktop Exercise
• A Risk Assessment Model
• Current Operations Risk Management Themes in Banking
• Closing CASE STUDY

Click here for detailed agenda

Venue:

Shangri-La Hotel,
176 Cumberland Street,
The Rocks, Sydney,
NSW 2000, Australia

Register Now and Save $700 (Offer Extended)
For Registrations till February 20, 2014 - $999
Actual Price - $1,699

Register here

Your registration fee includes the workshop, all course materials and lunch.

Investment Administration Conference - Efficiency in a Regulated World

February 12, 2014 | Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney, NSW

The Investment Administration Conference is Australia's largest annual event for custody, funds management administration, and technology. Now in its seventeenth year, the conference will explore efficiency in a regulated world. This event is presented in association with The Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA).

There will be updates on:

• The future of custody;
• Data efficiency, management and security;
• Case studies of successful mergers;
• Software and other industry vendors;
• A review of the Stronger Super reforms, including first reporting on MySuper;
• A discussion on tax and audit matters;
• Case studies on innovation and efficiency from industry thought leaders;
• A look at what the first major review of Australia's financial system will mean for the custody and investment administration sectors;
• and many opportunities to network with your peers.

Attendee profile:

• Super Funds - Chief investment officers, Chief executive officers, legal and compliance, middle and back office;
• Fund Managers - operational management and staff;
• Custodians - management, operations and sales;
• Software and other industry vendors.

Pricing from 1 January, 2014:

General admission         $845 + GST

View the Agenda here.

For further information and details on how to register, please click here.

ATTACHED FILES20140212 IAC Agenda (pdf format)

AIMA Australia Hedge Fund Regulatory Update

Presented by: AIMA Australia

Friday, 21 February 2014 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM, Sydney, NSW

Speaker and Topic

Nikki Bentley, Partner, Henry Davis York, will be providing a free hedge fund regulatory update, including updates on the following items, with additional topics as requested if time allows:

• Update on the Investment Manager Regime and what it will mean for Australian managers wanting to raise offshore capital
• Overview of the new financial requirements in ASIC Regulatory Guide 166 including what it means for managers and custodians including incidental custody providers and responsible entities holding assets of the fund
• Overview of the new compliance requirements in ASIC Regulatory Guide RG133 when engaging custodians (including prime brokers) and associated changes to custody agreements and manager monitoring
• ASIC's current focus including a RG240 surveillance

RSVP

If you would like to attend this education event, please click here to register. If you have any specific regulatory issues you would like Nikki to cover if time allows, please include them in the box provided on the registration form.

A new report released by Moody's Investor Services suggests that an increased shift towards higher allocations to Alternative Investments, including absolute return driven strategies, is a result of investors'search for higher returns.

Moody's report indicates that the increased allocations to alternatives are likely to continue and that skilled asset managers will benefit accordingly as FUM increases. As such some traditional fund managers have been acquiring alternative asset-management expertise, noting that building such expertise organically takes a long time.

Moody's notes that the higher investment management fees, coupled with the ability to charge performance fees, is a significant attraction to fund managers adding alternative products to their existing offerings.

The Moody's report is based on their global research but is likely to be reflected in Australia as investors become increasingly aware of the quality of Australia's pool of fund managers, and are attracted by the risk adjusted returns available from thier absolute return funds. At the same time offshore asset managers continue to target the ever increasing superannuation asset pool.

For more information see Moody's media release.

CPD points soon to be available

Australian Fund Monitors has been accredited for awarding continuing professional development points by the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

The AFM accreditation number is 006078 for 0.50 points.

CPD points will be available after reading an AFM Fund Review and answering 5 questions via an online Q&A system. Successful participants will be able to download a certificate at the end of the test.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional members are required to keep up to date with industry knowledge to maintain their professional proficiency and status. This continuing professional development translates to CPD points which are to be maintained and recorded over a three year period (triennium).  The current triennium runs from 1 July 2012 - 30 June 2015. CFP professionals must achieve a total of 120 CPD points during each three year period. The breakdown of these points needs to be as follows: 

• at least 50% accredited,

• 50% non-accredited 

• including 3 ethics points.

CFP professionals must accumulate a minimum 35 points each year. 

Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund

The manager of the Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund has written an interesting article on the relative merits of investing in large and mid cap versus small caps. 

This article can be accessed using the following link: Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund

For further details on the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us.