Budget 2016: An opportunity for Investors to embrace Automated Investment Advice
Treasurer Scott Morrison’s moves to enact measures to allow everyday Australians to boost their superfunds can only be welcome. Specifically, allowing those who have been out of the workplace due to childcare or illness to make top up payments on their return to work will go some way to addressing the fact that women in Australia typically retire with much smaller funds than men. Ignition Wealth CEO Mark Fordree believes that despite the headline contribution cap being reduced for those under 50, the catch up provisions are a great opportunity for everyday investors to maximise the potential of their investments and superfunds. It is essential for long term wealth […]
Budget 2016: fintechs; MoneyPlace, OzForex hail recognition
The Turnbull government’s maiden budget may have lacked the necessary fireworks for the local innovation sector but fintech start-ups are not complaining. Melbourne-based peer-to-peer lender MoneyPlace’s founder and CEO Stuart Stoyan is pleased to see the Australian fintech ecosystem singled out in a budget that didn’t dole out many handouts to start-ups. “It’s an election budget so they had to balance a few things but the fact that fintech got attention is a big win,” he said. The government overnight unveiled measures designed to boost the fintech industry that Mr Stoyan said is a reflection of the sector’s growing prominence. “What we have is a number of factors coming together […]
Afterpay fintech float closes up 25pc
The Ron Brierley-backed buy now, pay later fintech Afterpay got a positive response to its $125 million listing on Wednesday, closing up 25 per cent. The company – which received $8 million in private investments before the float from several former members of Mr Brierley’s Guiness Peat Group – listed at midday at $1 and ended the day at $1.25. The All Ordinaries closed down 1.47 per cent. The executive chairman and co-founder is Anthony Eisen, former chief investment officer of Guiness Peat Group. “What we’re pioneering in Australia is buy now, pay later online, in real time,” said Mr Eisen. “We have a transaction integrity engine that allows us […]
Budget 2016: Innovation surprises in budget papers
Entrepreneurs developing fintech companies will get a leg up from a new program in association with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which will allow ideas to be tested with a limited number of retail clients for up to six months. These road tests in a “regulatory sandbox” will have prescribed investment limits. Australia will be promoted as a fintech destination in a government funded marketing campaign costing $200,000 next financial year. The government has also called for feedback on the best way to ensure fintech start-up activities are eligible for the venture capital tax concessions. Blockchain, the distributed ledger technology, will be the subject of a review by Data61 […]
The Australian fintech start-up streamlining access to US stocks
Australian investors could soon be able to buy international shares direct from their Facebook Messenger app, using the social network’s recently unveiled chatbots. That’s one of the possibilities under consideration by start-up online broker Third Party Trade, which opens to investors today and aims to make it easier and cheaper for Australians to buy US shares. Facebook this month highlighted plans for chatbots through its Messenger app, which would allow users to interact with businesses and make purchases through the app. Third Party Trade chief executive and New York-based Australian Michael Giles says investors could soon use Messenger to ask a chatbot for the latest price of Apple shares, and […]
Access to talent critical for innovators
The “Tech Pioneers 50” report, released on Wednesday, ranked Australian and New Zealand businesses on their capital raising efforts, sector diversity, innovation and success with consumers. Software “unicorn” Atlassian, valued at over $6 billion in 2015, was named the leading tech pioneer, while Kiwi accounting software company Xero was ranked second and creative hub Envato came in third. H2 Ventures founder Ben Heap, whose firm produced the report alongside investment bank Investec Australia, said the top 50 firms employed 5400 people in high-skilled roles that didn’t exist even a decade ago. He said the companies were best placed to lead the charge into the digital economy. “The next 10 to […]
CXi Software announces Superannuation initiative, new Staff
CXi Software (“CXi”) has announced a new maternity leave initiative aimed at encouraging more women to work in the fintech industry and making it easier for them to take maternity leave without the worry of interrupting their superannuation savings. “From today, CXi will pay superannuation contributions for any permanent staff member who goes on statutory maternity leave. These employer contributions will be paid at an amount equivalent to the SGC rate payable on that staff member’s ordinary full time salary immediately before going on maternity leave – and will be paid for up to 12 months or the staff member’s return to work, whichever is the earlier”, said Séamus Ó […]
Ignition Wealth Teams’ integration as easy as 123
Following the April 14 launch of Ignition Wealth Teams the effortless integration process has ensured an enthusiastic response from professional financial businesses including advice practices and accountancy firms. “We are committed to building real partnerships with businesses in the professional financial industry. For clients adopting the off the shelf version of Ignition Wealth Teams we have made the integration process absolutely effortless. There is no upfront cost to the business and integration can be completed in as little as 24 hours. For businesses daunted by trialling automated advice this is the solution simple, fast and costfree.” Mark Fordree, CEO, Ignition Wealth. With three simple steps the Ignition Wealth […]
