scholarly journals Disclosure effectiveness in the financial planning industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Richards ◽  
Maryam Safari
Keyword(s):  
Financial Planning ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disclosure Requirements ◽  
Financial Planners ◽  
Services Industry

Purpose Scandals in the Australian financial services industry highlight the conflicts of interest between those who provide financial advice (financial planners) and their clients. Disclosure is a potential governance tool to manage these conflicts of interest by reducing asymmetries in information. Yet, the efficacy of disclosure is questionable as scandals persist, so this paper aims to research the effectiveness of disclosure in financial planning. Design/methodology/approach This research used a qualitative approach involving the triangulation of data from parliamentary inquiries in financial services with data collected in semi-structured interviews with financial planning professionals. Findings The findings draw a clear portrayal of the disclosure requirements and illustrate how disclosure processes are onerous and complex. Starting with detangling the complex interactions between the beneficial role of disclosure in reducing information asymmetry and unethical behaviour and the detrimental effect of information overload, the authors then highlight effective disclosure techniques used by financial planners, including visualisation of material information. The study reveals that financial planners perceive their role as filtering information for clients and ensuring clients’ comprehension, due to the onerous disclosure requirements. Research limitations/implications The study is of interest to researchers, practitioners, policymakers and society as it implies that how disclosure occurs is as important as what information is disclosed. Those who wish to foster effective disclosure in the financial services industry need to consider the quantity, quality and process of disclosure. A limitation is the research focusses on financial planning practices and not client outcomes, which could be considered in future research. Originality/value The study adds to the understanding of how disclosure is used as a governance tool and how the quantity of information may impede the effectiveness of disclosure in the financial planning industry. In addition, the study identifies and elaborates on the influential factors and best practices for enhancing the disclosure effectiveness by financial planners.

scholarly journals Identifying A Profile Of Key Competencies For Financial Planners

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Bedard ◽  
Jacques Prefontaine ◽  
Lise Poirier-Proulx
Keyword(s):  
Continuing Education ◽  
Financial Planning ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Financial Planners ◽  
Key Competencies ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Services Industry

<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 38.2pt 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In order to provide quality professional education programs to advance knowledge, skills and competencies of individuals in the financial services industry and in continuing education courses, there is a need to identify a professional&rsquo;s key competencies profile. In recent years, many financial planning associations worldwide have become interested in establishing competency-based requirements for certifying professionals and have adopted competency-based approaches for continuing education. The purpose of this paper is to identify a profile of key competencies for financial planners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The empirical study is carried out through a stratified survey of financial planners within insurance companies, commercial banks, consulting firms, credit unions, security dealers and brokers, trusts and independent professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>More than individual knowledge or skills, this research views professional competence as result-oriented, expressing an optimal mobilization and use of resources available in the multidisciplinary areas of financial planning, according to professional standards and in harmony with best practices to achieve customer satisfaction. The research design presents an innovative conceptual framework which facilitates the identification of a profile of key competencies for financial planners. Findings enable an advance in knowledge, both at an academic and a professional level, by identifying a profile of twelve specific dimensions of key competencies for financial planners within the financial services industry.</span></span></p>

“Best interest” of whom?

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-100
Author(s):  
Jeffery E. Schaff ◽  
Michele L. Schaff
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Industry ◽  
High Standards

Purpose Explains the US Department of Labor’s newly proposed “Conflicts of Interest” rule and provides a critical analysis of its impact should it be adopted as proposed. Design/methodology/approach Explains the DOL’s proposed Conflict of Interest rule and discusses how it changes the current fiduciary standards of care under ERISA. The article then probes more deeply into the practical matters involved in implementing the rule, and into the realities of how it would impact fiduciary standards generally, investors, the financial services industry and securities arbitrations. Reactions to the proposed rule are then explained against the backdrop of the practical implications thereof. Findings This article concludes that the DOL’s proposed Conflict of Interest rule, albeit well-intended, is not reasonably designed to achieve its stated goal and would instead likely harm those whom it purports to help. Ironically, it also potentially waters down the existing high standards of current fiduciaries. The article supports the DOL’s goal of greater responsibility for financial service professionals and proffers an alternative solution that could achieve the desired result more effectively. Originality/value This article offers valuable insight on the realities of the proposed law and practical guidance on its implications to the investing public, the financial services industry and securities attorneys.

Intelligent matching: integrating efficiencies in the financial supply chain

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alea Fairchild
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of supply chain management in the financial services industry by examining information flow in improving efficiencies (i.e. material, information, capital, etc.) via intelligent matching.Design/methodology/approachThe objective was to address the issues specific to financial services organizations in intelligent matching, examining organizational, technological and application aspects. In order to address these issues, we have utilized an exploratory research methodology, based on a literature review and some initial case studies.FindingsDrivers for intelligent matching solutions have been suggested in this research to include the ability to link financial matching activities to other supply chain activities. Further integration of business processes, both within and between enterprises, will require both human and computational intelligence to approach efficiencies in automation.Research limitations/implicationsSupply chain efficiencies enabled by financial products and information give organizations greater visibility over their receivables, working capital needs, and overall financial position. Limitations of this research include a small sampling of case studies; future research will include a wider scope of cases as to test the findings.Practical implicationsInteroperability of information between the physical movement of goods and financial information within supply chains is key to realizing cost‐reduction and revenue‐enhancement advantages.Originality/valueThis paper discusses a potential area for extending our understanding of supply chains and the role of information flow in improving efficiencies, especially in the financial services industry.

Relationships between Information Security Concerns and National Cultural Dimensions

2011 ◽  
pp. 134-153
Author(s):  
Princely Ifinedo
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Current Effort ◽  
Corporate Managers ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Services Industry ◽  
Security Concerns

This study investigates the relationships between the contextual factor of national culture and information security concerns in the global financial services industry (GFSI). Essentially, this study attempts to expand the breath of information provided in the recent 2009 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT) survey, which reported such issues in the financial services industry. The inference from the 2009 DTT survey was that information security concerns across GFSI are being informed solely by industry-related standards or imperatives. As such, perceptions and attitudes towards such issues were thought to remain unchanged in differing contexts. Results from this study’s analysis showed that the perceptions of information security concerns in GFSI compared reasonably well, but also varied by some national cultural attributes to debunk such a claim. Corporate managers in the industry may benefit from this research’s findings as they formulate country-wide information security policies and strategies. As well, insights from this current effort indicate that it would be erroneous for practitioners to accept that entities in the financial services hold exactly the same view on information security issues in their industry. Future research avenues are discussed.

The effects of IFRS adoption and firm size on audit fees in financial institutions in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-453
Author(s):  
William Coffie ◽  
Ibrahim Bedi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Services Industry ◽  
The Cost

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effects of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) adoption and firm size on auditors’ fees determination in the Ghanaian financial industry. Design/methodology/approach The authors use the annual report of 52 listed and non-listed firms spanning from 2003 to 2014. Guided by the hypotheses, the authors conditioned audit fees on IFRS adoption and firm size and execute robust fixed effects panel regression. Findings The results show that IFRS adoption has a positive coefficient with audit fees suggesting that the adoption of IFRS, indeed, increases the audit fees paid by banks and insurance firms, as well as the industry as a whole. The results are consistent with the idea that IFRS adoption increases auditor efforts with respect to time and complex nature of some aspect of the standards. Again, as expected, the coefficient of size is positively and significantly related to audit fees. This indicates that the size of the auditee plays a vital role in determining audit fees. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by industry (i.e. the financial services industry) and geography (i.e. Ghana). The authors propose further research that will widely consider other sectors and countries to improve the current scanty literature in this area. Besides, theoretically, the study is limited to the lending credibility theory and feels compelled to reiterate the importance of considering alternative theoretical perspective(s) in future research. Practical implications This study is significant to practitioners as it demonstrates the importance of the determinants of the auditors’ fees. It helps auditors to apply the relevant charging formula when determining audit fees, while it helps managers to improve upon the quality of reporting to control audit bill and forecasting their audit expenditure. Originality/value The results of the study extend the literature on the cost side of IFRS adoption by investigating the financial services industry and non-listed firms in a new context, i.e. a developing country where this research is uncharted. The existing studies based their analysis on either cross-section or pooled analysis and shorter post-adoption period (Cameran and Perotti, 2014). However, using an extended post-adoption period data, the authors base the study on analytical panel model, which directly examine the cost side of IFRS adoption with size as joint key explanatory variables with emphasis on financial institutions and external auditors.

Prospects of an online dispute resolution framework for Islamic Banks in Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar A. Oseni ◽  
Sodiq O. Omoola
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Internet Banking ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Dispute Resolution ◽  
Services Industry

Purpose This study aims to examine the prospects of using an online dispute resolution (ODR) platform for resolving relevant Islamic banking disputes in the usual banker–customer relationship in Malaysia. It is argued that through proper regulation, such innovative dispute management mechanism would not only address some legal risks associated with banking disputes but could also prevent reputational risks in the Islamic financial services industry. Design/methodology/approach Based on an internet survey, responses were obtained from about 109 respondents in Malaysia. The data obtained were subjected to multivariate statistical analyses considering factors such as access to justice, attitude of stakeholders, resolving disputes, practical issues and understanding of ODR. Findings The results obtained showed that “access to justice”, “attitude of stakeholders” and “resolving disputes” are the most influencing factors affecting the intention to use ODR among stakeholders, particularly customers and bankers in the Islamic financial services industry in Malaysia. Practical implications This study provides a way in which the recently introduced Islamic Financial Services (Financial Ombudsman Scheme) Regulations 2015 can be better enhanced to cater for internet banking disputes which might require an ODR framework. Originality/value Though there have been numerous studies on the dispute resolution framework in the Islamic banking industry in Malaysia generally, the current study focuses on a less explored framework – ODR– a new framework for handling banking disputes.

The impact of entrepreneurial leadership on innovation management and its measurement validation

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avanti Fontana ◽  
Soebowo Musa
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Entrepreneurial Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Measurement Validation ◽  
Services Industry ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to validate the measurement of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) in the context of innovation management and strategic entrepreneurship, and to examine the relationship between EL and the innovation process (IP). It proposes the measurement of EL and outlines the reason and the importance of EL in the IP. The study further examines whether the IP would have direct impact on innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for an explanatory and confirmatory study using a quantitative approach employing an online survey/questionnaire distributed to two groups of employees representing middle and senior management having mixed background such as finance, marketing, operations and management. The first group consists of 222 respondents spread across multiple industries, and the second group consists of 60 respondents mainly from the financial services industry to validate the measurement of the EL construct. Findings The paper provides empirical insights into the validation of EL measurement through two samples, and on the impact of EL in fostering all elements in the IP (i.e. idea generation, idea selection and development or idea conversion and idea diffusion). The paper also confirms some of the literature views on the difficulty of identifying a significant relationship between the IP and innovation performance. It suggests counterintuitively that the IP may not necessarily have a positive relationship with innovation performance. Research limitations/implications Most of the respondents were those from the financial services industry, which may have an impact on the overall model but less on the validation of the EL measurement. The research affirms the theoretical concept of the dimensions of EL and validates its measurement. The research also shows intriguing findings on the missing link between the IP and innovation performance. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to identify variables or factors that should link the influence of the IP on innovation performance so that the contribution of innovation management to competitiveness can be clearly identified. Practical implications The research validates the measurement of the EL construct, which could be used as a screening tool in measuring the EL capacity at all levels within an organization as part of its leadership development in fostering its IP. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to have a validated measurement of EL and its relationship with the IP.

scholarly journals Explicating consumer segmentation and brand positioning in the Islamic financial services industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rusnah Muhamad ◽  
Sharifah Alwi
Keyword(s):  
Market Segmentation ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Financial Services Industry ◽  
Brand Positioning ◽  
Economic Rationality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Segmentation ◽  
Banking Market

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the current research on the Islamic financial services industry attempts to classify its consumers and provide a fresh and critical insight into the retail Islamic banking market segmentation to harness and enhance understanding, as well as provide a guideline for a better segmentation to bank marketers. Design/methodology/approach – This study is conceptual in nature. Based on Qur’anic verses and previous literature, the authors aim to propose an applicable model of market segmentation for the retail Islamic banking market in Malaysia. Consumer segmentation in the conventional financial service industry is analysed, and prior studies on the selection criteria of Islamic banks are evaluated. Findings – In moving forward, taking cue from the classification of people in classical doctrinal and historical literature and the initial exploratory study conducted from the managerial perspective, the authors propose five cluster groups of consumers for the retail Islamic banking market in Malaysia, namely, religious conviction, religious and economic rationality, economic rationality, ethical observant and economic rationality and ethical observant. A discussion linking consumer segmentation to the branding in the retail Islamic banking market is discussed. Research limitations/implications – The five cluster groups of consumers for the retail Islamic banking market in Malaysia proposed in this study pave the way for embarking on promising and relevant future research, which is needed to substantiate and enrich the academic understanding and managerial practice of linking market segmentation and brand positioning for Islamic banking market in Malaysia. Future research should focus on verifying the five proposed segments by conducting empirical studies on a larger scale among the retail banking consumers in Malaysia and globally. Practical implications – The study provides an initial bases or dimensions of consumers of the retail Islamic banking market in Malaysia. The proposed consumers segments are useful in guiding the management of Islamic bank in Malaysia in making decisions relating to the promotion strategy as well as product and brand positioning strategy. Originality/value – For both academia and the Islamic banking industry, this study provides useful knowledge in strategically using market segmentation to position Islamic banking products and services in Malaysia and the global market.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document