Financial Planning Separation of product from financial advice vital. Unaligned dealer groups cannot establish in-house funds management businesses and hope to maintain their independence, according to Tupicoffs partner Neil Kendall. Read more from Money Management Independents lose out as confidence remains stalled. A majority of Australians continue to rely on their own judgment when it comes to financial matters and those who make use of professional advice are increasingly unlikely to be getting it from a non-aligned financial planner. Read more from Professional Planner Superannuation Financial advisers guilty of 'gaming' default superannuation fund system. Some financial advisers have been as guilty as trade unions in seeking to "unfairly game" the system around default superannuation funds under modern awards, according to the Financial Services Council (FSC). Read more from Money Management Super potential underrated by Aussies. Baby Boomers rate financial independence as costing $750,000 and wish to retire early but do not see their superannuation as the answer, reflecting a change in sentiment. Read more from Financial Standard Regulatory Carrying the cost of FOFA. The financial services industry may be obliged to dig deeper to fund the implementation of the Government's Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) changes as well as its Stronger Super reform agenda. Read more from Money Management APLs a potential minefield under FOFA. While opt-in may have attracted the most heated debate, lurking issues around conflicted remuneration may pose a bigger threat with the ACCC already involved, according to one asset management firm. Read more from Financial Standard Funds management Fund managers to benefit amid volatile markets. The reduction in competition during a down market gives well-positioned fund managers opportunities, Peters MacGregor's founder says. Read more from Investor Daily ETFs poised for growth and change. The availability of exchange traded funds (ETFs) listed on the ASX is poised to ramp-up significantly this year, with iShares Australia last month launching three new fixed income ETFs. Read more from Financial Planning Investments Investor sentiment on the rise. Investor sentiment has improved but remains in negative territory, according to CoreData's Investor Confidence Index. Read more from Money Management Sustainability more than greenwash: Mercer. Investors need to think beyond simple environmental factors to the opportunities sustainability drivers and risks present. That's the message from Jane Ambachtsheer, Mercer's global head of responsible investment. Read more from Financial Standard Accounting Accountants branch out into financial planning. A number of trends have led to an increasing number of accounting practices looking for help on the best way to integrate financial advice into their existing business models. Read more from Money Management FOFA benefits will outweigh burdens: Ripoll. Bernie Ripoll has outlined key benefits the government's FOFA reforms will afford Australia's financial advisory sector. Read more from Investor Daily Markets Australian shares will stand ground against Europe. Australian stocks' underperformance relative to other developed markets will help buffer domestic shares from the latest round of Europe's debt woes, fund managers and economists said. Read more from Investor Daily Band-aids no reason for market optimism. Disaster in Europe seems to have been averted - for now. However, improved equity performance should not evoke a newfound sense of optimism and risk appetite. The world has applied a band-aid to a deep wound, according to Martin Conlon. Read more from Money Management