Ask an adviser or a tax agent if doubtful on early release says Hume People who are doubtful about whether to seek hardship early release access to their superannuation should ask a trusted financial adviser or tax agent or visit use an ASIC calculator, according to the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology, Jane Hume. For more.

Adviser relief for now, but how will Standard 3 be enforced? Regulators have taken a soft approach to the implementation of Standard 3 of the FASEA Code of Ethics, but there is still concern over how proper regulation will work. For more.

Why the financial affairs of ASIC commissioners will remain private Parliamentarians may have to disclose their pecuniary interests but the public are highly unlikely to ever know the private financial interests of the most senior executives running the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. For more.

Early release super fund laggards could be identified Superannuation funds will have to file weekly reports with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority on the impacts of the Government’s hardship early release program with laggard funds likely to be identified in published reports. For more.

Capital preservation needed for deepest post-war recession Investment strategies need to preserve capital, look for strong balance sheets and good quality assets that have been oversold as the scale of the economic shock COVID-19 has brought has yet to be fully felt, according to Aviva. For more.

Value may still be found in higher-quality parts of EM market Although emerging markets offer unique exposure to both COVID-19 and the oil price crash, Western Asset sees value in the higher quality part of the market. For more.

Financial services report wage cuts despite job retention There was an 8.9% decline in total wages in the financial services and insurance sector between 28 March and 4 April, one of the highest changes across industry sectors, despite only a small decrease in jobs. For more.

RBA forecasts improved growth in 2021 Australia could ‘grow very strongly’ in 2021 according to Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe, but the fallout from COVID-19 will ‘cast a shadow over the economy’ for some time to come. For more.

Investment management alliance announced BNP Paribas Securities Services and BlackRock Solutions have announced a strategic alliance to deliver integrated investment management to mutual clients. For more.

Taking a flexible approach to turbulent markets With equities falling and rates at record lows, Laura Dew speaks to multi-asset managers on how they are utilising their flexible mandates to withstand volatile markets. For more.

Tax time in a pandemic With many people focused on how far their investments have plummeted, it is an opportunity for advisers to contact with their clients on tax to make sure they are making sensible decisions and not overreacting, Jassmyn Goh writes. For more.