![]() Michelle Baltazar Editor-in-Chief, Rainmaker Information Pty Ltd Prior to joining Financial Standard, Michelle worked for London-based weekly investment magazine Shares where she wrote a regular column on derivatives and separately, on fund managers. She was also the magazine's resident reporter covering the telecommunication, software services, support services and household goods & textiles sectors. From 1998-2000, Michelle was the Rich 200 researcher at Australia's national business magazine BRW. Michelle graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Biology and Biochemistry. She has completed a Diploma of Financial Markets from the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA).
MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 3 APR 2017 Ten years from now, every financial adviser in the country will be offering their client a managed account solution. It may happen sooner or later but it will happen. Here's why. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 13 MAR 2017 When a superannuation fund calls itself a Spaceship and nobody bats an eyelid, you know you're entering a new era in retirement investing. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | TUESDAY, 28 FEB 2017 National advice firm Fitzpatricks Private Wealth offers a great case study on what happens when an adviser network is built based on cultural alignment. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 9 JAN 2017 2017 is going to be another year for the disruptors, including managed accounts providers - but their challengers, too, are not too far behind. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 12 DEC 2016 Opportunities for managed account advisers and service providers? There will be plenty. But the road is long and winding - some quick wins along the way but many will involve heavy investments upfront. The results are worth the wait. Here are my top ... Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | TUESDAY, 8 NOV 2016 The US Election is throwing up a few scenarios that would have been unthinkable only a year ago. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 10 OCT 2016 It's not quite a giant leap in regulatory reform but it comes close. The end of the limited MDA no-action letter (see article) ushers in a new era and a new level of professionalism in the industry. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 12 SEP 2016 Many investors believe in the Cinderella story. They want a magic wand waved around their savings so they can enjoy a rags-to-riches lifestyle. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 7 MAR 2016 The basic tenets of managed accounts haven't really changed much in recent years, but its appeal to financial advisers has. Read more MICHELLE BALTAZAR | MONDAY, 25 AUG 2014 In a book published 10 years ago titled Blue Ocean Strategy, co-authors W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne said that an effective way for a company to succeed is not to fight competitors head-on but to find uncontested space in the market. Read more |
Latest News
ASX outlines opportunities in listed markets amid IPO slump
In response to a discussion paper published by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in February, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has outlined several opportunities to spike "global competitiveness" of Australia's listed markets.
Vista Equity Partners, S64 to bring strategy to APAC
The new fund, VistaOne, will provide APAC investors with access to a balanced portfolio of 'mission-critical' software solutions via Vista's private equity platform.
BlackRock takes stake in Generation Life parent company
BlackRock will acquire a minority stake in Generation Development Group (ASX: GDG), forming a strategic partnership with its retirement income subsidiary Generation Life to "set a new standard for managing longevity and sequencing risk."
The top-performing (and worst) asset classes of the past year
Mercer's annual periodic table, which charts 17 major asset classes investment returns on an annual basis over the last decade, reveals that there's few reliable themes, except that greater risk tends to be rewarded by greater return.
Further Reading
Cover Story

On the horizon
TIM TOWNSEND
PARTNER & PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISER
TOWNSEND COBAIN PTY LTD
PARTNER & PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISER
TOWNSEND COBAIN PTY LTD
Tim Townsend is a people person at heart, and using managed accounts he has more time to do what he loves most - engaging with clients. But that doesn't mean just any solution will do. Eliza Bavin writes.