Here come the Highlanders

Should investment advisers be registered?

NZ First leader Winston Peters says yes. To see what he says click here Editorial: Why not police the providers of shonky products too? What others say: Peters is right Registration won't change a thing It's a bad idea Practice reviews required Registration would weed out charlatans and bank tellers Former IIAA president gives Peters some free advice You too can have your say Click here to send a letter to the editor

A group of 10 Otago advisers, covering the whole spectrum of financial advice, have got together to form the Highland Group.
The move represents the trend for advisers to work together in some form so they can offer clients a complete range of services.
One of Highland's members, Ian Clark, says the group offers everything from life and fire and general insurance, through to savings, mortgage finance and workers' compensation insurance.
He says Highland represents 20 per cent of all the former Insurance and Investment Advisers Association members in the area.
By coming together Highland members will "have more clout" in the local market.
He says the idea behind of Highland is similar to the Quantum Group established by National Mutual last year.
Essentially it is a souped up version of the producer group concept used by advisers in the past that offers a wide range of products from different companies.
The aim of the group is be independent of any particular life or funds management company and to provide the best products available.
Clark says while Highland brought five local firms together, each participating member had to make a financial commitment to the group.
Members of the group are Richard Thomas, Ian Clark, Russell Garland, Peter Shanks, Joanne Barber, Dave Callon, Michael White, Ray Kesha, John Ford and Neville Henderson.