Julia
In Memoriam
- Joined
- 10 May 2005
- Posts
- 16,986
- Reactions
- 1,973
Insistence that something be done to "protect us from ourselves." Why? I don't want the level of protection they probably envisage. How? Enact legislation making stupidity and greed illegal?
Expectations that lenders should offer advice. Hmmm, maybe but the next step is to insist that your mortgagor be required to provide advice if you wish to redecorate your home before selling in order to improve the sale price.
And for goodness sake these witness to the Committee. Still mixing up LVR versus gearing and the whole damn lot implicitly assuming that every person living in this country wants or needs financial advice. I have no wish to go near a financial adviser and yet the inference is that I should be forced to.
Grrrr. Flucking nanny state from that aspect.
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/corporations_ctte/fps/submissions/sub115.pdf
ASF, of parliamentary fame...
(Bottom of page 9)
Hi Guys,
Re - the logo on the SICAG site...
I suspect it is there not to show support for Storm Financial but to show a little irony and use their (SF) own slogan to show the emotion that people are feeling. The members of SICAG are pretty cranky and have been sending out warnings for months now.
Re - the bloody good question...
That's really pretty simple to answer.
I see it as a way to support people who are supporting my family and friends. I see it as a way to start to find out what happened.
I am certainly pro-SICAG (have never pretended not to be). I don't believe (as some members of this forum do) that there are sinister links between SICAG and others.
I don't think I have a problem with ex-Storm staff (advisors or others) being members of the group. They have also been devastated (financially and emotionally) and I suspect that they are a very valuable (and probably very willing) source of information.
Storm traded on relationships. It encouraged advisors/staff to be friendly with clients. It encouraged potential clients to talk to current clients to learn about the products/process. One of the outcomes of the amazing Storm trips were the firm friendships that were formed by the people traveling together. It used these relationships to build its business. In many ways it is a clever marketing and business strategy. "Word of mouth is the best advertising". It also contributed hugely to the devastation of whole communities of people eg small towns like those on the Atherton tablelands and regional cities.
The firm friendships and networks that ex-Storm clients created are one of the very few remaining positives that exist for many. To be connected with others experiencing similar feelings is an important way to overcome the adversity you are facing. Knowing you are not alone and that you can talk to others who really truly understand is an important part of healing and moving on.
SICAG works as a group because it is built on these relationships and common experiences. It's one of the reasons the social events (that some on this forum like to "poo poo") are an important part of the group's culture. It has taken this positive aspect of the Storm culture and applied it to their own advantage in building an organisation that is strong enough to ask tough questions and not be afraid of loud distracting squeaks in the public arena, bullies and isn't being sidetracked by red herrings.
For the record - I am not an EC or JC fan. I am not an EC or JC hater either. I am happy to ignore the court of public opinion on this and wait to hear what really happened backed by evidence and not conjecture before I make up my own mind.
I am too busy trying to help friends and family (and ex-Storm clients including SICAG members) to waste energy on being either a "Manny believer" or a "Manny hater".
Cheers
Maccka
Whilst we can and will use revenue that we can generate from this site to assist us in our fight, the Committee has decide not to allow financial planning firms or other parties with vested interest to advertise here. It should be obvious that whilst some approaches have been genuine, others are clearly predatory. It is NOT in the best interests of SICAG or its members to allow such predation. Those of us who would like to obtain independent financial advice should contact the FPA for a suitable list of advisers.
Be aware that we have received communications from some members who have been charged large sums of money for essentially useless advice or a simple explanation of their circumstances.
Before you commit to anything, ask about fees!
Remember, the Storm Fees model charged nothing for discussions until something was actually done. Most of the financial planning industry charge fees for each appointment regardless of outcome!
Some people have confused the graphic that was here as being a business card for Storm Financial.
It was a photo of a sign that had been erected on a proposed building site prior to the melt-down.
The signs message seemed prophetic given the events that have subsequently unfolded but should in no way shape or form be construed as being some sort of support for or endorsement of Storms or its founders.
And if the continued reluctance to blame Manny as evidenced on this thread persists, he'll have no trouble in acquiring new clients for the new firm.Here's a link sent to me,
It's is a written interview with EC by Kristen Paech from Professional Planner on 06 February 2009.
http://www.professionalplanner.com.au/current-issues/interview-with-emmanuel-cassimatis-from-storm-financial.html
I'm tending to agree with gg, it's not the last we'll see of EC in the financial arena.
(4) If the CBA would have come to the rescue this time. How long would this have taken to repay, on top of the other outstanding loans. As a CBA shareholder I say well done CBA.
Steve Borden
I would be very interested in your opinion on why SICAG have not said a peep about "the Manny method" if you are so inclined.
Farencue
I and many others have likened Storm to a 'cult'. There are several similarities such as a supreme leader who was all-knowing, a group of very unsuspecting followers who were separated from the rest of the community by being told they were special and we (the rest) were the herd. They fostered inclusive, group activities which reinforced their 'specialness' to the point the belief was so strong in the model who were trying to remove funds in late 2008 were actually convinced to put more in.
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