Advisers are satisfied with licensees… except in one area
Advisers are satisfied with their licensee in all but one area: helping business growth, according to annual research from CoreData. That factor may be the difference that motivates self-licensed practices to join larger networks as the data shows that the impact of those responsibilities is leading to sleepless nights.
The biggest game in town: Inside AustralianSuper’s retirement income strategy
Since Jacki Ellis joined the nation’s biggest profit-to-member super fund as head of retirement just over one year ago, she’s been assessing and building the fund’s capabilities with the aim of delivering a fully personalised experience to all members by 2035. But that’s not to say there won’t be benefits for members who retire before that.
Sequoia chair resigns amid InterPrac turmoil
Mike Ryan, chair of ASX-listed Sequoia Financial Group which owns under-fire InterPrac Financial Planning, has resigned from the company as the group grapples with multiple legal troubles in the aftermath of the $1 billion Shield and First Guardian collapse.
Platform governance a regulatory blind spot, warns think-tank
Platform governance requirements are not well-defined by legislation or by APRA, creating ambiguity in the regulatory regime, The Conexus Institute has argued. The addition of more regulation may not help either, as that may drive clients to less-regulated parts of the market.
Lonsec targets governance gaps exposed by Shield, First Guardian
As scrutiny mounts over industry investment governance standards, Lonsec has launched the Investment Governance Solution to help with ongoing monitoring of emerging product risks. Lonsec chief executive Lorraine Robinson tells Professional Planner that ASIC has been clear that licensees and trustees can no longer rely on an external rating and go into “set and forget” mode.
Opinion
2
Here’s one thing the AIOFP might be right about
There are not many things the AIOFP and its predecessor organisations have said over the years that I’ve agreed with, so imagine my surprise – discombobulation, even – to find myself on board with at least one of them: the need for an adviser-led disciplinary body to deal with members who transgress conduct rules and professional standards.
Evolution of the CIO: Why retiree clients need a Chief ‘Interpretation’ Officer
For years, the ‘CIO’ has been synonymous with strategic asset allocations, but in a world refined by government policy uncertainties and growing retirement planning complexities, the ‘CIO’ acronym is evolving, writes Generation Life’s Vincent Stranges. Today’s ‘CIO’, increasingly is a reference to the Chief Interpretation Officer, and its financial advisers who are fulfilling this role, interpreting policy changes and complexities into clarity for their clients.
PFAN adds life insurance stalwarts to board
The Pro Bono Financial Advice Network has added life insurance stalwarts Eima Alkheder and Ben Donald to its board, as the group continues its expansion and mission to assist Australians with serious illness or disability to access pro bono financial advice.
Fintech looks to add 50 advisers in three years with private advisory launch
Wealth management fintech Openmarkets has revealed plans to expand into private wealth with the goal of adding 50 financial advisers to its AFSL in the next three years as it pivots to a B2B model in the aftermath of regulatory action that has been settled with ASIC.
Markets looking through turbulence as earnings growth underpins equities: AMP
Despite geopolitical turbulence, markets are avoiding short-term turmoil and reacting to the underlying fundamentals showing the strength of major economies, a pair of AMP investment executives told the Professional Planner Managed Accounts Decoded podcast.
Researcher Forum
Advice Policy Summit
This event is open to CEOs and senior leaders of financial planning licensees, dealer groups and boutique advice firms, along with C-suite executives in superannuation funds with oversight of advice, education and guidance.
Your guide to investment innovation
Australia’s great wealth transfer is accelerating as baby boomers age, driving demand for multi-generational advice spanning succession, estate planning, philanthropy and complex family dynamics. This guide explores the growing opportunity for advisers to support wealthy families with long-term, independent strategies.
Lessons from the middle: Leadership, resilience and the courage of conviction
The principles of high-performance leadership – whether in business or sport – remain remarkably consistent and include the ability to maintain clarity, integrity, and conviction under immense pressure. Former Australian test cricketer Usman Khawaja told the Top1000funds.com Fiduciary Investors Symposium that the only time you really lose is when you stop trying.
Reflecting on nearly half a century in financial advice
After an extensive 47-year career, Paul Harding-Davis says that while every decade has seen a significant step change that has felt like an “Armageddon” it has instead only seen the standard of the industry improve. Reflecting on his long career to Professional Planner, he is still evangelical about recruiting young people to advice.
2026 Licensee Summit