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Industry

Advisers, super funds at odds over offshore information processing

The $30 billion Vision Super has refuted claims that it will not work with financial advice firms that employ offshore staff, after a complaint raised by an adviser. The fund says it will only provide information to advice staff located within Australia, highlighting a vulnerability for advice firms using third-party support services based overseas.
Industry

Court hands down $11m penalty for conflicted SMSF property advice

The Federal Court has ordered an advice firm formerly known as Equiti Financial Services pay an $11 million penalty for conflicted and “cookie cutter” advice which gave bonuses to advisers who rolled over clients’ super into SMSFs to buy property through a related entity. The firm had its AFSL cancelled last year, following payments from the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
Regulation
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Regulation

Advisers urge new Minister to pick up pace of reform

New Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino has a daunting task ahead of him, taking over from former minister Stephen Jones at a critical time in the reform of financial advice.
Compliance

ATO alarming clients with incorrect excess NCC determinations

The Australian Taxation Office has issued a number of incorrect determinations regarding excess non-concessional contributions, alarming clients and resulting in extra work for advisers.
Opinion
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Opinion

Discovering your current staff are paid under market

When a firm discovers their salaries are below market, it sparks a chain reaction of challenges: team morale, retention, and profitability are all at risk. This case study reveals how they turned a $133,800 problem into a $305,175 benefit by rethinking salaries, workflows, and pricing—proving that strategic change can drive remarkable results. 
Opinion

Advisers need to promote value of advice directly to MPs ahead of election

The issues affecting financial advice don’t make daily front page news in capital city newspapers or lead the political coverage on the 6pm nightly bulletins – in fact, most members of parliament have no idea what a financial adviser does. But people who know the ins and outs of the political process believe there is an important role advisers can play in educating politicians about the value of the profession.
On Practice
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Industry

Centrepoint deal proposes Brighter future for fund members

Centrepoint Alliance has entered into a deal with Brighter Super that could see up to 400 members transition to external advice partnerships. The super fund is conscious of the risk members could move at the recommendation of an external adviser, but is confident its value proposition hold up.
On Practice

How the traditional family office model is transitioning to outsourcing

Shifting away from the limitations of single-family offices, outsourced multi-family offices present a more cost-effective way for advisers to provide a broader range of services.
Investment
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Geopolitics

‘Big and close and strong and rich’: Investors ponder Indonesia’s rise

The end of a US-led world order won’t see China alone take its place but rather “a number of powers” will emerge, including Indonesia, according to defence expert Hugh White. The Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University has argued the nation will be among the four biggest economies by the middle of the century.
Upcoming events
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23 - 24 June, 2025

Licensee Summit

2 - 3 December, 2025

Researcher Forum

For key influencers in portfolio construction for financial advisers, including executives across research houses, asset consulting, responsible entities and managed accounts/platforms.

Advice
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Retirement

Planning to retire at 80 when you thought you’d retire at 65

Someone born today is likely to live to 84 with the average life expectancy predicted to jump by 90 by 2050. For advisers, this has consequences for retirement planning and new strategies for wealth management are sensible given super rules are changing to reflect our longer lives.
Profiles
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Profiles

How pro-bono work helped adviser Nicola Beswick create new firm

Lawyer turned financial adviser Nicola Beswick recently launched her own financial firm White Rabbit Advisory. Through her experience on the board of the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network, she learned valuable lessons which helped her navigate the challenges of setting up her own business.
Profiles

When articulating value results in referrals

One of the biggest lessons learned in advice for Merideon Wealth Strategies managing director Mark Rattigan has been that articulating value to clients will mitigate any concerns about the cost of advice – so much so that justifying fee rises inadvertently boosted referrals because clients better understood the value of the advice they were being given.