The five traits GDG’s Rob Coombe uses to pick leaders
Generation Development Group executive chair and financial services veteran Rob Coombe says there are five predictors he relies on to determine the potential success of an executive. It’s those traits that have helped him to mentor over 40 protégés that have gone on to be CEOs.
Shield and First Guardian AFCA complaints almost 3500 amid awareness drive
AFCA complaints about Shield and First Guardian have reached 3429 as ASIC has spent the past few weeks catching the attention of investors who are unaware they may have been invested in the schemes.
AFCA halts InterPrac determinations amid court battle
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has halted its work on completing InterPrac Financial Planning determinations while it manages court proceedings brought on by the licensee, which accused the complaints authority of lacking “fairness” by not apportioning blame across the system.
Balance of power shifting back to licensees
Under Australian law, financial advice licensees are recognised as powerful intermediaries between the distribution of financial products and household wealth. Now, licensees are starting to enjoy economic conditions commensurate with that heightened liability.
CALI calls for insurer lead generation carve-out
The Council of Australian Life Insurers has called for a carve-out from any regulatory restrictions on lead generation, arguing the potential for damage isn’t as significant as in investment advice and that adding restrictions would prevent Australians from using market comparison sites to change insurance coverage.
Opinion
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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.
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.
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.
Shield, First Guardian growth was captured in APRA performance test data
Analysis of data collected by APRA for the annual superannuation performance test showed the prudential regulator could see the rapid growth of the Shield and First Guardian master funds. But the regulator defended inaction, saying it doesn’t have the capability to investigate any red flags.
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