Industry Updates

Why advice is critical to delivering member outcomes in retirement

Dissatisfied superannuation fund members are voting with their feet in search of greater flexibility, control and better service. Member movement is high, based on research by The Conexus Institute, but it’s not sinister, despite how it is being framed by some corners.  At the Professional Planner roundtable on superannuation, choice and the advice profession, produced in partnership with The Conexus Institute and sponsored by HUB24, advice leaders explored the complex fiduciary decision-making required for superannuation and retirement advice.

Crunch time: Why less is often more in private credit

Produced in partnership with Barings. The private credit sector has had a pretty good decade, with the exception of the last 12 months. After a period of strong performance and record inflows, conditions are turning, although the broad themes that underpinned the rise of private credit haven’t changed. There is still a credit demand and

The 2026 federal budget is changing the focus of advice

Since the federal budget in May, advisers are receiving a record number of enquiries from clients asking about the best way to build and structure wealth for the long term, writes Generation Life’s John Laver.

What a brief encounter with Elon Musk taught me about the limits of capitalism

A brief encounter with Elon Musk in 2013 showed that he would not flinch at rolling the dice, writes Conexus Financial founder and managing director Colin Tate AM. But SpaceX’s mega-IPO demonstrates that citizens, regulators, capital allocators and advisers need to decide whether they are comfortable with who is holding those dice.

Licensees need to be ‘front and centre’ on data

As debate over who “owns” client data rages on, licensees should be entitled to controlling platform data as they are ultimately responsible for governance of advice by network operators, the Professional Planner Licensee Summit heard.

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.

Tax changes will make property disproportionally popular with SMSFs: FAAA

CGT changes proposed in this year’s budget could lead to more high-pressure sales tactics that push people into SMSFs, according to the Financial Advice Association Australia. While the association welcomes superannuation being exempted from any changes, it could mean property in SMSFs becomes disproportionately attractive.

How a disappearing adviser exposed vulnerabilities in the governance chain

On the face of it, she looked like the model adviser. She was respected by her peers, her advice was good, she regularly won awards, and her clients loved her. Then she started pre-charging clients fees for service, took the money, spent it, and disappeared. That disappearance was ultimately how Count found her.

‘CRMs probably die a slow death’: Netwealth CEO

Netwealth chief executive Matt Heine believes CRMs will “die a slow death” as their place in the advice process becomes redundant. But the head of the fast-growing platform is aware that licensees are eyeing tech capabilities and the potential control that can be regained over the advice process by being the proprietors of those services.

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 money always wins’: Access to capital a defining test for licensee growth

Whatever model a licensee operates, the ability to fund growth now turns on access to capital. The Professional Planner Licensee Summit heard how four different businesses set out how, and from where, they will get the capital they need.

‘Data war’ a major roadblock to big productivity gains for advisers

A standoff between platforms and advice businesses over who controls client data is holding back productivity gains that could transform the economics of advice. The Professional Planner Licensee Summit heard that platforms are sitting on client data that isn't theirs to keep and the industry can't reach its productivity potential until it changes.

Previous Next