Industry Updates

Advice gap, over-regulation plague UK and Australian markets

Facing a similar conundrum to Australia, the UK is grappling with its own advice gap, over-regulation and the dual, sometimes conflicted, roles of professional bodies. In an exclusive interview with Professional Planner at the London office of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, the peak professional body for advice in the UK discusses how these challenges are being approached locally.

Shelf space fees in super member onboarding called into question

Stapling was meant to deliver better retirement outcomes for super fund members by reducing the incidence of multiple accounts, but there's growing concern that employee onboarding services are encouraging new employees to chose a fund that pays a shelf space fee to be promoted on the platform.

Third person pleads guilty regarding Courtenay House Ponzi scheme

A third person has pleaded guilty to the Courtenay House Ponzi scheme in Sydney. 

Integro partners with regional WA accounting firm

Integro Private Wealth has partnered with AMD Chartered Accountants to increase access to advice in regional WA.

February sees fourth consecutive growth month for super funds

Super fund performance was up for the fourth consecutive month in February, with the median growth fund (61 to 80 per cent in growth assets) delivering a 1.9 per cent return for the period, according to researcher Chant West.  

‘Deep concern’ as govt sidesteps Dixon-related CSLR liabilities

The advice sector will be on the hook for $18.5 million in FY25 while the government will be required to only fund the last quarter of FY24. The Financial Advice Association has criticised the government for its limited contribution to funding the scheme which it believes leaves insufficient time to deal with legacy issues, like Dixon Advisory claims.

Major asset managers gamble with developing AI tech

The proliferation of AI tools should mean even the largest institutions can rely on readymade technology to service its needs. In an interview with Professional Planner in London, JP Morgan Asset Management CEO George Gatch says the decision to develop their own tools inhouse reflected the nuances need to successfully implement AI.

AustralianSuper partners with TAL for retirement product

The nation’s largest super fund AustralianSuper has partnered with life insurer TAL to develop a new ‘income for life’ retirement option. 

HeirWealth partners with open banking firm Envestnet Yodlee

Sydney-based wealthtech HeirWealth has partnered with open banking technology company Envestnet Yodlee to streamline the intergenerational wealth transfer process.  

Australians want to invest ethically but fear greenwashing: RIAA

The majority of Australians (88 per cent) are expressing a desire to invest ethically, either via super or other investments, but have trouble identifying truly ethical financial products, according to a study by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA). 

The advisers applying soft skills to a hard transition

It’s often said a financial adviser is part analyst and part therapist. That’s never truer than when clients are making the tricky transition from employment to retirement. But not all advisers have the optimal set of skills to help clients through the change.

Market needed greenwashing crackdown, needs clearer labelling

The global head of sustainable investing at JP Morgan Asset Management said ASIC’s approach to stamping out greenwashing is the right one but said more needs to be done on product labelling to match what is happening in other markets.

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