Industry Updates

Budget funding for MIS oversight no ‘silver bullet’: ASIC

Funding in the budget for managed investment scheme (MIS) oversight won’t be a “silver bullet” to protect investors and the regulator needs more powers to deal with MIS registration, ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court told Professional Planner in one of her final interviews before she becomes chair.

AIOFP picks DASH for white label platform after InterPrac platform blacklists

The Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals has selected DASH as the platform partner for its white label platform after InterPrac Financial Planning advisers faced industry blacklists from major providers. The association is considering plans to use the profits from the platform to create an “adviser defence fund”.

ASIC sues Equity Trustees for First Guardian due diligence failures

Equity Trustees has argued it’s a victim of the $1 billion Shield and First Guardian collapse and that the funds fraudulently passed due diligence. But ASIC’s latest court proceedings against the trustee allege it was required to investigate any fraud-related risks.

Suspensions and redemption queues ‘speed bumps’ on private credit road: Blue Owl

It is fair to be concerned about private credit fund suspensions and redemption queues, Blue Owl head of alternative credit Ivan Zinn says, but he believes that two years from now they’ll be looked back on as nothing more than a “speed bump” on a highway of growth and strong returns.

Court clears way for sale of First Guardian director’s $9m house

The Federal Court has approved the sale of the house of First Guardian head David Anderson, which he bought for $9 million in 2020. However, several creditors are owed before investors see any of the proceeds.

Opposition warns against ‘regulating for the evil of the 2 per cent’

Shadow Minister for Financial Services Kevin Hogan says that the Coalition will resist any regulatory overreach in the wake of the Shield and First Guardian collapses, keep the government's feet to the fire on advice reform, and that it believes SMSFs should be included in the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.

Former Godfrey Pembroke CEO to lead Vital Business Partners

Outgoing Godfrey Pembroke chief executive Mark Fisher will lead outsourced paraplanner specialist firm Vital Business Partners, having departed the licensee after it secured its adviser ownership and exit from Insignia Financial. Fisher tells Professional Planner the new role will put him at the forefront of helping advice practices drive efficiency.

ASIC left with little room for error with increased MIS funding

Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino has made clear there will be no excuses for the regulator over the next MIS collapse, clearly outlining ASIC will have oversight of finding red flags with the $17.8 million received from last week’s budget geared towards fulfilling that objective.

New Godfrey Pembroke head says appointment cements ‘adviser-led’ ethos

Incoming Godfrey Pembroke executive director John Nantes says the board's decision to appoint him to the role cements its historical "adviser-owned, adviser-led" ethos. Nantes replaces Mark Fisher, who is leaving after two years with the group and oversaw its exit from Insignia Financial.

ASIC to commence MIS auditing in FY27

ASIC will begin reviewing the financial reports of managed investment schemes (MISs) as part of the regulator’s FY27 priorities, as scrutiny ramps up on MISs in the aftermath of the $1 billion Shield and First Guardian collapse.

InterPrac delays paying out Shield, First Guardian investors amid AFCA dispute

InterPrac Financial Planning has stalled on paying AFCA determinations as First Guardian investor advocate Melinda Kee has been dragged into the court action between the licensee and complaints authority. But it comes as InterPrac parent company Sequoia Financial Group faces fresh scrutiny over the failed sale of the licensee and not disclosing the departure of former ASIC commissioner Danielle Press from its governance oversight committee.

Paying managers more doesn’t lead to better performance: Morningstar

Cheaper, lower-cost funds are outperforming their higher-priced peers, showing the higher fees aren’t generating higher returns, according to research from Morningstar which measured Australian and global large cap, and fixed income asset classes.

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