Wholesale investor and client test PJC inquiry launched
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services has commenced an inquiry into the wholesale investor test and the wholesale client test for financial products and services.
March 22, 2024
‘Don’t worry but do prepare’ on QAR implementation
The last couple of years have seen relatively light change in regulation amid anticipated changes from the Quality of Advice Review. But while those changes are still a work in progress, two compliance experts say its best to focus on the now rather than an uncertain future.
March 22, 2024
Northern Trust appoints international enterprise client solutions head
Northern Trust has appointed Gary Paulin to the newly-created role of head of international enterprise client solutions.
March 22, 2024
Advice and mortgage broker kinship unlocks unexpected synergy
While merged advice practices can reap the benefits of scale and efficiencies, Viridian Financial Group has found the benefits of uncovering new processes and systems from outside its home industry due to its acquisition of mortgage broking firm Smartmove.
March 21, 2024
‘I want to give my clients the absolute best advice possible’: The value of education
A big believer in the education standard, Stellar Wealth founder Nicole Gardner completed her qualifications “at the hardest time” to do so. Going beyond what was needed under the education standard, she didn’t want any of her clients to miss out on a strategy or opportunity because she wasn’t informed enough.
March 21, 2024
ART appoints former regulator, govt official to board
Australian Retirement Trust has appointed former APRA deputy chair Helen Rowell and chancellor of Macquarie University Martin Parkinson as independent directors to its board.
March 21, 2024
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.
March 20, 2024
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.
March 20, 2024
Third person pleads guilty regarding Courtenay House Ponzi scheme
A third person has pleaded guilty to the Courtenay House Ponzi scheme in Sydney.
March 20, 2024
Integro partners with regional WA accounting firm
Integro Private Wealth has partnered with AMD Chartered Accountants to increase access to advice in regional WA.
March 20, 2024
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.
March 20, 2024
‘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.
March 19, 2024
