Industry Updates

Two-thirds pass November adviser exam

Some 66 per cent of candidates have passed the 23rd adviser exam, which was held in November, according to an update from ASIC.

AustralianSuper brings death claims management in-house

AustralianSuper has changed its membership service model to internalise the death claims and complaints processes, while announcing that it’s signed a memorandum of understanding to negotiate an extension for Link Group to provide core administration services until at least 2028.

AMP updates self-licensed adviser service offering

AMP has updated its offering for self-licensed financial advisers, Jigsaw Advice Solutions, with the aim of helping improve service efficiency.  

Govt releases draft legislation for adviser exam changes

The government has introduced draft legislation to modify the financial adviser exam by adding more multiple choice questions and opening up who can sit the exam.

Remove product issuers from fee consent if forms don’t get standardised: FAAA

After draft legislation for the first Quality of Advice Review recommendations failed to explicitly command product manufacturers to utilise a single prescribed fee consent form, the Financial Advice Association has suggested removing manufacturers from the process altogether.

ART grabs Mercer executive to succeed Reilly as CEO

Australian Retirement Trust has appointed Mercer executive David Anderson as chief executive, replacing Bernard Reilly who resigned earlier this year.  

Insignia’s investment solution Expand Essential launches updates

Insignia Financial’s super, pension and investments wrap platform Expand Essential has announced a slew of new menu functions to help advisers better serve their clients.  

Super fund advice expenses near $2b a year

Expenses reported by superannuation funds to provide financial advice to members have continued to climb, and that’s even before funds properly fulfill their Retirement Income Covenant obligations and react to the government’s Quality of Advice Review proposals.

Protecting investor equity in products with exposure to unlisted markets

Super funds are adamant their unlisted asset valuations are transparent, but the Researcher Forum has heard that researchers and advisers will remain sceptical if the methodology isn’t explicitly detailed.

FAAA welcomes revised ATO guidance on advice fee tax deductibility

The Financial Advice Association has welcomed the Australian Taxation Office’s revised guidance on tax deductibility of financial advice fees, suggesting that it’s a positive development in clarifying relevant rules. 

Sequoia acquires its legal service provider

Sequoia Financial Group has acquired its legal service provider Australian Business Structures (ABS) for a cash consideration of $2 million. 

AusSuper expands Churchill Asset Management partnership to US$1.5b

AustralianSuper has upped its partnership with Nuveen affiliate Churchill Asset Management to US$1.5 billion ($2.3 billion).  

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