Industry Updates

FAAA backs changes to financial adviser exam

The Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) has backed the government’s proposed changes to the financial adviser exam, saying it makes it simpler and potentially cheaper to sit.

Breaking down the walls to self-regulation

Financial advice has a history of change being pushed onto it from outside, usually by government. It’s time for the conversation about whether advisers are prepared to take on the challenge of achieving self-regulation and taking control of their own standards and discipline.

Death and data open doors to a new generation of clients

Australian’s ageing population creates an opportunity for advisers to win over their clients’ children. It takes time to build trust, and it won't happen automatically, but an effective intergenerational advice strategy starts with good record keeping.

Centrepoint chair resigns after four months in the role

Chair of ASX-listed financial advice licensee Centrepoint Alliance, Simon Swanson, has resigned effective immediately, after taking over the role in August last year. 

Advocacy or accountability? FAAA to assess its core purpose

Fresh from a successful merger, FAAA members now have another important issue to consider: whether to remain a membership-based association, or to take the plunge and assume responsibility for true self-regulation, which some argue is the last piece in the professionalism puzzle. Either way, CEO Sarah Abood acknowledges the association has work to do to ensure a vibrant profession in future is larger than it is today.

Endeavour Securities directors fined $390k by ASIC

Coporate watchdog ASIC has ordered four current and former directors of Endeavour Securities and Linchpin Capital Group to collectively pay $390,000 in penalties. 

UniSuper ‘ready to roll’ with expanded financial advice model

Following the government’s response to the Quality of Advice Review, UniSuper is primed to rollout out its strategy of expanding its financial advice offering to members. The fund’s head of advice, Andrew Gregory, says there will be a strong focus on a hybrid approach that grows out the digital advice model rather than human footprint.

SG Hiscock & Company nabs UniSuper talent as group CIO

SG Hiscock & Company has appointed UniSuper talent Robert Hogg as group chief investment officer, taking over from executive chair Stephen Hiscock. 

Koda’s ‘Pathway to Partnership’ built to retain talent

Koda Capital believes it has a solution to the risk that advice practices face in taking on non-revenue-generating Professional Year advisers who become attractive targets for other firms once their training commitments are completed. CEO Paul Heath says it also aids in succession planning for the firm.

Vanguard Super anticipates 2024 adviser push as it nears $1b

Almost doubling its assets under management in six months as it approaches the $1 billion mark, Vanguard Super aims to further drum up support for the fund from its existing financial adviser base during the year. While wary of unlisted assets, Australian MD Daniel Shrimski would not rule out following industry funds down this path.

AFCA records over 100k annual complaints for the first time

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has recorded 100,000 complaints in a calendar year for the first time, with the number of scam related complaints almost doubling year on year.  

CSLR board estimates $241m for initial levy

The board for the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort has provided a $241 million estimate of the initial levy to fund claims from eligible consumers who suffered from financial misconduct.

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