Industry Updates

‘Rash decisions’: Advisers face fallout from YFYS platform failures

The Financial Advice Association has warned that advisers will be left with increased workload to deal with clients who receive failure notices after the Your Future Your Super performance test was extended to trustee directed products. AMP and Insignia, who operate three quarters of the failed products, have criticised the “one size fits all” methodology.

Performance test for platforms undermines the best interests duty

Almost 100 choice products have failed the Your Future Your Super performance test after it was extended beyond the MySuper market for the first time. But it is advisers who may have good reason to keep clients in those products who are being punished in APRA’s enforcement, not the manufacturers of these industry relics.

OpenInvest partners with BGL for data integration

Online investing platform OpenInvest has begun providing a data feed into software provider BGL’s Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360.

Class appoints GM

SMSF software company Class has appointed Kate Anderson as general manager of operations.

AustralianSuper appoints international & private equity head

AustralianSuper has appointed Mark Hargraves as head of international and private equity.

Sequoia recruits Jonathan Trapnell from Synchron

Sequoia has appointed former Synchron head of adviser support Jonathan Trapnell to assist the group in managing its education and licensee partnership programs.

Equity or variable fees, Count succeeding both ways

Amid debate over the profitability of licensee businesses, Count has found continued financial success with practices under its variable fee model.

AMP hit with another BOLR loss in court

AMP has been ordered to pay interest on top of damages to Equity Financial Planners and WealthStone after the court again ruled against AMP in the Buyers of Last Resort class action.

Integro Wealth merges with Wealth Advantage

Private wealth firm Integro Private Wealth completed its merger with financial planning firm Wealth Advantage at the end of last week. 

EQT distributes $122m in grants in FY23

Fiduciary service provider Equity Trustees gave out grants worth over $122 million in FY23, more than 32 per cent higher than the previous financial year.

Midwinter launches paraplanning program

Midwinter Financial Services has partnered with Scale Up Paraplanning, TNW Solutions, and Rocket Services to launch the Paraplanning Partners Program following a successful pilot phase.

How home ownership (or lack thereof) changes everything for retirees

With fewer people becoming homeowners and the incidence of people retiring as renters or with mortgage obligations increasing and set to rise further, retirement income targets need to be reset accordingly. Failing to take account of this fundamental societal change could see the superannuation system letting people down just when they need it most.

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