The retirement challenge – solving for the present, pitching for the future
The super industry’s pitch for the future will only carry weight if it delivers on present challenges. It’s time for the super industry to ‘pat head and rub tummy’, writes The Conexus Institute’s David Bell and Geoff Warren ahead of the Conexus Retirement Leaders Summit.
August 18, 2026
Advice quality improving, but ‘exceptional’ advice remains elusive
The quality of advice continues to improve rapidly, with “poor” and “very poor” advice dwindling, and a new analysis suggests that even though “exceptional” advice remains elusive it’s a legitimately aspirational goal for advisers prepared to put in the effort to go the extra mile.
August 17, 2026
High-risk AFSLs should pay the highest price, not advisers
While it’s impossible to eliminate fraud and corporate failures, ASIC must devote more resources to preventing them by closing gaps in the regulatory oversight of the industry. The biggest gap is the monitoring and surveillance of smaller AFSLs and, as such, smaller AFSLs should be contributing more to the ASIC levy, not advisers, writes Neil Macdonald.
August 17, 2026
Future of self-licensing remains ‘vibrant’ despite calls for ASIC levy changes
More than 570 of 2443 AFSLs have no registered advisers. Entireti Alliances' Andy Marshall says those are the licensees a heavier ASIC levy would flush out, not the “vibrant” boutiques offering professional, client-centric advice.
August 14, 2026
FAAA calls on Mulino for ‘sensible’ DBFO advice reforms
The Financial Advice Association Australia says the Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino should use an address to the National Press Club next week to outline reforms that will support the growth of the profession and improve advice affordability and accessibility.
August 13, 2026
ART says advice fee ban would leave members worse off
Australian Retirement Trust, the nation's second-biggest super fund, says banning advice fee deductions from members' accounts would deny members access to a service the fund believes leaves them better off.
August 13, 2026
When life gives you lemons: Squeezing after-tax returns from the CGT overhaul
The proposed 30 per cent floor on capital gains tax proposed in this year’s federal budget will hit low-income investors hardest. But Betashares' Cameron Gleeson argues it also creates a case for rethinking whether income or growth is the more tax-efficient return for these clients.
August 13, 2026
Achieving stable income and portfolio resilience in an uncertain world
The top priority of many investors is building a resilient, sustainable income stream within their portfolios, however, Betashares says traditional methods of generating extra income are being challenged, sparking a new wave of income-orientated investment strategies.
August 13, 2026
More advisers, not product distribution, key to fixing advice gap
Moves by super funds such as AustralianSuper to establish advice capability risk blurring the line between product distribution and quality professional advice. Fixing the advice gap means ensuring that more, appropriately qualified advisers are available to deliver advice to Australians, regardless of where they seek it.
August 12, 2026
Advisers support philanthropy, but 60 pc never raise it with clients
The launch of a national program to support advisers on structured giving addresses four major reasons they say they stay quiet: a lack of training, fear of the client's reaction, uncertainty about their best interests duty, and the hit to their own fee base.
August 12, 2026
AustralianSuper advice play bodes well for DBFO resurrection
The nation’s largest superannuation fund has heeded the call of regulators to lift its risk appetite and embark on personal financial advice to members. Even with the counsel of top lawyer Michelle Levy, the megafund will find it challenging to navigate the complex advice laws as they stand, but its bullishness is likely a positive sign for the future of advice reform.
August 11, 2026
