Super, insurance leaders pledge more advice ‘with or without DBFO’
Industry leaders including Australian Retirement Trust chair Helen Rowell, UniSuper chair Mark Armour and Colonial First State audit and risk committee chair Jo-Anne Bloch have urged the Albanese government to prioritise its Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms ahead of the Professional Planner Advice Policy Summit in Canberra this week. But while they say legislation expanding access to advice is “essential”, further delays cannot be allowed to deter an enhancement of services to members.
February 22, 2026
Equity Trustees mulls ditching super trustee business in Shield aftermath
Equity Trustees will review its troubled superannuation trustee business due to the fallout of the Shield and First Guardian collapse. The super trustee service has been a drag on the performance of a company which touted strong profit margins and declared a dividend in 1H26, despite concerns from Shield and First Guardian investors they may never recover their super.
February 19, 2026
A strong US economy to buoy global markets in 2026: Betashares
Betashares believes the twin tailwinds of fiscal support and ongoing AI capital expenditure will continue to fuel the US economy, which in turn will buoy the global economy and global markets in 2026.
February 19, 2026
ASIC warns consumers off AFR-crowned lead generator
A company that made the Australian Financial Review list of “Fast 100” growth companies is on a list of names published by ASIC to warn consumers about lead generators. The regulator has launched a review into advice licensees using lead generation services in the aftermath of the $1 billion Shield and First Guardian collapse.
February 18, 2026
More Australians spurn advice even as SMSF establishments boom
Even as SMSF establishments scale new heights, more Australians are choosing to go their own way without the benefit of financial advice, raising concerns that unadvised trustees may fail to make the most of their super. The SMSF Association National Conference also heard that including super in the funding mechanism for the CSLR is not a good idea.
February 18, 2026
UniSuper’s digital advice offering matches SOA volume of 18 advisers
UniSuper’s digital advice offering has seen the service replicate the output of 18 human advisers since launching it last year. But the $166 billion fund, which expanded its external advice offering last year, says its digital advice proposition is complementary, not competing with human-led advice.
February 17, 2026
Why ‘the next phase of platform evolution’ is upon us
Australia’s investment platform industry is undergoing a “structural shift” as they direct their innovation efforts towards solving operational challenges for advisers, according to research from SuitabilityHub.
February 17, 2026
Despite starting on the back foot, IFS believes new license model will work
The uneasy, decades-long relationship between profit-to-member super funds and financial advisers is set to enter a new era, with industry-fund owned IFS developing a licensee offer for self-employed advisers. Having already gotten off to a rocky start and attempting to assuage adviser concerns, executive manager advice services Adrian Gervasoni believes the licensing solution is the next step in the evolution of how both sides of the industry can co-exist.
February 16, 2026
Netwealth CEO Matt Heine reflects on ‘two-speed year’
Netwealth’s decision to compensate its customers affected by the tragic collapse of First Guardian has alleviated pressure on the government’s response to the crisis. But though he does not shirk his company’s role, CEO Matt Heine tells Professional Planner that he is also proud of the quiet achievements of his team over the same period – and that Netwealth is well-placed to help advisers through whatever comes next.
February 16, 2026
HUB24 quietly limited InterPrac adviser access
HUB24 banned “certain” InterPrac Financial Planning advisers from its platform last year and ceased onboarding new practices authorised by the licensee. The revelation comes as several other platforms have blacklisted the licensee in the aftermath of the $1 billion Shield and First Guardian fallout.
February 13, 2026
Liberal’s credentials on advice reform to be tested under Taylor, Hume
Newly elected Liberal leader Angus Taylor faces an uphill battle to keep the Coalition from splitting apart again and to reinvent the party as a viable force in politics. Having strongly advocated for advice reform prior to the last election, the opposition’s performance will be closely scrutinised by the profession.
February 13, 2026
