DBFO new class of adviser unlikely to survive Shield, First Guardian fallout
Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino has concerns about legislating the new class of adviser and continuing the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms due to the Shield and First Guardian collapse. Instead, the government’s priority has shifted to adding more consumer protections with an “extensive consultation period” coming.
February 04, 2026
Advisers shouldn’t be the only ones paying for unlicensed enforcement: FAAA
Financial advisers aren’t the only beneficiaries of action against unlicensed advice and the whole system should be paying for enforcement, the Financial Advice Association Australia has argued in its pre-budget submission.
February 04, 2026
Industry funds coming under pressure from adviser platforms
Not only are HUB24 and Netwealth winning competitive flows, but the large former bank platforms are also participating strongly and it’s coming at the expense of industry funds, The Conexus Institute’s 2026 State of Super report shows. The institute believes that this trend will continue unless industry funds can improve their advice services to members.
February 04, 2026
Shield, First Guardian enforcer Sarah Court to replace Joe Longo as ASIC chair
ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court, currently the corporate regulator’s top enforcer in the Shield and First Guardian scandal, will succeed outgoing chair Joe Longo. The appointment comes ahead of the Professional Planner Advice Policy Summit this month where she will provide an exclusive briefing on the collapse and discuss the regulator’s priorities in financial advice.
February 03, 2026
Trump Fed chair pick Kevin Warsh favours good governance and new ideas
Kevin Warsh’s strong views on economic governance, and his precocious nature, will hold him in good stead as he takes the reins of the US Federal Reserve at a time where concerns over cost of living, inflation and upward mobility are a test of President Trump’s second term. For investors his views on the conflating of monetary and fiscal policy are key considerations.
February 03, 2026
Risk specialists will thrive but more pain to come
Life insurance advice is set to become even more complex, with additional product changes and ongoing premium volatility coming down the line, requiring advisers to be very active with their client books or explore alternative options, writes Kris Mason, partner at MBS Insurance.
February 03, 2026
The rise of retirement advice specialists
Retirement advice specialists will stand apart from generalists in 2026 by demonstrating a superior understanding of modern retirement income strategies and solutions. The rise of specialists will also boost national retirement confidence and, importantly, spending, writes Ben Hillier, director of retirement at AMP.
February 03, 2026
SMSF Association calls for wholesale investor clarity in pre-budget submission
The SMSF Association has used a pre-budget submission to warn that legislative certainty on wholesale investor rules is “urgently needed” to ensure clarity around the provision of investment advice to SMSFs.
February 02, 2026
Updated advertising reg guidance doesn’t cover Shield, First Guardian lessons: SMC
Super Members Council has argued that ASIC should include more examples of “modern aggressive” advertising tactics – like those used to lure investors into Shield and First Guardian – in its updated guidance on financial services advertising.
January 30, 2026
