Alexis George steps down from AMP’s ‘tough’ top job
Alexis George will leave AMP after almost five years, with chair Mike Hirst saying that her simplification program has brought momentum back and steered the near 177-year-old company from its lowest point.
January 20, 2026
HUB24 plans to bring super fund trustee in-house
HUB24 is in the process of bringing the trustee of its super fund, HTFS Nominees, in-house. The trustee is currently owned by EQT Holdings – the parent company of Equity Trustees which has been caught up in the collapse of the Shield and First Guardian master funds.
January 20, 2026
First Guardian directors’ travel restraints extended
The travel restraints and asset freezing orders imposed on First Guardian directors David Anderson and Simon Selimaj have been extended to 24 April 2026 as court proceedings against the pair continue.
January 19, 2026
AustralianSuper enters competitive outflow as platform growth accelerates
Australia’s largest super fund now has more money leaving than arriving as a result of member switching, according to APRA data analysed by The Conexus Institute, as the influence of the retail platforms continues to grow. The fund says it will turn to investing in advice to stem the flow.
January 19, 2026
Harding-Davis awarded first-ever lifetime membership of PFAN
A presentation to the Professional Planner Dealer Group Summit in 2013 led to the creation and development of the industry-wide Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN), and Paul Harding-Davis has been the one consistent factor right from the start. That commitment has now been formally recognised.
January 16, 2026
True ‘cost of freedom’ more than $300k a year – just for one adviser
Obtaining an AFSL is often driven by a desire for autonomy, control and business ownership, but it comes at a cost. New research shows that the true "cost of freedom" includes not only direct expenses, but also the opportunity cost of missed client-facing time, and the often-overlooked "mental load" factor.
January 15, 2026
Advisers ‘not the enemy’ in true super fund partnerships
Many super funds are falling over themselves to create relationships with external professional advisers to deliver advice to members, especially as they near retirement. But Marisa Broome says the service standards of profit-to-member funds generally do not hold a candle to retail funds or platforms, and they should stop treating advisers as the enemy.
January 14, 2026
Strong advice communities breed culture of success
Of all the services and benefits delivered by national firms and licensees, the attribute that advisers universally value is community, which is impossible to fake and difficult to find. Through all of the advice profession’s ups and downs, conferences and PD days have remained a core part of the national firm and licensee value proposition.
January 13, 2026
How pro bono advice delivers a helping hand in tough times
Navigating the world of insurance claims can be daunting, especially for people facing significant health or financial challenges. Financial adviser Natalie Lackner volunteered for the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network to help those in need secure access to advice.
January 12, 2026
‘It’s easy, in my mind’: When to sack a manager
When sacking a manager, it comes down to a pragmatic approach that refers to whether they are delivering on the principles they set out, rather than focusing on performance or fees, the Shape of Advice podcast heard.
January 09, 2026
Adviser departures post-education deadline defy expectations: Wealth Data
Already 223 advisers have come off the ASIC adviser register with the deadline to either have an approved degree or apply for the experience pathway having passed. But Wealth Data’s Colin Williams tells Professional Planner the toll of the education deadline won’t be as heavy as many had predicted.
January 08, 2026
Look beyond admin fees to judge platform cost
With platforms spruiking more low-cost options, admin fees can’t be assessed individually without factoring in other costs, according to research from SuitabilityHub. The industry researcher found a client’s balance will have a significant impact on the interplay between fee structures across a full product suite.
January 07, 2026
