Research will become more essential due to Shield, First Guardian: GDG’s Hackett
Appearing at next week’s Researcher Forum, Generation Development Group CEO Grant Hackett will discuss why he’s bullish on the role managed accounts will play, the rise of the group over the past seven years and why quality research has become more important due the collapse of the Shield and First Guardian funds.
November 25, 2025
How to cruise into retirement with confidence
Australia’s super system has been hugely successful at building long-term wealth, but that enormous pool of assets appears to still not be enough to give retirees the confidence to spend, writes Generation Life’s Felipe Araujo. This is forcing the industry to rethink the investment structures, or combination of structures, required to deliver investors greater certainty, flexibility and peace of mind.
November 24, 2025
When the succession plan needs its own succession plan
For business owners, having a succession plan – a plan B to cover the worst-case scenario – is essential for continuity. Templeton Advice Group was unfortunately struck with a poor run of luck that showed sometimes a succession plan may need its own backup plan.
November 21, 2025
Let them eat cake: Shareholder apathy lets Sequoia off the hook
Shareholder activism has achieved many positive results by putting boards and executives under public pressure to do better. On the flipside, shareholder apathy allows companies to evade close scrutiny. Sometimes, shareholders seem more interested in franked dividends and a decent spread of cakes and sandwiches than in holding boards to account.
November 21, 2025
InterPrac expects fines and compliance restraints from ASIC action
InterPrac anticipates it will be fined and receive licensee restraints as a consequence of its role in the failed Shield and First Guardian funds after ASIC commenced legal proceedings last week. The licensee expects that advisers will leave, but group CEO Garry Crole has blamed “false press” and competitors for a smear campaign against the company.
November 20, 2025
Coalition says ASIC needs to own up to Shield, First Guardian failures
Shadow Minister for Financial Services Pat Conaghan has called out ASIC for failing in its enforcement role on Shield and First Guardian, and has endorsed Senator Andrew Bragg’s call to split the regulator in two. The criticism of ASIC was delivered to senior executive Leah Sciacca who had just briefed delegates at the FAAA’s National Congress on progress on the matter.
November 20, 2025
CSLR special levy funding decision in ‘a matter of weeks’
Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino said a decision on how the CSLR special levy will be funded is coming within weeks with a broader group of sectors expected to be hit with the bill.
November 19, 2025
Mulino: Education reforms and AI offer growth potential for profession
Reforms to the education standard are still on the government’s agenda and Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino sees it as a necessity to expand the profession. The minister is also bullish on the potential of AI to unlock growth for advice practices.
November 19, 2025
Shield, First Guardian buy-in driven by product sales, not advice: FAAA
Financial Advice Association Australia CEO Sarah Abood has told the group’s members that the distribution of Shield and First Guardian was driven purely by product sales, not financial advice, and that high-pressure sales tactics have no place in the profession.
November 18, 2025
Super, advice lobbyists clash over potential CSLR overhaul
The FAAA, FSC and SMSF Association have called for the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort to be overhauled amid another annual cost blowout, but the peak body for APRA-regulated super funds, ASFA, has pushed back on its members covering the scheme.
November 18, 2025
Former FASEA and ASIC executives launch trustee service
Former FASEA chief executive Stephen Glenfield and former ASIC chair James Shipton have joined the founder of a trustee now owned by Diversa to launch a new service to compete with trustees for hire as scrutiny ramps up on outsourced providers.
November 17, 2025
