Industry Updates

ASIC gets flexible with licensees

The regulator highlighted a number of concessions it made to licensees affected by the pandemic in 2020, and said it "performed strongly" against its service charter despite a higher regulatory workload.

Don’t confuse ESG with genuine sustainability

Investors tend to take a more holistic approach to ESG considerations than portfolio managers, Lonsec's Tony Adams says, so when the two discuss ESG they're often talking about two entirely different things.

Advice tech works, but only when it fits

'New and shiny’ tech will help advice practices become more efficient and grow, Netwealth’s Matt Heine believes, but the danger of building bloated, impractical tech stacks remains. Start with the clients’ needs, he says, and then look at how tech fits into your broader service offering.

Glenfield: Standards clarified in a ‘plain English’ second effort

A ‘very deliberate’ change in tone and a new format make the second version of the Code of Ethics’ guidance easier to understand, according to the FASEA CEO, who explains the major updates advisers need to be across and the authority’s plan for further releases.

Tiered offerings: The three-legged stool

While client segmentation is certainly prevalent in advice practices, there is surprisingly little written on how to differentiate tiers of service. And it’s easy to see why, says David Haintz.

NAB boasts strong capital position after MLC sale

NAB boss Ross McEwan was relatively sanguine about the bank's capital position after a significant capital raising in H1 and agreeing to offload MLC Wealth for $1.44 billion in August. "We're actually feeling pretty good about this year," the CEO said.

Advisers face ESG legal risk as REST case settles

There is an “increasing risk” of actionable claims against advisers who don’t account for financial risk due to ESG factors, according to Mills Oakley lawyer Mark Bland. FASEA’s Standard 6 was a red flag, but the recent case against REST super has solidified the concern for advisers and licensees.

Fundies ‘squeezed again’ in the jostle for margins

All parties in the value chain are under increasing pressure, which has more to do with taking cost out rather than margin, Praemium's Mat Walker describes in conversation with Professional Planner's Shape of Advice podcast series.

Opportunity for investment missteps ‘at all-time high’

Elevated risks due to the pandemic, the US election and a fiercely bifurcated market have put investors in a precarious position and reinforced the need for quality stocks that have less exposure to macro-economic turmoil, a panel has heard.

Lack of industry consultation on super ‘crazy’: ALP’s Jones

The Labor MP expressed support for some kind of a performance benchmark to hold underperforming funds to account, but he said the government’s current proposal falls short during an interview on Monday.

Simplicity and confidence key to retirement puzzle: Challenger

Finding better retirement solutions will require more than just ‘age and balance’ metrics, but the industry will need to keep things simple to retain members’ faith and their confidence to spend, according to Challenger’s Aaron Minney.

From trading room floor ‘chalky’ to CEO: Grant Patterson

Patterson built the foundations of his firm from along the lines of a multi-family office - focusing on the whole family and ensure multi-generational advice and education, he explains.

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