National firms should bring professional development in-house
With a growing number of advice firms operating in multiple locations, a proprietary education and training program can be effective at establishing one clear way of doing things, developing people, and bringing corporate values to life, according to Fitzpatricks Advice Partners’ Jasia Fabig.
June 19, 2025
Super funds to close out FY25 with ‘astonishing’ result
Super funds are expected to finish the financial year in a strong position with the median growth fund returning around 9 per cent, according to research from Chant West. The researcher describes this as an "astonishing" result despite the market volatility over the last six months due to US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.
June 19, 2025
Consumer group rebukes super fund retirement advice as ‘sales pitch’
Super Consumers Australia has joined the chorus of criticism of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes Tranche 2 draft bill, believing it “falls short”. The consumer advocacy group is concerned there aren’t enough guardrails as super funds have been given the green light to give advice about their own retirement products and called for performance testing to maintain a minimum industry standard.
June 18, 2025
Greg Bright honoured in launch of FEAL scholarship
In memory of industry veteran journalist and entrepreneur Greg Bright, who passed away in August last year, the Fund Executives Association Limited is launching the Greg Bright Scholarship for Excellence in Member Communications, an educational scholarship for an emerging leader in a role involving member communications.
June 18, 2025
Sorting contributions before super funds ‘shut the gate’ at EOFY
As the end of the financial year draws near, advisers are scrambling to lodge superannuation contributions before the super funds shut their gates. Clients are also concerned about the Division 296 tax and are discussing how to avoid it by transferring funds to other accounts or trusts to decrease their balance to under $3 million.
June 17, 2025
Name and shame AFCA determination wrongdoers: FAAA
The Financial Advice Association Australia has put its support behind new rules enabling the Australian Financial Complaints Authority to publicise the financial firms that fail to comply with AFCA determinations. The association believes greater publicity of those who fail to pay will allow other participants to see those entities that have contributed to the cost of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
June 17, 2025
Centrepoint secures 90 pc of Brighter Super annual review book
Centrepoint Alliance and the $34 billion industry fund Brighter Super have concluded a $1.22 million deal that will see around 90 per cent of Brighter's annual review book move to Queensland-based Centrepoint practice Financial Advice Matters. The super fund will rely on FAM to service its members in a referral arrangement that will be reviewed in a year’s time.
June 16, 2025
Getting private credit right for retail investors
Private debt investing in Australia should have a future – there is a role for it in portfolios – but the market here is in its infancy, writes veteran investment commentator Wayne Fitzgibbon. Retail investors and their advisers need to be aware of what constitutes global best practice, because not all credit is created equal.
June 16, 2025
ASIC bans licensee tied to failed Shield, First Guardian master funds
The regulator has banned the licence of Financial Services Group Australia for failing to ensure its representatives gave advice in the clients’ best interest by distributing the Shield and First Guardian master funds. ASIC is also recommending clients pursue lodging a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
June 13, 2025
Dispersion of private credit manager skill a minefield for investors
Private credit has seen a proliferation of managers and product in the past few years, putting more pressure on professional investors in the wholesale and retail sectors to back the right horse. LGT Crestone Wealth Management chief investment officer Scott Haslem told the Fiduciary Investors Symposium there is an "immense amount" of dispersion in manager skill, further compounding this challenge.
June 12, 2025
‘Popularity doesn’t equal credibility’: ASIC joins global finfluencer crackdown
ASIC has issued warning notices to “finfluencers” it suspects are promoting financial products and providing financial advice to Australians while not holding a licence. It’s part of the corporate watchdog’s action against unlicensed financial advice and they’ve teamed up with regulators from the UK, Canada, Italy and the UAE to disrupt finfluencer activity.
June 12, 2025
