Industry Updates

Productivity fix needed to boost capacity to 200 clients per adviser

Over the past decade, the industry has been sapped of capacity, and it’s resulted in a reduction in the number of clients advisers are serving. Fixing this will require a technology-assisted advice future that enables businesses to manage more than 200 clients per adviser, but it requires stepped change.

ASIC scores win against unlicensed ‘pump-and-dump’ schemers

Four unlicensed investors charged for conspiracy to commit market rigging have all pleaded guilty in a win for the corporate regulator who included enforcement against unlicensed advice a regulatory priority. The four investors participated in a coordinated “pump-and-dump” scheme, where investors inflate share prices to sell them at a peak for profit.

The crucial role of strategic diversification in uncertain times

The US administration’s chaotic approach to policy setting has created a high degree of uncertainty in investment markets. Colonial First State believe that in these challenging environments it is important to have the flexibility to adjust asset allocation, either through dynamic asset allocation tilts or an out-of-cycle strategic asset allocation review.

Optimising portfolio construction for managed accounts

Optimising portfolio construction in today's dynamic investment climate demands a sophisticated approach, writes Colonial First State executive director managed accounts Frances Taylor. In an everchanging economic environment, navigating market inefficiency, having the right level of risk diversification, and finding unique investment opportunities to generate alpha is essential.

Licensee head predicts 1000 advisers to depart by year end

The advice industry will likely see the departure of another 1000 advisers by the start of next year when the deadline to have an approved degree kicks in, WT Financial Group managing director Keith Cullen believes. Without action, including reforming the education standard, the sector will continue to stagnate with accessibility to advice only getting worse.

ART warns ASIC on private market evergreen funds, regulatory duplication

The $330 billion Australian Retirement Trust has used its previously confidential submission to ASIC to warn against duplication of an already “comprehensive” private markets regulatory framework while calling out the rapidly growing evergreen fund sector as potentially requiring more oversight.

ASIC grants limited no-action on deficient fee consents due to DBFO change

ASIC has granted a limited no-action enforcement position on fee consent and ongoing fee arrangements, due to a technical change introduced in Tranche 1 of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes legislation. The legal change means account numbers are now required on forms for the withdrawal of advice fees from product accounts, but ASIC will only grant a waiver if a rectified form is submitted in the next three months.

Trump highlights the value of advice

Investors watched as their superannuation and pension account balances plunged due to the impact of US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs announced as part of his so-called "Liberation Day". Fitzpatricks Group CEO Andrew Fairweather writes while markets have largely recovered, it's cataclysmic events like this that bring the value of advice to the fore.

Advice going through ‘secular change’ and this matters for licensees

CoreData has spent the last 13 years researching what advisers value in their licensee, but the veteran research firm believes this year is different. Ahead of the Professional Planner Licensee Summit later this month, the firm is looking to the planning community to help explicate a secular change in the advice ecosystem that has seen practices become the gatekeepers of the value chain.

Retirement advice through super will be far better than no advice

Super funds have the responsibility and are well-positioned to assist their members who would otherwise receive no advice as they approach and enter retirement. The Conexus Institute’s David Bell and Geoff Warren argue that outcomes for super fund members will be improved by the provision of financial advice by their fund compared to them not receiving advice at all.

ASIC ‘accelerating’ private credit oversight

The corporate regulator will be “accelerating” its work on private credit and will pay close attention to retail distribution following its consultation on public and private markets. After receiving almost 90 submissions, with most released publicly on Wednesday morning, ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant said the asset class can be good for the economy “if done well”.

Advisers may be incorrectly relying on experience pathway

ASIC has found some advisers are relying on unapproved qualifications or the experience pathway despite being ineligible, ahead of the 1 January 2026 deadline to complete the education standard. The regulator has warned any discrepancies need to be rectified otherwise their “existing adviser” status will be revoked next year.

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