Industry Updates

Iress sells superannuation business

Listed technology group Iress will sell its superannuation administration business to Apex Group, a company that offers a range of financial services and solutions.

Managing conflict and challenging client situations

Every financial adviser has faced a challenging client interaction in their career. Whether it's reigning in bold suggestions or expectations from clients, managing these interactions require tact and nuance to prevent negative consequences.

CSLR changes and a ‘red tape razor gang’ headline FSC policy wishlist

The Financial Services Council has called for reviewing the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort and addressing adviser education pathways in its policy wishlist. It's among several recommendations that will require the creation of a “red tape razor gang” to streamline “inefficient” regulation which the council believes will help drive economic growth.

Flexibility emerges as antidote to risk advice woes

A rigid structural system in place has made it difficult to innovate product solutions for life insurers who are combatting soaring claims, fewer Australians being insured, and fewer financial advisers providing risk advice. Part of the solution is offering more flexibility of coverage.

Call to block super fund advice pending retirement performance test

Until the retirement products offered by super funds – primarily account-based pensions – are performance-tested by APRA, funds should be held back from offering more comprehensive personal advice to members, a new report recommends. The report, by the Grattan Institute, also recommends a government-run pension guidance service to “plug the hole” between the guidance offered by funds and the advice provided by professional advisers.

HUB24 to shut down MDA service Xplore Wealth

Platform provider HUB24 will close Xplore Wealth, just four years after it acquired the managed discretionary account service. The change was announced in its quarterly report which included fee consent reporting improvements as the core platform closes in on $100 billion in funds under administration.

Putting forgotten regulatory initiatives back on the radar

The industry has made strong inroads to becoming a profession and there are several regulatory changes overlooked by the DBFO that could be made to better recognise this progress. Ahead of the Professional Planner Advice Policy Summit, and an impending election, the profession has the chance to put those initiatives back on the agenda.

Overseas buyers continue Aussie wealth sweep

After weeks of back-and-forth bids, Insignia will offer US private equity firm CC Capital the chance to conduct proper due diligence ahead of a potential deal. Meanwhile, Iress has announced an overseas buyer for its superannuation business.

AI boom to underpin growth in global listed real estate and equities

AI has not only presented investment opportunities for the companies working on the development of new products, but the emerging technology has greater reaching implications across multiple sectors.

Why international markets mean more opportunity

Australian investors are patriotic and will back their home market, but this comes at the missed opportunity cost presented by international equities writes Colonial First State’s Frances Taylor.

Out with ‘platform promiscuity’ in with monogamy

The “era of platform promiscuity” will be replaced by “platform monogamy” as advisers gravitate towards a single provider, advice consultancy Finura tips in the group’s annual advice tech predictions.

Coalition promises to fix CSLR costs

Days after the Financial Advice Association Australia reported a lack of transparency over whether the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort underwent an impact analysis assessment, Shadow Minister for Financial Services Luke Howarth tells Professional Planner the Coalition “will act quickly” to reduce the cost of the CSLR for advisers.

Previous Next