Victims’ advocate says Crole banning ‘best thing ASIC has done’
A leading advocate for investors in the collapsed Shield and First Guardian master funds has welcomed the banning of the former chief executive of the licensee at the centre of investor losses. Melinda Kee has also urged senators to support proposed changes to the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort to make payment of compensation to victims faster and less stressful.
September 08, 2026
Service quality beats performance and fees in adviser fund selection: CoreData
Financial advisers are routinely switching new clients into the superannuation funds they find easiest to deal with, and fund efficiency now matters more to that decision than investment performance or fees, according to CoreData.
September 08, 2026
Integro and Coastline merger a vote of confidence in the value of risk advice
The merger of Coastline Private Wealth with fellow WA-based financial advice firm Integro Private Wealth is a vote of confidence by Integro in the value of risk advice, its partner and private wealth adviser Justin Gilmour says. Despite ongoing structural issues in the risk space, Gilmour says sound insurance remains central to every wealth plan.
September 07, 2026
One Nation ‘super pay boost’ at odds with adequacy, retirement plans
As new research reveals more than a third of Australians want a superannuation retirement balance of $1.25 million or more, One Nation has unveiled a plan to allow workers pocket 3 per cent of their super contributions, which could leave them tens of thousands of dollars short of their target.
September 07, 2026
Hewison departure will open door to ‘fresh voice, ideas, enthusiasm’
Second-generation Hewison Private Wealth managing director Andrew Hewison tells Professional Planner there will be no changes to the business and no clients will be affected as a result of Pemba Capital Partners’ investment, followed by his departure at the end of the year.
September 04, 2026
Canberra’s unexpected Bogleheads break cover
In marking the 30th anniversary of Vanguard’s entry to the Australian market, Labor and Coalition MPs have revealed themselves as fellow-travellers with the asset management giant’s low-cost, index-hugging ethos. It was a rare act of bipartisanship in a contested portfolio, and at odds with the industry zeitgeist.
September 04, 2026
‘Punitive pricing’ won’t fix the licensee scrutiny gap: Shuttleworth
Centrepoint Alliance chief executive John Shuttleworth says shifting the bulk of funding the ASIC levy from individual advisers to licensees won’t fix the problem it’s designed to address. And he tells Professional Planner the company is splitting its focus between three distinct types of advice relationship – licensee, self-licensed and employed – to underpin growth for at least the next three years while allowing it to keep a tight rein on costs.
September 03, 2026
Advisers’ key role in addressing $4.8tr super system’s confidence problem
The Government has made welcome progress on advice reform, but the job is far from finished. AMP chief executive officer Blair Vernon writes that advice is central to confidence in the system, but int's only one of five issues that must be addressed.
September 03, 2026
FAAA opens nominations for three new directors
The Financial Advice Association Australia has called for nominations for the election of three new directors, with two to fill existing positions and one to fill a new position. The new appointees will start along with chair-elect Michelle Veitch in November.
September 02, 2026
The 250,000 reasons why super funds must nail Phase 1 of retirement now
Phase 1 of Retirement Income Strategy development, whereby funds aim to deliver retirement solutions and guidance regarding the member’s interest in the fund, is now well underway. But effective delivery of Phase 1 is needed before Phase 2, under which super funds play an expanded role in their members’ retirement, can be considered.
September 02, 2026
Why advisers are ditching big firms for more personalised client service
Shaw and Partners has grown from 100 advisers and $4 billion under management in 2015 to more than 200 advisers and more than $50 billion today. Head of private wealth Chris Smith explains why advisers are leaving bigger firms and what's driving demand for broader wealth advice.
September 01, 2026
