Industry Updates

AMP Super shifts gear to growth with digital advice launch

The first half of next year will be a pivotal period in the reinvigoration of AMP’s superannuation division under group executive Melinda Howes, who joined the business in January this year and is driving a renewed focus on member service and engagement underpinned by a simplified product line-up and a soon-to-be-released digital advice offer.

ASIC releases updated guidance in response to DBFO act

The prudential regulator has issued guidance and updated existing guidance in response to DBFO reforms that passed earlier this year.

The million-dollar question for advice professionalism

While there has been strong conjecture over whether financial advice has earned the right to label itself a profession, it’s still lacking recognition via a professional standards scheme. And it’s more than a status symbol, it can help limit the civil liability by millions for professionals under the scheme.

Fiduciary capital is not a honeypot for politicians 

The government’s brazen demand that the Future Fund invest more in housing supply and renewable energy is just the latest in a string of major incursions into the institutional investment industry by politicians of both stripes around the world. While some may cheer on the flow of capital to these particular causes, it sets a dangerous precedent that undermines fiduciary independence.  

Retirement reforms to work ‘in tandem’ with DBFO

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has invoked the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes bill as he unveiled a four-point plan to reform the retirement phase of superannuation. The announcement follows his junior minister Stephen Jones’ reassurances to industry that the government is still committed to advice reform.

The best advice practices produce SOAs in almost half the time

The best advice practices can produce Statements of Advice almost 50 per cent faster than their peers, but to implement advice is another story, according to findings from Iress. The advice software provider’s benchmark report shows the best practices aren’t getting the same gains with advice implementation.

Technology is becoming the ‘central nervous system’ of financial advice

Innovations in AI, automation and digital client engagement will transform the way advice practices work, whether it's through internal processes or how firms engage with their clients. This Professional Planner special report, in partnership with Netwealth, reflects on the impact of the Netwealth Accelerate Summit and explores how future-minded advice practices are harnessing technology for the efficient coordination and processing of information.

ASIC cancels AFSL after CSLR payment

ASIC has cancelled the AFSL of DOD Bookkeeping following a payment of compensation by the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.

Cbus adds three CFMEU directors to board after independent review

Cbus Super has added three new member directors nominated by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, following an independent review by Deloitte found that they passed the  ‘fit and proper persons test’.

Jones ‘confident’ on DBFO despite stalled negotiations

Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones is still confident of reforms to broaden access to financial advice despite reports that secret stakeholder consultations over the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes bill were “at risk of collapse”. The reassurance follows Professional Planner’s revelation that industry lobbyists were required to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of its last-ditch effort to muster consensus.

High hurdles to jump over to increase capacity

Financial advice practices are looking to increase capacity which could unlock 650,000 people gaining advice, according to research. But this is contingent on certain regulatory and efficiency obstacles being eliminated.

CareSuper continues to merge after Spirit Super tie-up

CareSuper and The Meat Industry Employees' Superannuation Fund (MIESF) have entered into a Heads of Agreement to explore a member transfer into CareSuper. 

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