Industry Updates

Unreasonable clients present new legal risk for business owners

Not only do companies need to provide a safe working environment for staff, but they also must be mindful of the psychological hazard presented by unreasonable clients, writes AZ-owned Catalina Consultants’ Merilyn Speiser. And this is a potential risk employers now have a legal duty to manage, under Australia’s bulked up Work Health and Safety Act.

Perfecting marketing when clients are all different

To maintain a book of the right type of clients, it’s important for advisers to make sure their marketing attracts the appropriate demographics and utilises the right medium to reach potential leads.

Private equity bidding war upends market view of Insignia

Researcher Morningstar believes a recent spate of takeover offers for Insignia Financial by private equity investors proves the embattled wealth giant has been undervalued by the market. The bids come as offshore interest in Australia’s wealth sector continues to grow.

Advisers lay out biggest risks for businesses in 2025

It’s difficult to know what challenge or opportunity lies around the next corner, but a small sample of advisers predict the four key areas that will impact professionals this year are managing client expectations for investments, legislative changes, staff movements and artificial intelligence.

Mixed demand for advice roles in 2025

Recruiters are finding the toughest roles in financial advice to fill are at the upper and lower ends of the spectrum, with senior advisers and support roles the hardest to fill. The most experienced advisers are often self-employed, while client services personnel are looking for the next step up rather than a horizontal move.

US private equity ups ante on Insignia in new $2.9b bid

Insignia Financial has received another non-binding bid from a US-based private equity firm – this time by CC Capital – for a $2.9 billion deal topping the previously rejected Bain Capital offer. The lucrative offer gives a near 40 per cent premium to the company’s share price before Bain’s offer in December.

Government establishes regulatory grid

The government has established the Regulatory Initiatives Grid, aiming to better streamline and coordinate regulation in the financial sector to help build a more competitive, dynamic and productive economy.

Insignia, DBFO, CSLR and Cbus dominate 2024 coverage

The government’s Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms, Insignia’s leadership transition – and the end of the era for institutional ownership of advice licensees – the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, and troubles with industry fund Cbus dominated the most popular stories published by Professional Planner this year.

NESS Super partners with Otivo for digital advice service

Electro-technology profit-to-member fund NESS Super has partnered with digital advice provider Otivo.

Growth super funds on track to finish CY24 with 11 pc gain: Chant West

The median growth option in super funds are on track to finish the 2024 calendar year with an 11 per cent gain, according to the latest estimate from research house Chant West.

Industry funds are already war-gaming a royal commission

Industry super funds are actively “scenario planning” a royal commission into the powerful $1.4 trillion sector as regulatory and parliamentary scrutiny intensifies. They should heed the lessons learned by their retail fund peers that they would be better off embracing transparency than attempting to stave off the inevitable.

REST appoints people and culture leaders

Super fund REST has appointed two general managers to lead its workplace culture and employee experience development. 

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