In our view, most advice firms do not stall because they lack process, systems or ambition. They stall because the quality of their decisions collapses as complexity rises. It is not a structure problem. It is a thinking problem The wrong diagnosis ... Read more

Elder financial abuse and domestic financial abuse are issues that are increasingly recognised as part of the duty of care of financial advisers and Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensees. This article builds on the foundational concepts covered ... Read more

Financial abuse rarely introduces itself. It does not always come with signs you can tick off on a checklist. But it is more common than most people realise- and growing fast. In Australia's ageing population, and in relationships marked by power imbalances ... Read more

... are redesigning their approach to contemporary retirement advice', hosted by Challenger on 9 April 2025, featuring Sean Graham, managing director of Assured Support. After two decades of legislative change, margin squeeze and demographic disruption ... Read more

In my career, I have been required to 'handle' three significant adviser frauds, so I know that while most advisers operate with integrity and professionalism - means, motive, opportunity and lax oversight can lead to advisers making choices whose consequences ... Read more

Under Australian financial services laws, Australian Financial Services (AFS) Licensees and financial advisers face stringent compliance obligations regarding the collection, use, and protection of personal information. Failure to comply can result ... Read more

We recently learnt that 98% of the new advice licensees that commenced operation in 2023 were 'micro-licensees'-that is, licensees with fewer than ten advisers. Despite the media attention, this is not a new trend. In fact, it is the inevitable, and ... Read more

Being a Responsible Manager is not easy. As the industry continues to grow and adapt, it is crucial for managers to stay informed and make informed decisions that benefit their licensee and satisfy regulators and stakeholders. In this article, we offer ... Read more

Advisers and licensees have had a lot of regulatory reform to manage in 2021, so it is no surprise that there is still a measure of confusion and uncertainty around these new arrangements. Queries about fee disclosure statements (FDSs) and ongoing fee ... Read more

Considering the deluge of regulatory reform bearing down on licensees and advisers, it is not surprising that the product design and distribution obligations have largely been overlooked. That is a mistake, because although they will not be one of the ... Read more