Editor's Choice
Federal Court lifts Merhi's travel ban
Former financial adviser Ferras Merhi is now free to travel as the Federal Court lifted travel restraint orders imposed one year ago.
Hostplus delivers double-digit FY26 returns
Hostplus Balanced (MySuper) option delivered members 10.8% for the financial year 2025-26, while the Indexed Balanced option and the High Growth option returned members 11.06% and 12.61% respectively.
ASIC levy estimates jump 19% as regulator ramps up funding
ASIC has lifted its estimated industry funding levy by almost 20% for 2025-26, with regulated entities expected to shoulder $400.5 million in regulatory costs as the corporate watchdog expands its supervision and enforcement activities.
GQG bleeds over US$7bn in FUM in June
Despite recording positive investment performance, GQG Partners observed a significant outflow, with net outflows of $4.62 billion recorded in the month of June, as FUM slipped to $225 billion at June end, compared to $235.5 billion in the month prior.
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Expert Feed
When geopolitics becomes a portfolio risk
Geopolitics is back - again - and Australian investors can no longer treat it as distant background noise.
Does association membership still matter?
With all the changes the advice sector has experienced in recent years, such as regulatory reform and increased education and professional standards ...
Digital assets and where they stand in 2026
So far in 2026 digital assets have captured the headlines largely for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't tell the full story.
Rethinking default design in a changing market environment
The evolution underway in the US DC system highlights the value of periodically reassessing default design assumptions.
Featured Profile
Blake Briggs
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
Since becoming chief executive, Blake Briggs has renewed the Financial Services Council's influence, expanded the membership base, and strengthened its policy and advocacy credentials. Karren Vergara writes.
The members of the FSC have always known the advisers responsible for the inappropriate advice/behaviour yet have not acted to stop it. The blame should lie at the feet of those responsible not with the overwhelming number of advisers that daily provide excellent advice to the people who need it.
LIF reforms as they currently stand will only increase the cost of advice and drive more people to platform (superannuation ) and direct insurance which we all know to be less comprehensive and or more expensive. These reforms which ASIC support will be the next big issue for ASIC in the insurance space as consumers face poor claims outcomes as they were forced into these products without knowing the differences in quality and price.
Fixing the problem that ASIC has identified is simple under the current rule, it just requires the three major players to do their job, ASIC (police) which they are now starting to do, licensees be responsible for their AR's actions (withdraw AR status on known offenders) and Insurers not dealing with the known offenders or encouraging some of these behaviours.
It's simple, effective and doesn't require more regulation.
1. Code of conduct Hmmmm, not one word in it about looking after the interests of clients!
2. Remuneration, thanks for HALVING our income and setting us on a path to only 20%, being a fifth our income (my husband and kids send their thanks).
3. LIF 'seismic reform' only seismically increases banks/insurers already record profits
4. LIF - Can you tell us one consumer benefit and prove it?
5. Democracy - did you give your members the opportunity to vote on whether they support the seismic industry changing legislation?
6. EGM - so many members in so short a time want to have their say on the LIF, can you ignore all of them?
7. There was no DIRECT correlation with upfronts with ALL advisers in ASIC 413
Please tell us one benefit for consumers in the LIF that you so ardently support.