News Archives

Mon, 14 Apr: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has proposed a new regulatory framework aimed at increasing transparency in the financial industry by identifying financial planning licensees who report breaches. Revealed in a consultation paper, CP 383, this proposal would see ASIC start publishing Reportable Situations (RS) and Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) data at both firm and industry levels, including the names and licence numbers of the offending companies. - read more

Mon, 14 Apr: The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicate a deepening recession for households, as revealed by the fourth quarter of 2024 national accounts. For the eighth consecutive quarter, real per capita household consumption has declined, marking an unprecedented stagnation for Australian households. - read more

Mon, 14 Apr: The central accounting associations have strongly urged the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to align its pension treatment regulations with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). This call to action follows noted discrepancies in how the two entities handle the cessation of pensions due to unmet minimum payment requirements. - read more

Mon, 14 Apr: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has initiated legal proceedings in the Federal Court against Hollard Insurance, alleging a breach of the duty of utmost good faith. This action is in response to what ASIC describes as Hollard's 'egregious' handling of a home and contents insurance claim filed by a couple from regional Victoria. - read more

Fri, 11 Apr: As tensions rise between the United States and China due to escalating tariffs, deVere Group CEO Nigel Green has declared the situation a 'full-scale trade war.' This intensification follows US President Donald Trump's recent tariff increases against China, marking a significant shift from prior engagements perceived as 'shadowboxing.' - read more

Fri, 11 Apr: In a significant move, the Super Members Council (SMC), which represents major industry funds, is advocating for the expansion of the Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) scheme. The aim is to provide coverage for unpaid superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions for employees of insolvent businesses. The current FEG scheme allows employees to claim unpaid wages, annual leave, and redundancy pays when a business goes under but does not yet cover unpaid superannuation. - read more

Fri, 11 Apr: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has achieved a significant legal milestone with the Federal Court's decision to appoint liquidators to First Guardian Master Fund. Ross Blakeley and Paul Harland from FTI Consulting have been entrusted with this responsibility. The court has mandated that they oversee the liquidation of both Falcon Capital and the First Guardian Master Trust, alongside associated unregistered subsidiary funds. - read more

Fri, 11 Apr: Suncorp, a leading Australian insurer, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by cutting 30 of the 70 positions within its motor claims assessing coordinator team, with an intention to offshore some of these functions. This decision has prompted a response from the Finance Sector Union (FSU), which is currently gathering feedback from its members and intends to challenge the proposed changes. - read more

Thu, 10 Apr: Last week's announcement of the US's reciprocal tariff policy, dubbed 'Liberation Day' by former President Donald Trump, has led to significant market disruptions worldwide. Although Australia has managed to avoid the harshest direct impacts, the broader ramifications of a global trade conflict have not spared its investors, notably causing the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) to experience its most substantial single-day decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. - read more

Thu, 10 Apr: An Australian comedian, Matt Hey, recently expressed his shock on social media following a significant drop in his superannuation balance. The 29-year-old discovered that his retirement funds had decreased by $40,000 in just a few minutes, attributing the downturn to drastic new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump. Hey's experience serves as a stark reminder of the volatility that can impact superannuation, especially following substantial movements in the stock market. - read more

Thu, 10 Apr: Australian stocks are poised to follow a positive US market trend, with the S&P-ASX200 futures rising by 6.6% after US President Donald Trump's latest tariff adjustment. The S&P 500 gained 9.5% after Trump announced a temporary reprieve from tariffs for various countries, aimed at addressing investor apprehensions regarding the global economic implications of aggressive US trade tactics. - read more

Thu, 10 Apr: A recent decision by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has highlighted the importance of accurate disclosure in insurance applications. A trucking company's claim under an NTI commercial motor vehicle policy was denied after discrepancies were found in the company's insurance history and operational radius claims. - read more

Thu, 10 Apr: Gow-Gates has successfully renewed its role as the official insurance broker for Football NSW, set to continue for an additional two years. The decision was made following an extensive tender process conducted by the soccer organization last year. - read more

Tue, 08 Apr: Since 2015, BlackRock has witnessed a marked transformation in the Australian financial advisory landscape with the increased incorporation of managed accounts. Originally capturing a mere 4% of new client investments and holding $10 billion in funds under management (FUM), managed accounts today represent 25% of net client flows, with total FUM expanding to $205 billion across over a thousand options. - read more

Tue, 08 Apr: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the regulatory body overseeing Australia’s superannuation industry, has yet to publicly react to a series of cyberattacks targeting major super funds. The cyber incursions affected prominent institutions like AustralianSuper, Hostplus, and Australian Retirement Trust, among others. Given recent precedents, industry stakeholders anticipate that APRA may soon introduce additional license conditions to address perceived vulnerabilities. - read more

Tue, 08 Apr: In a bold step forward, WT Financial Group and Merchant Wealth Partners have initiated their strategic partnership by merging three distinct financial advisory firms into one unified entity, under the provisional name Hubco. This move follows closely on the heels of their recently announced joint venture aimed at fostering 'entrepreneurial' financial advisory practices. - read more

Tue, 08 Apr: The insured value of strata properties across Australia has soared to an estimated $1.4 trillion, according to a recent industry report. This significant figure highlights the growing importance of the strata sector, which now encompasses properties worth $486 billion in New South Wales, $471 billion in Victoria, $245 billion in Queensland, and $112 billion in Western Australia. South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory round out the country's strata market. - read more

Mon, 07 Apr: The Trump administration's recent imposition of tariffs ranging from 10% to 48% on its trading partners has raised the effective U.S. tariff rate to its highest level in over a century. This move has sent global stock markets into turmoil, with significant declines across various indexes. - read more

Mon, 07 Apr: TAL, a prominent life insurance provider, has announced its acquisition of a 15.1% stake in Challenger Limited. This strategic move is seen as part of TAL's efforts to deepen its involvement in the annuities market, as it seeks to address the evolving needs of Australia's ageing demographic. - read more

Mon, 07 Apr: The destruction caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is projected to demand approximately $1.7 billion in claims from the reinsurance pool, according to Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers. As the cyclone swept across Queensland on March 8, over 63,000 claims have already been lodged with insurers. The insurance coverage through the cyclone pool ceased 48 hours later, highlighting the widespread devastation in its wake. - read more

Thu, 03 Apr: AMP has strategically broadened its North platform by integrating three new asset management firms—Innova Asset Management, AZ Sestante, and Watershed Funds Management. This addition to North's managed accounts menu is designed to enhance the variety of investment choices available to advisers. - read more

Thu, 03 Apr: Fortitude Investment Partners, a prominent private markets investor based in Brisbane, has acquired a majority stake in ASF Audits, Australia's largest independent self-managed super fund (SMSF) audit firm. The acquisition, valued at approximately $31.2 million, represents a strategic expansion for Fortitude into the tech-enabled financial services sector. The transaction completed its due diligence phase last month, positioning Fortitude at the forefront of prospective buyers. - read more

Thu, 03 Apr: The Australian dollar experienced a dramatic day after the announcement of reciprocal tariffs and a baseline 10% tariff applied universally. While the DXY, a measure of the US dollar's performance, saw a decline, the AUD experienced significant volatility. Initial gains were quickly reversed, following the broader turmoil in global markets. - read more

Thu, 03 Apr: The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is set to host a community consultation and information session in Casterton, a town in Western Victoria recently battered by hail and storms. This event, scheduled for Wednesday, aims to provide residents with an opportunity to engage directly with their insurers. - read more

Wed, 02 Apr: Per Capita, a progressive think tank, has released a report highlighting the challenges faced by young Australians due to stagnant wage growth over the past decade. This economic stagnation has contributed significantly to declining homeownership rates among the youth. - read more

Wed, 02 Apr: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has exposed a concerning practice within the superannuation industry: certain super funds have been deducting insurance premiums and financial advice fees from the accounts of deceased members. This issue was highlighted in ASIC's comprehensive report, REP 806, which examines how death benefit claims are managed by superannuation funds across the industry. - read more

Wed, 02 Apr: Australian households are experiencing a prolonged economic recession, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Q4 2024 national accounts. Real per capita household consumption has declined for eight consecutive quarters, illustrating a stagnant trend in consumer spending. - read more

Wed, 02 Apr: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a federal election set for May 3, positioning the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) to leverage this political moment to advocate vigorously for enhanced risk reduction measures. The ICA is calling for substantial investment in mitigation strategies to address pressing issues of insurance affordability and resilience against natural disasters. - read more

Tue, 01 Apr: Talaria Asset Management, a boutique investment firm based in Australia, has selected Equity Trustees as the responsible entity for its suite of three global equity funds. The decision encompasses the Talaria Global Equity Fund Complex ETF (TLRA), the Currency Hedged Complex ETF (TLRH), and the Foundation units. This partnership entrusts Equity Trustees with the responsibility of ensuring these funds meet necessary regulatory and compliance standards. - read more

Tue, 01 Apr: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has initiated legal proceedings against AustralianSuper, one of the nation's largest superannuation funds, accusing it of significant delays in processing death benefit claims. This action follows a previous $27 million fine imposed on AustralianSuper for the mismanagement of dormant accounts. The latest claims from ASIC highlight delays ranging from four months to four years, impacting nearly 7000 families who were awaiting these crucial benefits. - read more

Tue, 01 Apr: Recent data reveals a continued decline in Australian inflation, providing optimism for the financial sector. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Melbourne Institute (MI) both reported lower-than-expected inflation rates, with the MI’s trimmed mean inflation reaching its lowest since 2020. This trend, highlighted by Justin Fabo of Antipodean Macro, indicates a return towards pre-2003 averages. - read more

Tue, 01 Apr: The Supreme Court of New South Wales has imposed significant criminal penalties on Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd and AWP Australia Pty Ltd. Allianz received a $13.5 million fine, while AWP was fined $3.3 million. These penalties were for falsely or misleadingly promoting financial products online, breaching sections 1041E(1) and 1311(1) of the Corporations Act 2001. - read more