Retirement
Is your super fund in hot water?
One of Australia’s largest superannuation funds has copped a penalty for alleged misleading claims about its advice services.
Is your super fund in hot water?
One of Australia’s largest superannuation funds has copped a penalty for alleged misleading claims about its advice services.
The corporate regulator found that HostPlus made misleading claims about offering “independent advice” in a recorded telephone message.
From July 2016 to late March 2018, the recorded telephone message referred to a free consultation available to members with an Industry Fund Service Limited (IFS) licensed financial planner. It then referred to the advice as “independent”.
ASIC was concerned that HostPlus and IFS were not independent of each other because HostPlus employees were appointed to provide financial advice under IFS’ Australian Financial Services Licence.
Further, HostPlus paid service fees to IFS for adviser services and, at the relevant time, HostPlus was a shareholder of IFS’ “ultimate holding company”, ASIC said.
In response to ASIC’s concerns, HostPlus immediately removed the use of the word “independent” from its recorded telephone message.
What is independent advice?
Financial advisers are required to operate under an Australian Financial Services Licence.
Only financial advisers who operate under a licence that they own qualify as independent.
About the author
About the author
Superannuation
Age Pension increase prompts Australians to review their finances
The increase in the Age Pension, which takes effect today, should serve as a prompt for many older Australians to ensure they're maximizing their income as cost-of-living pressures persist, according ...Read more
Superannuation
Retirement reimagined as Australian optimism meets inflation worries in 2023 super fund insights
The latest reports on retirement confidence among Australians present a spectrum of sentiments, with fresh data revealing surprising optimism in some quarters while exposing underlying concerns in ...Read more
Superannuation
Aussie retirees face a shortfall as ideal retirement nest egg doubles what super will deliver
As Australians look towards retirement, the desired superannuation balance that many believe will ensure a comfortable retirement has significantly outpaced what they are on track to actually save. Read more
Superannuation
Super funds eye 6.5% return in 2023, despite a rocky start
As the year draws closer to its climax, Chant West unveils its projection for super funds in what can only be described as a year of economic ebbs and flows. Read more
Superannuation
A deep dive into Australia’s superannuation system
Australia has a robust retirement savings system known as superannuation designed to provide financial security to Australians in their post-work years. Read more
Superannuation
50,000 super fund members impacted by data breach
Around 50,000 member records were impacted by the breach that took place earlier this month. Read more
Superannuation
Two super funds tipped to reach $1tn by 2040
KPMG has released the findings from a new review. Read more
Superannuation
Super returns fall into the red for FY22
Unless a recovery takes place in the coming weeks, super funds will experience their fifth negative financial year since the introduction of compulsory super. Read more
Superannuation
Age Pension increase prompts Australians to review their finances
The increase in the Age Pension, which takes effect today, should serve as a prompt for many older Australians to ensure they're maximizing their income as cost-of-living pressures persist, according ...Read more
Superannuation
Retirement reimagined as Australian optimism meets inflation worries in 2023 super fund insights
The latest reports on retirement confidence among Australians present a spectrum of sentiments, with fresh data revealing surprising optimism in some quarters while exposing underlying concerns in ...Read more
Superannuation
Aussie retirees face a shortfall as ideal retirement nest egg doubles what super will deliver
As Australians look towards retirement, the desired superannuation balance that many believe will ensure a comfortable retirement has significantly outpaced what they are on track to actually save. Read more
Superannuation
Super funds eye 6.5% return in 2023, despite a rocky start
As the year draws closer to its climax, Chant West unveils its projection for super funds in what can only be described as a year of economic ebbs and flows. Read more
Superannuation
A deep dive into Australia’s superannuation system
Australia has a robust retirement savings system known as superannuation designed to provide financial security to Australians in their post-work years. Read more
Superannuation
50,000 super fund members impacted by data breach
Around 50,000 member records were impacted by the breach that took place earlier this month. Read more
Superannuation
Two super funds tipped to reach $1tn by 2040
KPMG has released the findings from a new review. Read more
Superannuation
Super returns fall into the red for FY22
Unless a recovery takes place in the coming weeks, super funds will experience their fifth negative financial year since the introduction of compulsory super. Read more