Former advice director convicted


A former director of a financial advice company has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for dishonest conduct.
South Australian, Barry David Hassell, a former director of BD & WJ Hassell, pleaded guilty to 39 charges at a hearing of Adelaide Magistrates Court in October 2014.
The charges included dishonest conduct, providing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) with false or misleading information, and failing to provide a disclosure document to clients between March 2002 and December 2011.
Hassell admitted to the following charges:
- four counts of providing ASIC with false or misleading information, including the provision of clients' files containing forged documents;
- 10 counts of engaging in dishonest conduct, including submission to insurers of applications for insurance that contained false information; and
- 25 counts of failing to provide a disclosure document to his clients.
Hassell was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, but was to be released on his own recognisance of $100, to be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months.
Recommended for you
A financial advice firm has been penalised $11 million in the Federal Court for providing ‘cookie cutter advice’ to its clients and breaching conflicted remuneration rules.
Insignia Financial has experienced total quarterly net outflows of $1.8 billion as a result of client rebalancing, while its multi-asset flows halved from the prior quarter.
Prime Financial is looking to shed its “sleeping giant” reputation with larger M&A transactions going forward, having agreed to acquire research firm Lincoln Indicators.
An affiliate of Pinnacle Investment Management has expanded its reach with a London office as the fund manager seeks to grow its overseas distribution into the UK and Europe.