Adviser complaints around 1% of AFCA total


Financial advisers only make up 1.4% of complaints to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), with the average compensation being $20,000.
Of the 72,700 complaints received last year, 40% were for credit, 24% for general insurance, 12% deposit taking, 8% for superannuation, 7% for payment systems.
For investments and advice, that was 6%, but that included foreign exchange and managed investment schemes.
Life insurance similarly accounted for a low amount of cases – 2% overall.
Speaking to a Senate Committee, David Locke, AFCA chief executive and chief ombudsman, said it had received 997 complaints in total in the last 12 months.
“The number of complaints with get with regard to financial advisers is actually quite low,” Locke said.
Recommended for you
Sequoia Financial Group has declined by five financial advisers in the past week, four of whom have opened up a new AFSL, according to Wealth Data.
Insignia Financial chief executive Scott Hartley has detailed whether the firm will be selecting an exclusive bidder for the second phase of due diligence as it awaits revised bids from three private equity players.
Insignia Financial has reported a statutory net loss after tax of $17 million in its first half results, although the firm has noted cost optimisation means this is an improvement from a $50 million loss last year.
With alternative funds being described as “impossible” for fund managers to target towards advisers without the support of BDMs for education, Money Management explores the evolving nature of the distribution role.