APRA/ASIC ‘engage’ super funds over adviser relationships
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has confirmed that a number of superannuation funds have been “engaged” over payments to third parties such as financial advisers.
The regulator revealed the engagement as part of its outline of its supervisory priorities for 2020, noting that it was area of joint supervisory focus with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
It said that during 2019 both APRA and ASIC had required all trustees to review the robustness of their existing governance and assurance arrangements for fees charged to members’ superannuation accounts.
“APRA and ASIC are engaging with individual trustees on the outcomes of their reviews, ensuring that trustees have credible plans for addressing identified weaknesses in a timely manner,” APRA said. “Industry-level findings will be made public in the first half of 2020.”
APRA said conflicts of interest was another key area of supervisory focus for it in 2020 and that it had begun an “in-depth review of selected large trustees’ management of outsourcing providers, focusing on related party arrangements and managing conflicts of interest”.
Recommended for you
David Sipina has been sentenced to three years under an intensive correction order for his role in the unlicensed Courtenay House financial services.
As AFSLs endeavour to meet their breach reporting obligations, a legal expert has emphasised why robust documentation will prove fruitful, particularly in the face of potential regulatory investigations.
Betashares has named the top Australian suburbs with the highest spare cash flow, shining a light on where financial advisers could eye out potential clients.
A relevant provider has received a written direction from the Financial Services and Credit Panel after a superannuation rollover resulted in tax bill of over $200,000 for a client.