IOOF identifies 67 ‘high risk’ advisers


IOOF has confirmed that it has been late to the party on financial adviser client remediation but expect to begin the process early this year, having identified 67 advisers it regards as being “in the higher-risk category”.
The company revealed its position in an answer to a question on notice received during the hearings of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics as part of its review into the superannuation sector.
Despite earlier having referenced provisioning for a remediation bill in the order of $223 million, IOOF acknowledged that it had not actually commenced making remediation payments because it was still collecting and assessing the data.
“We have directed significant resources towards remediation and have engaged independent experts (one for investigations and another for remediation) to develop and implement (and therefore expedite) the remediation process,” the company’s answer said.
It said this would “help ensure we achieve the best outcome for our clients”.
“Until we complete our analysis, it would not be prudent to estimate how many clients are impacted,” it said.
IOOF’s answer said that all analysis to date had been based on adviser numbers, “where we identified 67 advisers in the higher-risk category”.
“We expect remediation payments to begin in early 2020,” it 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.