Industry fund HostPlus has paid a $12,600 infringement notice penalty for making misleading claims about offering “independent advice”.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced the imposition of the infringement notice today noting that the claims about “independent advice” had been contained with in a recorded message on the fund’s consumer telephone number.
ASIC said that from at least July, 2016, to late March 2018 the recorded telephone message ferred to a free consultation available to members with an Industry Funds Services licensed financial planner. It then referred to the advice as independent.
It said that following a complaint, ASIC had had investigated and had become concerned that HostPlus and IFS were not independent of each other because HostPlus employees were appointed as authorised representatives to provide financial advice under the IFS license.
ASIC said that HostPlus had immediately removed the word “independent” from its telephone message.
While the Financial Advice Association Australia said it supports a performance testing regime “in principle”, it holds reservations about expanding this scope to retirement products.
In a Senate submission, the Financial Services Council said super funds should be able to nudge members on engaging with their super and has cautioned against default placements.
The Joint Associations Working Group, which counts FSC in its ranks, has issued an urgent warning to the government.
Senator Jane Hume will join the speaker lineup at the inaugural Australian Wealth Management Summit.
Seriously??? A fund with 1million plus members and more than $33bn in FUM.
What a ridiculous fine amount.
Is anyone surprised why no one takes asic seriously???
Add new comment