Former Guardian FP adviser pleads guilty to dishonest conduct



A former financial adviser has pleaded guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court to falsifying 65 insurance applications in order to collect the commissions.
Susan Heathwood pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonest conduct and has been committed to the District Court for sentencing.
According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Heathwood falsified the applications between August 2009 and May 2011, collecting total commissions of $380,897.22 from the subsequent policies.
The court also heard that she paid a total of $49,275.22 in premium payments for a number of policies in order to hide the conduct.
At the time of the offence, Heathwood was an authorised representative of Guardian Financial Planning.
A total of $326,207.59 was retrieved by insurance companies in the form of write-backs, the regulator stated.
The matter was adjourned to 6 July 2012 at the Downing Centre District Court, and Heathwood was granted condition bail.
Recommended for you
Financial advisers are reminded to ensure their CPD is up to date with the Financial Services and Credit Panel making its second determination in a week after an adviser failed to meet the requirements.
An adviser has received a written reprimand from the Financial Services and Credit Panel after failing to meet his CPD requirements, the panel’s first action since June.
While efficiency remains a top priority for Australian advisers, State Street has revealed the profession is now juggling this desire with the need to maintain personalisation of its service offering.
A possible acquisition of data provider Iress is becoming a greater likelihood after the firm announced it is engaging with multiple interested parties.