Former Sydney adviser pleads guilty to dishonest conduct
Former Sydney financial adviser, David Valvo, has pled guilty in court to one count of dishonest conduct.
Valvo appeared before Sydney Downing Centre on 15–16 October and pled guilty to one count of dishonest conduct.
He had previously been charged in April 2024 with 12 counts of dishonest conduct in the course of carrying on a financial services business, Your Financial Freedom Pty Ltd, but the remaining charges were withdrawn.
ASIC alleges that between 23 July 2019 and 15 January 2020, Valvo acted dishonestly when he completed and submitted adviser fee withdrawal forms for 12 of his clients’ Wealthtrac superannuation accounts for amounts totalling approximately $110,000, knowing that the forms were not genuine.
The case was committed for arraignment mention in Sydney District Court on 15 November 2024, and the bail undertaking is continued.
The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions following an investigation by ASIC.
Recommended for you
Despite the year almost at an end, advisers have been considerably active in licensee switching this week while the profession has reported a slight uptick in numbers.
AMP has agreed in principle to settle an advice and insurance class action that commenced in 2020 related to historic commission payment activity.
BT has kicked off its second annual Career Pathways Program in partnership with Striver, almost doubling its intake from the inaugural program last year.
Kaplan has launched a six-week intensive program to start in January, targeting advisers who are unlikely to meet the education deadline but intend to return to the profession once they do.

