Sydney wealth firm sees licence suspended by ASIC
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has suspended the licence of Sydney-based Australasia Wealth Services Management (ASWM) for failing to meet requirements.
ASWM had held its Australian financial services (AFS) licence since April 2014 but ASIC said the firm “breached its financial reporting and audit obligations” as well as failing to obtain membership of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
The suspension took effect from 27 March 2019 and would be in place until 25 June 2019. ASWM’s licence could be cancelled if the firm was unable to demonstrate it has complied with its AFS licence obligations. While the firm had since obtained AFCA membership, it had failed to yet fulfil the financial reporting and audit obligations.
The firm’s Australian credit licence (ACL) had also been cancelled from the same date for failing to maintain competence to undertake the credit activities it was licenced for and not complying with credit legislation.
ASIC said licensees needed to be aware failing to meet licence obligations was a ‘serious breach’ of the law.
Recommended for you
It can be extremely hard to realise the gains from financial advice M&A, according to Peloton Partners’ Rob Jones, and more could be gained from firms looking inward at their own practice.
With platforms reporting their quarterly results, there is a clear divide in the adviser markets they are targeting, according to platform specialist Recep Peker, and which would be right for your clients.
The Federal Court has imposed a $10 million penalty on Macquarie Bank for failing to prevent and control unauthorised fee transactions by third parties including financial advisers.
A financial advice firm has seen a weekly decline of 10 advisers, with all moving to a new licensee, while Centrepoint Alliance continues its “growth story”.