An Exposure Draft of the Corporations Amendment (Register of Relevant Providers) Regulation 2014 was released on Thur 27.11.2014, which proposes to make a number of amendments to the Corporations Regulations 2001 to:
- enable ASIC to establish and maintain a public register of financial advisers; and
- for Australian Financial Service licensees to collect and provide information to ASIC concerning financial advisers that operate under their licence.
A Consultation Note has also been released to invite feedback from stakeholders on the key drafting issues, to ensure the Regulation will implement the Government’s policy intent. This Consultation Note also includes: information on timing to enable the Register to be implemented by March 2015; and detail on the form lodgment fee increases necessary to fund the register.
On 17 July 2014, the Government announced that it would establish an enhanced register of financial advisers. It would be designed to enable consumers to verify that their adviser is appropriately authorised to provide advice and find out more information about their adviser before receiving financial advice. The register will also give employers greater ability to assess new financial advisers and improve ASIC’s ability to identify and monitor all financial advisers, which will help to remove disreputable participants from the industry over time.
COMMENTS are due 17 December 2014.
[LTN 230, 27/11/14]