Delivering documents electronically

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With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, more businesses are communicating with clients electronically. But what are your options when you need to supply or sign documents? Financial professionals must give their

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Lenders may need to vary their licence to sell at POS

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Financiers who distribute through retailers may need to vary their licence in preparation for the end of the point-of-sale (POS) exemption. The exemption was flagged to go by the Royal

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Royal Commission response: Add-on insurance

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Sale of so-called ‘add-on insurances’ has been widely criticised in Australia for some time. Here’s why: High pressure sales methods Poor value products, poorly understood Sometime a consumer is not

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New credit card rules affect all lenders and brokers

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This is the first post in a two part series on the new responsible lending rules for credit cards. Tighter new rules mean that credit card providers must assess credit

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Do responsible managers need ASIC approval?

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There is no legal requirement for ASIC to “approve” Responsible Managers (RMs), but that’s exactly what’s happening in practice. It’s now creating problems for licensees and RMs. The letter of

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Business lending unfair contracts

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Small business lenders are in the spotlight following ASIC’s report on unfair contract terms in small business loans. With ASIC setting clear expectations about how small business lenders will amend

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Are chatbots providing financial services?

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Many financial services businesses now use technology, such as algorithms and chatbots, to help attract and service their customers. While some organisations may create their own chatbot software, most use

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It’s time to change the definition of control

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This is the third article in The Fold’s series on the ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce’s third Position and Consultation paper on Strengthening ASIC’s licensing powers (the Position Paper). The Position Paper contemplates

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Accountants get the short end of the stick – again

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Ever since the accountants’ limited licence regime was introduced, limited licensees have been at a disadvantage compared to full licensees. Red tape is unnecessarily complicated The application process for limited

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When is it fit and proper for ASIC to cancel licences?

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The ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce released its third Position and Consultation paper in June 2017 (the Position Paper). The paper explores how to strengthen ASIC’s licensing powers. Over the next five posts

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