Financial News Brief
Summary
ASIC is taking extensive legal action against multiple entities (Interprac, SQM Research, MWL Financial Services, Imperial Capital Group) over their alleged roles in the collapses of the Shield and First Guardian schemes, which caused over $1 billion in retirement savings losses for thousands of Australians.
Key Points
- Main Defendant: ASIC is suing Interprac (owned by Sequoia), alleging critical oversight and compliance failures that exposed clients to poor advice and significant risk.
- Scale of Advice: Interprac representatives allegedly advised 6,843 clients to invest approximately $677 million of their super into the failed schemes.
- Ratings Agency Action: ASIC is suing SQM Research, alleging its “favourable” ratings for the Shield Master Fund were misleading and its processes fell short of standards.
- Adviser & Lead Generator Action: Legal action is also underway against MWL Financial Services, its former director, and lead generator Imperial Capital Group, alleging an advice model that funneled clients into Shield.
- Alleged Misconduct: Claims include failure to act in clients’ best interests, use of “negative consent” practices, inadequate response to risks and complaints, and reliance on template responses.
- Enforcement Priority: ASIC states prosecuting those involved in these collapses is a top priority for 2026, with more cases potentially following.
财经新闻简报
总结
澳大利亚证券与投资委员会（ASIC）正对多家实体（Interprac、SQM Research、MWL Financial Services、Imperial Capital Group）采取广泛法律行动，指控它们在Shield和First Guardian计划倒闭事件中扮演的角色，这些事件导致数千名澳大利亚人损失了超过10亿澳元的退休储蓄。
关键点
- 主要被告： ASIC正在起诉Interprac（由Sequoia控股），指控其存在严重的监督和合规失职，使客户面临不良建议和重大风险。
- 建议规模： Interprac的代表据称建议了6,843名客户将其约6.77亿澳元的养老金投资于这些失败的计划。
- 评级机构行动： ASIC正在起诉SQM Research，指控其给予Shield Master Fund的”有利”评级具有误导性，且其流程未达到标准。
- 顾问与潜在客户开发方行动： 同时对MWL Financial Services、其前董事以及潜在客户开发方Imperial Capital Group采取法律行动，指控其运营模式将客户引导至Shield基金。
- 指控的不当行为： 指控内容包括未能以客户最佳利益行事、使用”默示同意”做法、对风险和投诉反应不足、以及依赖模板化回复等。
- 执法优先项： ASIC表示，起诉与这些倒闭事件相关的人员是2026年的首要执法重点，后续可能还会有更多案件。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-13/asic-action-financial-planners-shield-first-guardian/106004042