Suncorp Super is facing a class action over payments to financial advisers.
Law firm William Roberts Lawyers, together with Litigation Capital Management, announced yesterday they were working together to bring a class action against Suncorp Portfolio Service Limited as trustee responsible for the administration of superannuation funds which are part of the Suncorp Group.
It said the proposed class action would be brought on behalf of members of Suncorp Super Funds to recover compensation for members whose accounts were impacted by charges used to pay conflicted remuneration to financial advisers from 1 July, 2013 to date.
The law firm said the class action will allege that Suncorp Super executed agreements to entrench fees that would otherwise have become unlawful or unenforceable.
It said that, in doing so, the action will allege that Suncorp Super breached its duties to avoid conflicts, act with due care and diligence and act in the best interest of its members and that it will seek compensation plus interest for affected Suncorp Super members for the Conflicted Charges.
The law firm said it was not proposed that any financial advisers be included in the class action.
Superannuation funds will have two options for charging fees for the advice provided by the new class of adviser.
The proposed reforms have been described as a key step towards delivering better products and retirement experiences for members, with many noting financial advice remains the “urgent missing piece” of the puzzle.
APRA’s latest data has revealed that superannuation funds spent $1.3 billion on advice fees, with the vast majority sent to external financial advisers.
Cbus Super has unveiled Advice Essentials Plus, a new service offering affordable financial advice to both members and their partners.