Former Ballast-aligned planner permanently banned

After an investigation, ASIC found that Marion Joan Pearson had contravened financial services laws.

Specifically, the regulator found she engaged in conduct that was dishonest – including creating documents to disguise the fact that client money was paid into the bank account of Colisa (a company of which she is sole director) without the relevant client's knowledge or authority.

In addition, she engaged in conduct that was misleading or deceptive in that she misled both Ballast and clients into believing the clients' funds were placed in particular investments when in fact she had not done so.

Ms Pearson was an authorised representative of Ballast Financial Management between 1 November 2007 to 30 October 2013 and Colisa was a corporate authorised representative of Ballast between 1 November 2007 to 30 October 2013.

Ballast revoked her authorised representative status on 30 October 2013.

ASIC Commissioner John Price said, "If a financial adviser engages in dishonest conduct, ASIC will remove them from the industry".

ASIC is continuing its investigation into the conduct of Ms Pearson, but is not investigating the conduct of Ballast itself.

Ms Pearson has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC's decision. She is now residing in NZ and is the sole director and shareholder of Colisa, which traded as Anmar Financial Consultants.