Freedom Insurance to close with $33.4m loss

Spectrum Wealth Advisers shut down its AFSL because it was unable to continue meeting its ‘key person’ requirement due to the departure of a number of personnel who were performing duties on behalf of the company with respect to its financial services business.

In a statement to the ASX, Freedom Insurance Group said the result reflects a number of events affecting the Freedom business, including the:

• Cessation of sales in October 2018 following the release of ASIC Report 587 into the sale of direct life insurance and the resulting restructure of Freedom’s operations;
• Impact on Freedom following the findings of the Hayne royal commission;
• Write down of goodwill with respect to Spectrum Wealth Advisers; and
• Provision for the customer remediation program.

“With Freedom winding down its remaining operations, the role of CEO has been made redundant and as a result Sean Williamson will leave Freedom in early August,” Freedom Insurance said.

“Freedom would like to recognise the significant contribution Sean has made in navigating Freedom through what has been a complex and difficult process.”

Adrian Flores

Adrian Flores is a deputy editor at Momentum Media, focusing mainly on banking, wealth management and financial services. He has also written for Public Accountant, Accountants Daily and The CEO Magazine.

You can contact him on adrian.flores@momentummedia.com.au.