The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued a five-year banning order against Queensland-based financial adviser Grant Richard Thomson, preventing him from providing financial services, controlling a financial services business, or performing functions in the carrying on of a financial services business, subject to limited transitional permissions. ASIC’s review of advice provided while Thomson was authorised by Australian Mortgage And Financial Advisers Pty Ltd found he failed to act in clients’ best interests, provide appropriate advice, and prioritise clients’ interests. The review also found he recommended insurance cover levels that incorporated mortgages clients had not yet obtained and arranged for clients to sign application forms, ongoing advice service agreements, and authority-to-proceed documents before clients received statements of advice. ASIC said it had reason to believe Thomson is not a fit and proper person, is not adequately trained or competent, and is likely to contravene a financial services law; the banning has been recorded in ASIC’s banned and disqualified register. The order allows him to control Balanced Life Financial Group Pty Ltd and Balanced Life Wealth Strategies Pty Ltd until 31 August 2025 and to perform functions in the carrying on of a financial services business by either entity until 30 September 2025. Thomson has a right to appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.
Australian Securities & Investments Commission 2025-03-28
Australian Securities & Investments Commission bans Queensland adviser Grant Richard Thomson for five years with limited permissions until September 2025
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has imposed a five-year ban on Queensland financial adviser Grant Richard Thomson for failing to act in clients' best interests and providing inappropriate advice. Thomson recommended insurance for mortgages not yet obtained and had clients sign documents prematurely. ASIC deemed him unfit, inadequately trained, and likely to breach financial services law. The ban is recorded in ASIC’s register, with limited permissions for Thomson to control and operate certain businesses until late 2025. He may appeal the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal.