Financial managers need remuneration approved by NSW Trustee
10-January-2013 Guardianship By Mark Streeter
A recent case in the NSW Supreme Court has helped define who can undertake the role of financial manager of a person’s assets when a person is incapacitated. It also helped define what constitutes a conflict of interest in the circumstances and what type of remuneration is deemed acceptable in the court’s eyes.
The case involved a young child – EKR – who was in a serious road accident on 27 March 1999. She sued for compensation and damages for injuries that she suffered and was awarded a sum in excess of $2 million. The plaintiff solicitors then applied to the Supreme Court for the appointment of a financial manager called Ability One, who proposed to charge an establishment fee and ongoing fee based on a percentage of the total assets under management.
In the case (GDR – v – EKR (2012) NSWSC 1543), Justice White found a number of aspects of the application to be unsatisfactory. He found that while Ability One was an authorised representative with a financial services licence, the terms of the licence did not cover the anticipated services that would be provided in the role as a financial manager. Furthermore, His Honour identified a conflict of interest and duty.
Documents detailed that Ability One would obtain a “commission” from selling AMP’s financial products. Ability One made an undertaking that any such commission would be rebated to the estate. This proposal was acceptable to the Court.
Justice White also found that the only means by which a financial manager can be remunerated, apart from the NSW Trustee and Guardian (which has a statutory right to remuneration) would be by order of the court or if the NSW Trustee authorises remuneration for services provided by the financial manager, (pursuant to Section 115 of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009). This finding provides an important safeguard that the court or the NSW Trustee must approve any and all remuneration paid to Financial Managers.
Mark Streeter, principal of Sydney law firm Streeterlaw, said this finding provides an important safeguard for clients, in that the court or the NSW Trustee must approve any and all remuneration paid to financial managers.
He said this case has broad-reaching applications, and will particularly impact cases where an elderly client hands over financial control of his or her assets.
“Many people require substitute decision-makers to assist them to make financial decisions when they are unable to make these decisions themselves,” he said. “More than 58 per cent of applications in the Guardianship Tribunal in the last financial year concerned people who were over 65. Accordingly, age-related conditions such as dementia are often the cause of the ‘disability’ and bring about the need for a substitute decision-maker.
“People often make arrangements with family or trusted friends to take on this role. However, if the amount of money in the person’s estate is large, it may be more beneficial to have a professionally qualified professional manager.
“The facts in the above case troubled the court because the financial manager wanted an establishment fee and then a continuing remuneration equivalent to 1.1 per cent for ongoing management. But the court did not rule out appointing a private financial manager with remuneration; however, it observed that any application must demonstrate that this course of action is in the person’s best interests.”
In the end, Justice White reserved a final determination to permit Ability One the time to adjust the terms of its financial services licence to enable it to carry out the services required in their proposed capacity as a financial services manager.
For more information or to discuss your situation, contact Mark Streeter at Sydney law firm Streeterlaw on (02) 81970105 or by email at mark.streeter@streeterlaw.com.au
<br<></br<>
Was this post helpful?
Need help with resolving or preventing a dispute?
Request a call with one of our experienced solicitors now!
