If the holy grail of investing lies in the concept of non-correlated return streams with which to build truly diversified portfolios, insurance-linked securities (ILS) should emerge as one of the options for investors; but they are still not well-understood. That was the message that John Wells, co-founder and chairman of London-based Leadenhall Capital Partners, had for The Inside Network’s recent Alternatives Symposium.
Gold’s spectacular rise has been a feature of the markets over the last couple of years, and judging from how the investment banks are sharpening the pencil on their price targets, that trend seems likely to continue, as gold’s ‘NETGO factor’ intensifies.
The dead parrot of financial planning
For some reason, these days, I keep thinking of John Cleese’s character’s defunct parrot, which has “kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible.” I wonder why this particular deceased bird keeps popping into my head; and then I realise I have been reading the latest dispiriting news about Dixon Advisory and how the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) is settling in.
We all know the noble mission of the CSLR. “Our goal is to help victims of financial misconduct and build trust in the finance industry. If you’ve suffered financial loss, we may be able to help.”
But if we advisers had a John Cleese in our corner, as he would put it, “Dixon Advisory is an ex-firm! And you, dear financial advisers, have just been sold its dead parrot!”
Now, imagine:
The shopkeeper sells a dead parrot (Dixon Advisory).
The customer (ASIC) demands a refund ($7.2 million fine), but the shopkeeper refuses to pay.
When it’s obvious the parrot is dead, the shopkeeper shuts down the shop.
The landlord (ASIC) then tells other customers (financial advisers) they must foot the bill!
The shopkeeper (Dixon executives) walks away scot-free.
This is Dixon Advisory’s collapse, ASIC’s failure, and the CSLR disaster.
1. Dixon Advisory was dead all along
The parrot wasn’t “just resting” — it was dead, like Dixon Advisory before admitting collapse. Its bad investment advice, particularly on the US Masters Residential Property Fund (URF), left clients with huge losses, while the firm collected fees. When things went south, Dixon declared insolvency, dodging its $7.2 million ASIC fine.
2. ASIC demands a refund (and gets nothing)
Cleese slamming the parrot on the counter = ASIC trying to enforce its fine.
ASIC fined Dixon Advisory in 2022, but with the firm already in administration, payment was never going to happen.
ASIC’s response? A shrug.
3. Honest advisers get stuck with the bill
Just when you think the mess is over, honest financial advisers walk into the store. Instead of being sold a new parrot, they’re told: “You must pay for the last guy’s dead parrot!”
Thanks to the CSLR, advisers are now on the hook for Dixon Advisory’s failures, to the tune of about $100 million.
4. Dixon’s executives walk away
In a normal world, those responsible would face bans or legal action.
But here? Not a single Dixon adviser or executive has been seriously penaliwed.
Many moved to the parent group E&P, together with majority of Dixons clients – while honest advisers now fund the compensation claims.
To summarise:
🚨 The advisers who gave bad advice? No punishment.
🚨 The executives who ran the firm into the ground? No consequences.
🚨 The honest advisers? THEY get the bill.
5. ASIC and AFCA: The Final Absurdity
ASIC and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) know Dixon Advisory won’t pay the fine, so they just pass the cost onto everyone else.
It’s like if, at the end of the Dead Parrot sketch, the shopkeeper walks away whistling, and other customers are forced to pay for the scam.
The final punchline
John Cleese gives up in frustration, knowing he’s been scammed.
Australian advisers are in the same position — paying for Dixon Advisory’s mess while the real culprits walk free. And the parrot is still dead.
