The Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals (AIOFP) has announced a strategic partnership with fintech company DASH to develop a new white-label investment platform called the Foundation Adviser Wrap. The move marks the association’s return to the platform space, aiming to strengthen adviser independence and improve governance standards in the financial advice sector.
The initiative follows growing industry concerns around how major investment platforms have handled advisers affected by recent fund collapses, including Shield and First Guardian. AIOFP has positioned the new platform as a response to what it describes as structural weaknesses in existing platform arrangements.
Under the partnership, a new entity called Foundation Platform Services Pty Ltd will be established, with industry veteran Arthur Naoumidis appointed as chief executive. The AIOFP says Naoumidis conducted an extensive review of potential platform providers before selecting DASH as the preferred partner.
According to AIOFP executive leadership, the Foundation Adviser Wrap is designed to restore adviser control, ensuring financial professionals retain access to platform infrastructure while protecting client assets and maintaining operational stability. The model is intended to support adviser independence while strengthening client outcomes through improved governance.
DASH executives said the collaboration aligns with its adviser-focused approach to platform design and emphasised the importance of strong governance frameworks in ensuring long-term sustainability in the financial advice industry. The company also noted that advisers play a central role in delivering personalised financial outcomes and should not face unnecessary barriers to platform access.
The Foundation model proposes that advisers will maintain access to the platform unless restricted for regulatory or disciplinary reasons, with any limitations applying only to individual advisers rather than entire advisory groups. This structure is intended to prevent broader disruptions to client portfolios when isolated compliance issues occur.
Industry representatives involved in the initiative argue that the partnership reflects a broader shift toward collaboration between platforms, advisers, and trustees, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and aligned incentives.
The new platform is expected to contribute to ongoing discussions about the future structure of financial advice infrastructure in Australia, particularly around balancing governance requirements with adviser autonomy and client protection.
