Its decision to launch a white label solution, the AIOFP explained, comes in response to member concerns regarding the security of their businesses and client relationships, citing moves from major platforms to restrict access for certain dealer groups, pointing the finger at Macquarie, Netwealth and HUB24.
“Independent advisers are running small businesses. The ability for a platform to restrict access without cause creates a real and immediate risk to those businesses,” the association’s chief executive, Peter Johnston, said.
“Foundation is about putting that risk back under control – ensuring advisers retain access to the platform while their clients’ assets remain in place.”
To lead the initiative, the association engaged with Arthur Naoumidis, chief executive at Investment and Elevate Investment Managers, who according to the AIOFP “conducted a multi-month review of potential platform partners”.
DASH was selected for its ability to support both advisers and their clients and maintaining critical governance frameworks.
DASH executive director of strategy, Darren Pettiona, said the principles of Foundation align with DASH’s long-standing commitment to adviser-centric, client-first design.
“Strong governance and clear standards are critical to the long-term sustainability of the advice industry. Protecting end investors and ensuring high-quality advice outcomes should always be the priority,” he said.
DASH also warned that recent actions across the market, including platforms restricting or removing adviser access, and changes to platform terms that enable direct client engagement, have the potential to undermine “the very ecosystem these principles aim to strengthen”.
“Advisers play a central role in delivering informed, personalised financial outcomes. Limiting their ability to operate, or inserting platforms directly into client relationships, creates friction and uncertainty – particularly at a time when access to advice is already constrained.”
They added that they believed the solution lies not in restricting participation, but in a more accountable, transparent, and technology-enabled frameworks that support all stakeholders.
“At a time when less than 10 per cent of Australians receive financial advice, the industry should be focused on expanding access – not narrowing it,” Pettiona said.
“Technology has a critical role to play in enabling better oversight, clearer audit trails, and stronger governance without removing advisers from the equation.”
DASH said its platform architecture has been built to support this model by combining flexible governance controls with adviser-driven client engagement. Through its integrated software and platform ecosystem, the firm said it enables trustees and licensees to implement scalable governance frameworks while preserving adviser access and continuity for clients.
“We believe the future of advice lies in collaboration – between platforms, trustees, and advisers – underpinned by transparency and aligned incentives,” Pettiona explained.
Under the Foundation model:
- Advisers will retain access to the platform while client assets remain in place;
- Access may only be denied on a “for cause” basis, including regulatory or disciplinary action;
- Any such restriction will apply only to the individual adviser, not entire dealer groups.
“This is about resetting expectations. Advisers should not lose access to critical infrastructure due to decisions beyond their control,” Naoumidis said.
“In partnering with DASH, we found a group that not only understands the critical role of technology in modern advice but is committed to building solutions that put advisers and their clients first, whilst maintaining important governance infrastructure. Their alignment to this principle has been clear from day one.”
This comes after the AIOFP courted some controversy earlier this week through its “15-point plan for the advice profession,” which called for measures such as stripping back the number of professional advice associations and taking aim at managed investment schemes, stating they should be contributing to the CSLR.
