487. Australia is ahead of the United States on this…

If you think hidden commissions, vertical integration and conflicts of interest are uniquely Australian strata problems, think again. This week, I’m joined by US community association advocate Vicki MacHale to compare notes on what’s happening on both sides of the Pacific – from insurance commissions and private equity to the fascinating world of “earned credits”, where management companies can benefit from the money their clients hold in the bank. The parallels are striking, but when it comes to scrutiny, transparency and regulators taking action, Australia may actually be ahead.