In this Australian Finance Podcast episode, Owen Rask speaks with Sarah Court, Chair of ASIC, about what the regulator is seeing across the financial system and why everyday Australians need to pay closer attention to how their money is being handled. Sarah explains ASIC’s role in licensing firms, holding financial institutions to account and stepping in when consumers or investors are at risk. The core of the conversation focuses on mortgage offset accounts after ASIC uncovered failures at banks that meant some customers were not receiving the interest savings they expected. Sarah explains why these problems matter, why legacy systems and weak processes can create real financial harm, and why banks need to fix the basics instead of assuming customers will spot issues themselves. Owen and Sarah also talk about scams, risky investments and the importance of slowing down before handing over money. She shares why MoneySmart can be such a valuable resource for Australians who want plain-English guidance on investing, risk, scams and personal finance. If you want a practical reminder to check your offset setup, stay sceptical of fast-talking investment pitches and understand where ASIC fits into the system, this episode is worth your time before it costs you real money. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Best Part of the Job 03:17 A Typical Day 04:41 ASIC's Role Explained 06:45 Protecting Everyday Investors 08:09 Innovation vs. Protection 09:46 Staying Safe Online 13:45 What Are Offset Accounts? 18:27 The ASIC Investigation 21:59 Banks Couldn't Provide Data 24:51 Technology & Legacy Systems 28:05 What You Can Do Now 30:09 Banks Must Be Accountable 31:52 Final Tips & MoneySmart Episode resources ⁠- Moneysmart⁠: https://moneysmart.gov.au/ ⁠- Investment scam alerts - ASIC⁠: https://www.asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/scams/investment-scam-alerts/ - Professional registers search - ASIC: https://www.asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-registers/professional-registers-search/ - Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”: https://amzn.to/42Uz0aK - Speak with the Rask Advice team: https://rask.com.au/advice - Ask a question (select the Finance podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest Show partner resources - View VanEck's range of funds: https://www.vaneck.com.au/vaneck-etfs/?page=etf-selector - Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit: https://bit.ly/Pearler - Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith: https://bit.ly/R-PocketSmith - Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe: https://stripe.com EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 - 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers: https://bit.ly/Pearler Rask resources - All services: https://bit.ly/R-services - Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan - Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest - Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes - Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest - We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP Follow us on social media - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg