The ombudsman accepted 1,174 investment disputes in 2013/2014, down three per cent from the previous financial year.
The FOS annual review, released yesterday, revealed a "steady decline" in disputes about managed investments, securities, derivates/hedging and real property.
Superannuation disputes saw a slight uptick, increasing from 285 to 296 in 2013/2014.
The overall decline in investment disputes "supports the view that issues arising from the GFC have driven investment disputes in previous years but that these issues are now tailing off", said FOS.
"Consumers who sustained significant losses due to the GFC are likely to have now had their disputes processed," said the ombudsman.
"In addition, better market conditions – together with improved disclosure and management of risk – have most likely helped to minimise the number of investment disputes."
The majority of managed investment scheme disputes (60 per cent) involved a financial planner, with many of the investors claiming they had received inappropriate advice, said FOS.
When it came to superannuation, one third of complaints were about SMSFs – and of those complaints, a further third were about inappropriate advice.
One-third of securities disputes related to poor advice; 25 per cent were targeted at securities dealers; and 13 per cent involved stockbrokers.
FOS also received 1,163 complaints about life insurance, up 12 per cent on 2012/2013.
