Financial Standard

Almost one third fail adviser exam

KARREN VERGARA   Nearly one third (30%) of candidates who sat the latest round of the Financial Advisers Exam failed.

Adviser fakes exam certificate, cops ASIC ban

KARREN VERGARA   ASIC has slapped a permanent ban on a financial adviser who doctored her exam certificate and continued to provide advice without the proper qualifications.

Poor investment governance costly for asset owners, members: KPMG, Frontier

ANDREW MCKEAN   Most asset owners estimate that poor investment governance could increase portfolio costs by 1% or more annually, according to a joint report by KPMG and Frontier Advisors.

Franklin Templeton to build advanced financial AI platform

ELIZA BAVIN   Franklin Templeton said it has teamed up with Microsoft to transform the financial services industry.

Aussies underestimate life insurance's importance: Investment Trends

ANDREW MCKEAN   There is a gap in perception among Australians of life insurance as a crucial component of financial stability, according to an Investment Trends Consumer Insurance Needs report.

UniSuper selects new group insurer

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   After more than a decade in business, UniSuper has dropped TAL as its group insurer.

Proposed super tax obfuscates legacy pensions rules: SMSFA

KARREN VERGARA   The proposed 30% tax on large superannuation balances must clarify the confusion surrounding legacy pensions and reserves, and how they should be calculated, according to the SMSF Association (SMSFA).

intelliflo adds SMSF cashflow modelling capabilities

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Advisers using intelliflo now have access to cashflow modelling tools for SMSF clients.

South Australia recognised as 'economic leader'

ANDREW MCKEAN   South Australia leads in economic performance across all Australian states and territories, according to the CommSec State of the States quarterly report.

Australia's budget position ranks second among G20 nations

ANDREW MCKEAN   Australia's budget balance as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) was second among G20 nations last year, improving from 14th in 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Treasury shakes up foreign investing framework

KARREN VERGARA   Treasury is promising to make Australia a better investment hub for foreigners as it lays out comprehensive reforms to make the system "stronger, more streamlined, and more transparent".

ASIC hits back at parliament: 'Simply not realistic'

ELIZA BAVIN   The financial regulator has hit back at suggestions it isn't doing enough to deal with community complaints.

Chief member officer leaves Insignia Financial

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Insignia Financial is on the hunt for a new chief member officer for its superannuation business, confirming the departure of Anne Coyne.

Future Fund deputy CIO jumps to Blue Owl

ELIZABETH FRY   Blue Owl Capital's hire of a top executive from the Future Fund has generated more interest in US firms vying for institutional business in Australia.

Super for housing 'economically reckless': SMC

ANDREW MCKEAN   The Super Members Council (SMC) has warned that encouraging young Australians to use their superannuation for a house deposit could dramatically drive-up house prices and deplete their retirement savings.

AustralianSuper announces insurance changes

ELIZA BAVIN   The super fund alerted members this month that a new age-based insurance cover scale will be introduced.

Institutional investors eye increased exposure to Vietnam

ANDREW MCKEAN   Most pension fund managers and institutional investors plan to increase their exposure to Vietnam over the next three years, according to research from Dragon Capital.

The Aussie wealthtech firms that are 'most innovative'

ANDREW MCKEAN   The annual list of the world's most innovative wealthtech companies was recently released, with several Australian firms making the cut.

Succession planning troubles family offices: J.P. Morgan

KARREN VERGARA   Global family offices remain deeply concerned about how to prepare the next generation to inherit a vast fortune as almost 30% do not have a structured approach to help them, a new study from J.P. Morgan reveals.

Wholesale investor tests up for parliamentary review

KARREN VERGARA   The federal government wants to shake up the wholesale investor tests further in launching a parliamentary inquiry into the entire framework, worrying many fund managers operating in the high-net-worth space.