Financial Standard

Insignia chief draws 'hard line' on NCAs giving retirement advice

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Insignia Financial chief executive Scott Hartley said he draws a hard line when it come to the new class of advisers (NCAs) giving retirement advice.

Entireti launches consulting program for AFSLs

MATTHEW WAI   Entireti has launched a new program to support self-licensed firms to design and execute strategic initiatives, while improving performance and competitiveness.

Blackwattle takes over Quest Asset Partners

KARREN VERGARA   Blackwattle Investment Partners has swallowed up Australian equities manager Quest Asset Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Regal flags muted second-half performance fees

VINNY VUCAGO   Regal Partners expects to recognise at least $122.7 million in fund performance fee revenue for calendar 2026, with market volatility and weaker investment performance limiting the prospect of further material fees in the second half.

CALI recognises leadership potential

KARREN VERGARA   The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) is recognising up-and-coming leaders in the industry with the launch of the ReCALIbrate Women in Life Insurance Pathway.

Life insurers urged to act earlier on claims

VINNY VUCAGO   Life insurers are being urged to request information earlier and improve communication with customers to prevent avoidable delays in claims decisions, following an industry review that found repeated gaps in the handling of longer-running claims.

Longer lives challenge Australia's retirement model

VINNY VUCAGO   Australians could spend close to four decades in retirement, raising questions about how well the nation's retirement system accommodates longer lives and increasingly unpredictable exits from the workforce.

Retirement confidence lowest in a decade: Report

MATTHEW WAI   Just over a quarter of pre-retirees (28%) feel prepared approaching retirement, which has sunk to its lowest point in a decade as those with lower super balances take the biggest hit, an annual report highlighted.

PC targets business barriers to lift productivity

VINNY VUCAGO   Australia's economy has become increasingly stagnant, with declining business creation, closure and worker mobility contribute to the nations productivity challenges, according to new Productivity Commission (PC) interim report.

ASX capital raisings fall, derivatives activity climbs

VINNY VUCAGO   Capital raising activity on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) contracted sharply in October, while derivatives trading increased, reflecting divergent activity across the market.

ASIC moves to streamline IPO process

ELIZA BAVIN   ASIC is giving greater flexibility to companies looking to publicise or correct information about upcoming IPOs.

Government enforces new corporate tax transparency regime

KARREN VERGARA   A new reporting regime is forcing large multinationals operating in Australia to disclose their activities, income and taxes, which the government describes as an "important milestone" in corporate tax transparency.

Funds SA poaches Vision Super risk specialist

MATTHEW WAI   Funds SA will welcome a Vision Super executive to replace executive director, governance and strategy Tony Burrill, as he prepares for retirement following a seven-year tenure at the company.

Former Mercer Super chief lands new gig

MATTHEW WAI   Former Mercer Super chief executive Claire Ross will join a global third-party service provider for institutional investors to lead its superannuation division.

ATO helps return over $1bn in super

MATTHEW WAI   The ATO has helped return over $1.1 billion in unpaid super to over 900,000 Australians in FY26, a significant increase from $795 million in the previous financial year.

NZ Super terminates internal active NZ equites mandate

MATTHEW WAI   Following the completion of a review of its investment management, NZ Super has decided to terminate its internally managed fundamental active equities mandate for New Zealand equities, while welcoming a new portfolio manager for alternative investments.

AI moves beyond pilot phase for Aussie businesses: Deloitte

KARREN VERGARA   Australian organisations are making "real progress" in their artificial intelligence (AI) adoption as it shortens decision cycles, accelerates execution and drives workplace redesign, according to a study by Deloitte.

Human judgement remains key to AI advantage: GBAM

VINNY VUCAGO   Artificial intelligence (AI) is unlikely to provide asset managers with a lasting competitive edge on its own, with the Group of Boutique Asset Managers (GBAM) arguing its value will depend on personal judgment and expertise applied alongside the technology.

Australia's family offices surpass $323bn in assets

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Family offices in Australia have surpassed $323 billion in assets, according to data from Rainmaker Information.

Mining, property fuel Aussie billionaires' wealth

KARREN VERGARA   Australian billionaires' riches are highly concentrated in mining, financial services, technology and property, accounting for 0.7% of the total US$15.1 trillion in global wealth studied by the 2026 Billionaire Census.