Financial Standard

The faces of influence: The 2026 FS Power50

STAFF WRITER  |    12:33PM   Financial Standard has recognised the most influential financial advisers in Australia - leaders, mentors and innovators defining modern advice - in its 2026 FS Power50 list.

ASIC reviews adviser register again

MATTHEW WAI  |    11:45AM   The regulator has commenced another review of the Financial Advisers Register (FAR) to check if relevant providers have met the qualifications standard.

Count takes 30% stake in Brisbane advice firm

VINNY VUCAGO   Count has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Brisbane-based accounting and financial advice firm Apiary Financial, continuing its push to expand its equity partnership network while reporting stronger first-quarter earnings.

Betashares launches ETF amid smart beta surge

MATTHEW WAI   Betashares has expanded its smart beta product suite, as the ETF issuer believes the domestic market, covering equities and fixed income, will pass $50 billion by the end of the year.

Life insurers urged to act earlier on claims

VINNY VUCAGO  |    12:27PM   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.

TPD claims drive insurance disputes

VINNY VUCAGO   Australia's life insurers continue to accept most claims, but total and permanent disability (TPD) and disability income insurance claims remain the main sources of disputes and delays, according to the latest data from APRA and ASIC.

Guaranteed income gives retirees 'licence to spend': JPMAM

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Retirees with a higher share of guaranteed income spend 44% more, according to J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) portfolio manager and head of target date strategies Daniel Oldroyd.

Rent stress threatens retirement security

VINNY VUCAGO   Declining home ownership is deepening Australia's housing divide, with lower-income households facing growing rental stress and potentially entering retirement with significantly less wealth, according to the Actuaries Institute.

Lagarde to leave ECB

VINNY VUCAGO  |    2:55PM   The European Central Bank (ECB) is preparing for a leadership change early next year, with its president set to depart before the end of Christine Lagarde's current term.

Inflation hits 4.3%, RBA says it remains 'too high'

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Australia's inflation rose to 4.3% in the 12 months to September, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ASIC raises red flags on prediction markets

KARREN VERGARA  |    4:01PM   ASIC chair Sarah Court has warned retail investors to be wary of "highly speculative" prediction markets, likening them to betting.

ASIC consults on market operator financial resources requirements

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    2:57PM   ASIC is consulting on proposals for clearer guidance on financial resources requirements for licensed market operators in Australia.

State Super farewells investment strategy chief

MATTHEW WAI   State Super chief investment strategy officer will leave the post early next month after spending almost a decade at the public sector fund.

Australian Unity appoints deputy chair

VINNY VUCAGO   Australian Unity has appointed a new deputy chair following a board member departure, as the ASX-listed firm continues to navigate the changing needs of an ageing population and retirement market.

Aware Super expands Challenger partnership for lifetime income solution

VINNY VUCAGO  |    11:30AM   Aware Super has moved to expand its retirement income offering through a partnership with annuity provider Challenger, as superannuation funds face growing pressure to help members turn accumulated savings into sustainable income.

AustralianSuper rolls out new investment data platform

VINNY VUCAGO   AustralianSuper has implemented a new investment data platform designed to improve portfolio oversight, risk management and decision-making as the superannuation fund expands its global operations.

FBI accuses North Korea of $9bn Binance crypto heist

MATTHEW WAI  |    12:20PM   North Korea has been accused of being the culprit behind the $9 billion (US$6.3bn) cryptocurrency heist from global digital asset platform Binance that took place last week.

Super funds lend voice to tokenisation

VINNY VUCAGO   AustralianSuper, Aware Super and Australian Retirement Trust are among the superannuation funds joining a new advisory group established by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and Digital Finance CRC (DFCRC) to help shape the development of tokenised in wholesale financial markets.

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.