Financial Standard

Spender criticises Labor's 'lack of urgency' on advice reforms

ELIZA BAVIN   Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender said declining adviser numbers is a fundamental issue that needs an "urgent fix", while the CSLR is a "textbook case of moral hazard."

Shield Master Fund terminated, new receivers for Keystone Asset Management

KARREN VERGARA   The Shield Master Fund (SMF) has been terminated while its responsible entity Keystone Asset Management (KAM) has been appointed a new receiver and administrator.

New sustainable real assets boutique eyes housing, aged care

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Going out on their own, several of the Lighthouse Infrastructure team have set up shop with a focus on sustainable and inclusive real assets.

Selfwealth shareholders resoundingly greenlight takeover proposal

ANDREW MCKEAN   Selfwealth shareholders approved the investment platform's acquisition by Singaporean digital wealth manager Syfe Group's holding company Svava on Tuesday.

DII drives life insurance disputes: APRA

KARREN VERGARA   Disability income insurance (DII) continues to be a bugbear for the life insurance industry and is the most highly disputed product among advised, non-advised and group insurance customers, APRA statistics show.

Life insurers keep breaking their own rules: Report

ANDREW MCKEAN   Breaches of the Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Code) increased for a fourth consecutive year, with life insurers reporting 14,670 instances of non-compliance, a 19% increase from the previous period.

Webull launches SMSF account offering

ANDREW MCKEAN   Webull Securities Australia has launched a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) account offering, targeting cost-conscious younger investors.

Court approves Caddick SMSF class action settlement

KARREN VERGARA   The Federal Court has approved the settlement amount of $3.54 million for Melissa Caddick victims who brought a class action against auditors that failed to detect fraudulent activities in their SMSFs.

RBA opens door to May rate cut

ELIZA BAVIN   In light of the market turmoil and risks to the global economy as a result of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, the RBA has signalled a May rate cut is on the cards.

Bullock hushes rate cut expectations

ELIZA BAVIN   Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has calmed market expectations for an interest rate cut in May as she comments on Trump's tariffs.

ASIC loses Block Earner case

KARREN VERGARA   The Federal Court has vindicated Block Earner by overturning a decision that it needed an AFSL to offer its Earner product and dismissing ASIC's appeal to impose penalties on the digital asset platform.

Government to 'crack down further' on financial abuse

ANDREW MCKEAN   The government will introduce new measures to target perpetrators of financial abuse, as part of its gender equality plan Building Australia's Future: Labor's Commitment to Women, launched yesterday by Labor senator Katy Gallagher and minister for social services Amanda Rishworth.

Super moves: Aware Super, Future Fund, Cbus

ELIZABETH FRY   Michael Newbold quit his role as head of aviation commercial at Sydney Airport and returned to the investment community.

Funds SA deputy investment chief to depart

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Funds SA will soon bid farewell to its deputy chief investment officer and director of equities.

Corporate fund selects Mercer Super for SFT

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   One of the few remaining corporate super funds, the Goldman Sachs & JBWere Superannuation Fund, will be merged into Mercer Super from next month.

Div 296 must proceed to strengthen 'fairness' in superannuation: ASFA

MATTHEW WAI   Ahead of the federal election, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has urged all contesting parties to consider its recommendations to "protect and strengthen" the super sector.

Data centres 'major growth sector' for Australia: Report

MATTHEW WAI   Australia is only second to the US as a top data centre investment location having deployed $6.7 billion in capital in 2024, according to a new report from Knight Frank.

Perpetual to build digital wholesale term deposit marketplace

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Perpetual Corporate Trust will begin operating a digital marketplace offering debt instruments, kicking off with wholesale term deposits.

Collectables market reaches $17bn: Report

KARREN VERGARA   Australia's booming collectables market has reached $16.8 billion, a new study from eBay Australia shows.

Modern family offices want values aligned, pioneer companies

KARREN VERGARA   Family offices of today are aligning their values and principles across all generations to back pioneer companies that will create deep impact and competitive returns, the recent Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific heard.