Financial Standard

Federal Court lifts Merhi's travel ban

KARREN VERGARA   Former financial adviser Ferras Merhi is now free to travel as the Federal Court lifted travel restraint orders imposed one year ago.

Nominations open for the 2026 Power50

STAFF WRITER   Nominations for the 2026 Financial Standard Power50 are now open as we recognise the country's most influential advisers who continue to raise the standards for the profession and provide outstanding service to clients and the wider community.

FY26 ASX listings sat below five-year average

MATTHEW WAI  |    12:15PM   Although ASX recorded its strongest listings in the financial year ending 30 June 2026 since FY22, the latest figure remained below the five-year average of 101, with the number of total listed entities continuing to fall.

Australian Ethical adds $1bn to FUM in three months

MATTHEW WAI  |    12:07PM   The ethical manager wrapped up the financial year with a strong performance, gaining almost $1 billion in FUM to $14.5 billion from the March quarter.

Final report into Life Code makes 85 recommendations

MATTHEW WAI   The final report of an independent review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice has been finalised, proposing some 85 recommendations across aspects of mental health, customer vulnerability, claims handling, and sales practices.

Treasury releases adverse genetic test results ban draft regulation

KARREN VERGARA   Treasury is seeking feedback on draft regulations that ban the use of adverse genetic test results in life insurance, which come into effect on October 8.

FEATURE | Retirement | A layer of confidence

MATTHEW WAI   Retirement is often the most vulnerable and least exciting phase for Australians, yet it can also become a fulfilling period for those who plan in advance and seek reliable sources of income. Matthew Wai writes.

Lack of awareness impacts retirement satisfaction: TAL

MATTHEW WAI   New research indicates that although around 90% of retirees selecting pension accounts or lifetime income streams were satisfied with their decision, less than two in five (38%) pre-retirees understood how those products work.

IMF downgrades Australian outlook

ELIZA BAVIN   The International Monetary Fund has downgraded the outlook for Australia while the RBA's Sarah Hunter has signalled another cash rate hike could be on the cards.

Inflation cools, RBA facing 'uncomfortable trade-off'

ELIZA BAVIN   While inflation has cooled, it remains stubbornly above the Reserve Bank's target range, putting the central bank in a tricky position, experts say.

Another MWL adviser banned over Shield collapse

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    12:20PM   ASIC has banned another MWL Financial adviser Nicole Niu from providing financial services, controlling an entity that carries on a financial services business or performing any function involved in the carrying on of a financial services business for a period of five years.

ASIC seeks to wind up Capital Guard AU

KARREN VERGARA   ASIC is seeking to wind up fixed-income specialist Capital Guard AU amid "serious concerns" about its management and how it handled investor funds mounting to about $17.4 million.

Qualitas bolsters RE private equity team

MATTHEW WAI   Qualitas has appointed a senior executive to look after its real estate private equity business, based in Sydney.

Mercer Super chief executive steps down

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Mercer Super chief executive Claire Ross is departing after almost 17 years in senior leadership roles at the retail super fund.

AusFood Super looks to revitalise member engagement

MATTHEW WAI   The $3.5 billion super fund has partnered with InvestStream to launch RetireSmart+, becoming the first super fund to bring an AI-powered engagement experience to some 66,000 members.

Super funds fail customer service test: SCA

KARREN VERGARA   Superannuation funds are apathetic, dismissive and continue to fail members at the most basic service level, a new investigation from Super Consumers Australia (SCA) reveals, which slapped the industry with an overall failing grade on customer satisfaction.

HeirWealth launches AI integration

VINNY VUCAGO   HeirWealth has launched a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server allowing financial advisers, accountants and family offices to query consolidated client wealth data through artificial intelligence assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude.

SS&C to accept digital cash for tokenised investments

MATTHEW WAI   SS&C Technologies Holdings is planning to adopt digital cash such as stablecoins and tokenised commercial bank deposits during the transactions of tokenised investments.

MST Financial broadens services to Alder & Partners

KARREN VERGARA   MST Financial has broadened its services for Alder & Partners Private Wealth Management, providing "institutional-grade investments" across managed accounts, asset allocation and research.

Australia welcomes 25k to millionaires' club: UBS

KARREN VERGARA   Australia's club of millionaires jumped by 25,000 last year thanks to booming property values and fat superannuation balances, according to the lasts UBS Global Wealth Report.