Financial Standard

Entireti launches consulting program for AFSLs

MATTHEW WAI  |    11:41AM   Entireti has launched a new program to support self-licensed firms to design and execute strategic initiatives, while improving performance and competitiveness.

Private credit bodies issue investor protection guidelines

VINNY VUCAGO   Australia's private credit industry has introduced new voluntary guidance aimed at strengthening lending practices, improving transparency and addressing regulatory concerns around investor protections.

Netwealth factors First Guardian collapse into executive pay

VINNY VUCAGO  |    12:10PM   Netwealth's board considered the First Guardian Master Fund collapse when determining executive variable remuneration for FY26, as shareholders overwhelmingly supported the company's remuneration report at its annual general meeting (AGM).

Marsh expands wealth offering with Wilshire acquisition

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    11:53AM   Mercer Super's parent company Marsh will acquire US investment consultant Wilshire from its private equity owners Motive Partners and CC Capital.

CALI recognises leadership potential

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:02PM   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  |    12:07PM   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.

Macquarie Bank fined $14m for savings rate blunder

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:05PM   Macquarie Bank has been slapped with a $14 million penalty for promoting misleading interest rates on a savings account that confused customers on how much interest they would earn.

ASIC forms markets expert advisory group

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    11:47AM   ASIC has formed a time-limited markets expert advisory group to provide the regulator with advice, market expertise and international perspectives.

Macquarie lands new investment chief for wealth division

MATTHEW WAI  |    11:43AM   Macquarie Group has named the chief investment officer for its wealth management business, following the departure of the former incumbent.

Advent strengthens local investment partnerships with new hire

MATTHEW WAI   Global private equity investor Advent has expanded its local reach, with the chief executive of one of its portfolio companies joining as operating partner.

MLC Expand taps private equity owner's US network on AI

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   MLC Expand's new private equity owner is helping the platform leverage its US network to fast-track its AI capabilities, chief executive Liz McCarthy said.

Australian Ethical ups fees across most super options

KARREN VERGARA   Australian Ethical has increased fees across most of its superannuation investment options shortly after decreasing them earlier in the year.

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.