Financial Standard

Adviser increase the 'strongest' since FY20: Padua WealthData

MATTHEW WAI   The number of financial advisers has risen to 15,169, with net gains of six new members this week, according to Padua WealthData's analysis.

Product Showcase: Making group insurance count

THE FINANCIAL STANDARD TEAM   Many financial advisers aspire to provide genuinely integrated advice, but finding ways to support more clients without increasing operational demands remains a challenge.

Super funds risk market concentration in US: Research

ELIZA BAVIN   While Australian equity markets have always had a concentration problem, it is now becoming more prominent in global markets too, according to Scientific Beta.

Canadian pension fund takes 5.6% stake in Inghams

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Canadian pension fund PSP Investments has taken a 5.6% stake in ASX-listed Inghams.

Australian life insurers lag global peers: Capgemini

MATTHEW WAI   A new survey from Capgemini found that Australian life insurers are stowed behind the global average when it comes to member engagement and educational efforts.

AIA Australia rolls out TPD CORE

KARREN VERGARA   AIA Australia has launched TPD CORE, a new retail product that charges lower premiums and provides clearer claim assessment criteria for total and permanent disability (TPD).

Third of Aussies think retirement will be funded by inheritance: Natixis

MATTHEW WAI   Although Australia continues to climb in ranks as a desired retirement destination, now ranking sixth globally in the latest Natixis Investment Managers Global Retirement Index - Australians remain "uncertain" about their financial future but remain reluctant to reach out for help.

Retirement confidence lags as investors turn to AI

VINNY VUCAGO   Retirement has emerged as a central for investors globally, but a lack of confidence and financial literacy is keeping many savers on the sidelines, according to Amundi's latest global investor study.

Jobs data 'final nail in the coffin' for rate rise

ELIZA BAVIN   After a surprise 51,000 employment drop in July, jobs rebounded by a solid 39,500 in August, leading economists to believe the RBA will be forced to hike interest rates this month.

Intergenerational Report looks to AI to buoy productivity slump

KARREN VERGARA   Australia's economy will continue to stagnate over the next 40 years, growing at just 2% annually, according to the latest Intergenerational Report (IGR), which points to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution to buoy sagging productivity.

Netwealth to defend First Guardian class action

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Netwealth will defend a class action brought against it by Keily McCrosson, a boutique law firm based in Melbourne, around the collapse of First Guardian.

RBA workers slam 'copy and paste' pay offer

VINNY VUCAGO   Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) workers have vowed to reject the central bank's pay offer for a second time after the Finance Sector Union (FSU) accused management of putting forward an unchanged proposal.

VBP names inaugural chief growth officer

VINNY VUCAGO   Financial planning outsourcing specialist Vital Business Partners (VBP) has created a new executive role focused on expanding advice relationships, winning new clients and strengthening its offering to advice businesses and licensees.

CFS distribution executive steps down

KARREN VERGARA   After more than seven years at Colonial First State, the firm's group executive for distribution will leave before the end of the year.

Equity Trustees pushes bidders for better price

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Equity Trustees' parent company EQT Holdings' board confirmed it is engaging with its two bidders - TPG Global and BGH Capital - and has pushed for an improved offer from both.

Australian Ethical, Bloomberg join ASFA

VINNY VUCAGO   Stakeholders in the superannuation industry are becoming increasingly diverse despite continued consolidation among funds, with the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) expanding its membership to include organisations spanning responsible investment, technology, banking and workplace health.

AI overtakes superfunds for investor education

VINNY VUCAGO   Artificial intelligence (AI) has overtaken superannuation funds as a source of investment information among younger, highly knowledgeable Australian investors, according to new research from Global X.

New digital asset trading platform targets HNWs, instos

VINNY VUCAGO   CloudTech Group has launched a digital asset trading platform in Australia giving institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors access to aggregated liquidity, institutional-grade pricing and advanced trading tools.

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.