Financial Standard

Count rebrands Oracle to Count Wealth

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    12:10PM   Count Financial has rebranded Oracle Group as a new retail brand Count Wealth, after announcing the acquisition earlier in the year.

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.

Infinity AM wins SMID fund mandate

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:24PM   Viridian Financial Group's Infinity Asset Management won a mandate to oversee a small to mid-capitalisation fund that was previously under the remit of Renaissance Asset Management.

Perpetual rejects another EQT AB bid

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:23PM   Perpetual has rejected another takeover offer from EQT AB, saying it does not adequately represent the fair value of the company.

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.

Aussies ditch 'Great Australian Dream,' pursue 'Great Australian Lifestyle'

KARREN VERGARA   The "Great Australian Dream" has been superseded by the pursuit of the "Great Australian Lifestyle" as a new measure of success underscored by financial security, a new survey finds.

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.

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.

ASIC boasts $830m record civil penalties

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:24PM   ASIC has scored a whopping $830 million in civil penalty orders in the last financial year alone, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed.

FSCP bans adviser over client advice failures

VINNY VUCAGO  |    12:10PM   The Financial Services Credit Panel (FSCP) has cancelled the registration of financial adviser Peter Morrison-Dowd and banned him from providing personal advice to retail clients until at least September 2027 after finding multiple breaches of his legal and ethical obligations.

legalsuper appoints HESTA executive as CEO, names new CIO

VINNY VUCAGO  |    12:50PM   legalsuper has appointed a new chief executive and new chief investment officer, hiring from HESTA and Qantas Super.

Brighter Super hires legal chief from crisis-hit Corporate Travel

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |    11:58AM   Brighter Super has appointed Corporate Travel Management's group chief legal officer and company secretary as its incoming chief legal officer.

UniSuper backs tech despite AI caution

VINNY VUCAGO   UniSuper has reaffirmed its conviction in the global technology sector after delivering another year of double-digit returns in its Balanced option.

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.

Next Capital nabs Fujitsu's data centre platform

MATTHEW WAI  |    11:36AM   Australian private equity firm Next Capital is set to acquire the local data centre business of Fujitsu to create a new independent national data centre platform.

SS&C axes jobs, shifts roles offshore

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   US software services giant SS&C Technologies has slashed 170 Australian roles in the operations, technology and delivery teams.

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 latest UBS Global Wealth Report.