DARREN SNYDER   As the Association of Financial Advisers National Conference nears, the finalists for its 2018 Female Excellence in Advice Award were named this week.JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Challenger is rolling out its suite of annuity products to users of an $8.3 billion platform.

KANIKA SOOD   A Swiss asset manager is offering two new sustainable infrastructure strategies with a combined capacity of about $1.7 billion to Australian institutional investors as it builds out its APAC presence.DARREN SNYDER   Online brokers are being presented with a new business case to capture the most frequent traders - a group which has spiked in its considerations about switching broking platforms.

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   More than 240,000 life insurance policyholders switched provider in the 12 months to June 2018, while a further 766,000 considered switching.JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Following a strategic review, Suncorp will sell its life insurance business to TAL.

HARRISON WORLEY   SMSF Association executives addressed the regulatory hurdles facing the industry at the Sydney leg of this year's SMSF Association Technical Day.HARRISON WORLEY   A Federal Court ruling on a potential breach of the Sole Purpose Test has been termed a "milestone" for the SMSF industry, however there are still hurdles to clear before sub-funds are not considered in-house assets or related trusts under the SIS (Superannuation Industry Supervision) Act.

BENJAMIN ONG   Australian growth in real wages - nominal wages growth less headline inflation - has now dropped to a whopping 0% in the June quarter from a teenie-weenie growth of 0.1% in the previous three-month period.BENJAMIN ONG   Now the second longest US small business expansion in history, Main Street is set to push this expansion to a new record by adding a super-charged era of growth.

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   The selling of superannuation products by ANZ branch staff has been called into question, with the Royal Commission suggesting the bank's practices are misleading and deceptive.DARREN SNYDER   Wealth management firms have an opportunity to set the course around how they better deliver customer-oriented solutions following the Federal Government's release of draft legislation on the Consumer Data Right.

KANIKA SOOD   TAL has appointed a new head for its customer operations and underwriting, filling the vacancy created when the former lead moved to MetLife.KANIKA SOOD   Australia's oldest listed investment company is seeing a change of guard in its corporate governance as the current chair retires after 34 years on the board.

HARRISON WORLEY   The Royal Commission heard AMP incorrectly charged superannuation members more than $26 million in fees.KARREN VERGARA   Colonial First State admitted to falling below community standards when it crafted poor communication to super fund members to dissuade them from moving to a cheaper default option. One financial adviser was banned in the process, the Royal Commission heard.

KANIKA SOOD   Mainstream Group is launching a separately managed account investment solution, one which the company says is its official entry into digital services targeted at financial advisers.KANIKA SOOD   The 34-year-old fintech's Australian business revenues fell last financial year, just as its UK business delivered strong earnings growth.

KARREN VERGARA   Perpetual research presents new strategies for the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors that mitigate data risks and helps them get ahead in an increasingly digital technology-centric society.HARRISON WORLEY   One of Australia's leading philanthropic couples received the top honour at the 2018 Philanthropic Awards.