Financial Standard

Advisers bolster client book amid compliance burden: CoreData

KARREN VERGARA   Financial advice practices are serving more clients, charging higher fees and reporting record levels of satisfaction with their licensees, despite the weight of compliance, according to CoreData.

FS Power50 voting opens

VINNY VUCAGO   Voting for Australia's most influential financial advisers in the 2026 Financial Standard Power50 is now open, with 122 advisers shortlisted for the annual ranking.

ASX shareholder looks to sue directors, officers over CHESS

ELIZA BAVIN   The shareholder has proposed to sue former ASX directors and officers over CHESS project failures, bringing the lawsuit on behalf of the ASX itself.

GQG sees $6.4bn outflows in July

VINNY VUCAGO   GQG Partners recorded another significant month of client redemptions in July, with net outflows of US$4.5 billion ($6.4b), as the global fund manager continued to face pressure on funds under management.

Life CCC unveils FY27 priorities

MATTHEW WAI   The Life CCC has laid out its priorities for the current financial year, including providing the necessary support required for the upcoming implementation of the revised Life Code.

Corporate hybrid issuance surges: Report

VINNY VUCAGO   Corporate hybrids are re-emerging as a significant segment of the Australian dollar credit market, with QIC saying the asset class is benefiting from regulatory reforms, growing investor demand and changing rating treatment.

Challenger launches retirement research institute

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Challenger has launched the Institute for Lifetime Income, an advocacy and insights platform focused on improving financial and longevity literacy.

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KARREN VERGARA   The "Great Australian Dream" has been superseded by the pursuit of the "Great Australian Lifestyle" as a new measure of success underscored by financial security, a new survey finds.

RBA on hold but keeps door open for more hikes

ELIZA BAVIN   The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the door open for further tightening despite keeping the cash rate steady at 4.35%.

PC calls on government to 'redouble' efforts to close the gap

ELIZA BAVIN   The Productivity Commission has released its 2026 annual Data Compilation Report, tracking Australia's performance towards the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Former director jailed for misuse of $1.75m

VINNY VUCAGO   Former Equitable Financial Solutions director Usman Siddiqui has been sentenced to six years and six months' imprisonment for dishonestly using his position as a director and misappropriating company funds.

ASIC ramps up enforcement action

VINNY VUCAGO   ASIC has delivered 150 administrative enforcement outcomes in 2025-26, including the removal or restriction of 87 individuals and businesses from providing financial services as the regulator intensifies action against misconduct across the financial sector.

DASH appoints new chief executive

KARREN VERGARA   DASH Technology Group appointed a new chief executive, replacing the incumbent who left the company in May.

L1 Group hires private client lead

KARREN VERGARA   L1 Group continues its senior executive recruitment drive, appointing a new local head of private clients.

Women lead in voluntary contributions: Rest

VINNY VUCAGO   Women accounted for almost two thirds of Rest members making voluntary super contributions in 2025-2026.

Future Group marks new successor fund transfer

KARREN VERGARA   Future Group announced its Smart Future Trust will take on the GuildSuper and Child Care Super brands as the group continues to expand with another successor fund transfer.

Zerocap expands insto crypto trading capabilities

MATTHEW WAI   Zerocap, the Smorgon family-backed crypto currency investment platform, has announced a new partnership to scale its institutional crypto and FX trading capabilities.

PE giants partner with Nvidia for $709bn AI platform

MATTHEW WAI   Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs and KKR have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nvidia to mobilise half a trillion US dollars ($709bn) of third-party capital to further accelerate the buildout of AI infrastructure.

Family businesses turn to external chief executives: Deloitte

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   While family members will largely remain at the helm of family businesses post-succession, a Deloitte Private report anticipates a meaningful shift globally, with more businesses preferring outside professionals to step into the chief executive roles.

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.