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Australian $100 dollar bills

ASIC levy again hits AFSLs hard

Mike Taylor 2 February 2026

Financial advice licensees have been reflecting on the invoices they have been receiving from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and pointing out an almost doubling in the ASIC funding levy between 2021-22 and 2024-25.

ASIC levy

Some AFSLs have shared…

Separation Hand dividing blocks

Is there enough will to separate product from advice?

Mike Taylor 2 February 2026

ANALYSIS

While the Government searches for mechanisms to avoid a repeat of the circumstances around the collapse of the Shield and First Guardian funds there has been little mention of the age-old argument for the separation of products and advice.

For the past two decades it has been widely argued…

Active v Passive

New investment ‘regime’ in 2026 warrants active approach

Yasmine Raso 2 February 2026 No Comments

Schroders has added to the case for investors to adopt a more active approach in 2026, pointing to structural changes requiring selectivity.

Regulatory scrutiny

SMSF auditors still under ASIC scrutiny

Staff Writer 2 February 2026 No Comments

ASIC says SMSF auditors remain problematic, especially those who are breaching the rules around in-house audits of clients.

Arrows going separate ways

RBA’s February rate hike could still be a “close call”

Yasmine Raso 2 February 2026 No Comments

While the market has quickly pivoted to pricing in a rate hike, some economists argue the RBA may defy expectations with a hold.

Gold bars and coins

“Stellar year” sends gold demand above 5,000t for first time

Yasmine Raso 2 February 2026 No Comments

Geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty has fuelled consumers and investors alike into entering a new ‘gold rush’ era.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Unlock faster underwriting for smoother approvals

Financial Newswire Contributor 1 February 2026 No Comments

Experience the future of faster underwriting with digital PMARs and automated decisioning. Deliver enhanced precision, smarter processing, and quicker

Mocktail, anyone? Investing across demographic trends

Financial Newswire Contributor 24 November 2025 No Comments

Mirova’s Jens Peers explores the generational trends shaping investment opportunities within the demographic transition.

TPD Severity: A Smarter way to protect your clients

Financial Newswire Contributor 1 November 2025 No Comments

Industry-wide, Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claims have risen sharply in recent years. At Acenda, we recognise this has created challenges…

Why Durability Matters in Private Credit & How La Trobe Financial Sets the Standard

Financial Newswire Contributor 1 November 2025 No Comments

In private credit, innovation matters, but lasting success relies on resilience and reliable performance in challenging market conditions.

AMP Tower Building

Leaner AMP resets its cost base

Mike Taylor 30 January 2026 No Comments

Barely a week after announcing the impending departure of its CEO, AMP has flagged a reset to its cost base to reflect its leaner profile.

New board member

Super fund bloc gains seats on key ASX committee

Mike Taylor 30 January 2026 No Comments

The superannuation sector has been granted three of eight seats on the new ASX Advisory Group on Corporate Governance.

public private

Private markets appetite outweighs risk v reward concerns

Yasmine Raso 30 January 2026 No Comments

A global survey of private wealth advisers has debunked the misconception that private markets are considered riskier than public markets.

Crypto collapse

Record-breaking 2025 marks 4,500-fold jump in crypto failures

Binaya Dahal 30 January 2026 No Comments

According to data from Bestwallet.com, 2025 was the worst recorded year for crypto projects which saw 11.6 million failures.

Boutique launches small caps fund on HUB24, Netwealth

Small caps momentum to weather rate hike worry

Yasmine Raso 30 January 2026 No Comments

While interest rate hikes could derail the momentum enjoyed by small cap stocks, an expert says quality opportunities remain regardless.

Mortgage stress relief

Rate hike risk renews mortgage stress concerns

Binaya Dahal 30 January 2026 No Comments

Borrowers ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress would rise to 25% if the RBA were to increase the cash rate in February by 0.25%, says Roy Morgan.

Mergers & acquisitions

Zurich sells its IM business to Russell

Mike Taylor 29 January 2026 No Comments

Major insurer Zurich is divesting its investment management business in a sale to Russell Investment Management.

Govt urged to invest in artificial intelligence to back Australia's economic prosperity

CSC looks to avoid HESTA’s punishment

Mike Taylor 29 January 2026 No Comments

The Commonwealth Super Corporation is looking to avoid HESTA’s 2025 issues by containing an IT upgrade disruption to just 13 days.