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Following the Senate inquiry and recommendations into the crypto sector, Australia is fast on its way to becoming a leading digital innovation hub in the world, attracting overseas crypto and digital companies alike. This week, FTX, the world’s fastest-growing crypto exchange, announced plans to launch in Australia within weeks. 30-year-old founder Sam Bankman-Fried sank millions…

The former Wells Fargo Asset Management, a 52-year-old pioneering US fund manager, has targeted Australia and New Zealand in its new incarnation as an independent global firm. Allspring Global Investments’ regional expansion is being led by new regional chief executive, Andy Sowerby. If history is a guide, the rollout of institutional funds management capabilities will…

The financial advisory market is set to have a new leader when measured by financial adviser headcount, with WT Financial Group’s decision to acquire licensee company Synchron set to create the “largest non-institutionally-owned financial adviser network”. Completion of the deal, which an announcement to the ASX indicated was for consideration of up to $7.96 million,…

The Principals’ Community, steered by Kon Costas, has received strong support from the independent advisory community after parting ways with BT Financial Group. The sole purpose of the group is to provide support and guidance to AFSL holders that bar any institutional ownership complications. Costas is delighted with the support, saying: “The feedback and support…

Year after year of growing compliance requirements placed on the financial advice sector likely came to a crescendo with the Financial Services Royal Commission. The introduction of FASEA, additional education requirements and Code of Ethics whilst on their own were a positive step towards professionalisation. However, they added another burden to an industry that most…

The US central bank announced a quarter percentage point increase in its benchmark rate overnight, which was widely expected. For the first time in three years has it increased rates and it expected to keep this going until they reach between 1.75 percent and  2 percent by the years end. Sonal Desai, CIO of Global…

Low-cost or “passive” investing has been touted as the biggest innovation in finance for the last several decades. The idea is simple, mastered by the likes of BlackRock and Vanguard: to replicate a major index, like the S&P500 or S&P/ASX200, and offer this to investors in a simple investment vehicle at the lowest cost possible….

Leading Australian ethical and sustainable fund manager Australian Ethical this week offered its views on the fast-developing crisis in Ukraine. “The invasion of Ukraine is a shocking and frightening event, and we can only stand with solidarity and in awe of the resilience and determination of the people of Ukraine,” said the investment team, while…

Ty Cockle, chief executive officer of Financial Foundations Australia (FFA) initially wanted to be a teacher, and trained to be one, but it was difficult to escape the pull of the family business. The son of renowned Victorian adviser John Cockle, he found the conversations of his childhood inexorably pulled him back to advice. “I’ve…

As the amount of capital available to them soars and equity markets grow more volatile, companies increasingly don’t want to go public – and don’t need to. The number of publicly-listed companies on US exchanges has roughly halved from 8,000 to 4,000 in the last 20 years, according to Liberty Street Advisors. And while part…

It’s been a torrid start to the year for 2021’s Fund Manager of the Year, Hyperion. The group is clearly feeling the “tech selloff” pinch after both its flagship funds posted negative returns and missed their benchmark expectations in January, also dragging down one-year numbers as a result. The Hyperion Australian Growth Companies Fund posted…

Investment research firm Morningstar announced the winners of their 2022 Fund Manager of the Year this week. Last year the big names included Hyperion Asset Management, First Sentier Investors and Franklin Templeton. This year was saw a suite of different names take out the top awards with a decided tilt towards low-cost, passive strategies. In…