Financial Standard Podcast

Earlier in his career, Prosperity Advisers financial adviser Ben Travers did not have the luxury of resources that are accessible today, and found becoming an adviser extremely tricky and challenging. Hence, he devoted himself to broadening that access point, but at the same time without compromising the level of standard and quality the industry has upheld over the years. Tune in to learn more about what Ben has contributed to the pathway for the future of financial advice.

Launching two years ago, Fradley Advice has quickly become the trusted practice for complex financial and life matters, such as aged care and retirement. Specialist financial adviser Nathan Fradley tells how he strives to provide empathetic and human-focused advice.

Glen Hare from Fox and Hare shares what it means to advice young Australians in a world of rising costs, technological disruptions and changing financial goals.

Michael Bova of Family Wealth Advisory discusses how he is approaching private market allocations for clients and key risks shaping adviser decisions on the asset class.

With a strong foundation from his father’s career in financial advice, EK Financial Group financial adviser Aaron Kane has tiptoed into the financial planning world from a young age. Inevitably, drawing on his experience and mentorship from his family, Aaron became one of Australia’s most influential advisers as a Power50 member for the third consecutive time. Now set to operate under a self-licensing model, Aaron is keen to unfold a new chapter for the business.

The controversial Division 296 superannuation tax passed through both houses of parliament in March and will take effect from July 1 this year. From that date a 30% tax rate will apply on earnings from superannuation balances between $3 million and $10 million. For balances over $10 million a 40% tax rate applies.Viridian Advisory senior financial adviser Amanda Ragkousis joined the Financial Standard podcast to talk about how she is helping clients prepare ahead of July 1.

FS Power 50’s Jessica Looi, a senior private client adviser at UniSuper, explains why Australians – whether young or old, wealthy or just starting out – can turn to super funds for good-quality information not only on their super and retirement, but also for comprehensive financial advice.

After analysing over 400,000 self-managed super funds and their performance in FY24, Adelaide University and the SMSF Association found that over rolling five-year periods SMSFs tend to outperform APRA-regulated funds by about 1.1%. Why? Because the data demonstrates they’re resilient in the face of market uncertainty, owing largely to a more conservative asset allocation.But there are other factors that contribute to an SMSF’s performance, and together they’re driving record numbers of establishments as Australians look to take more control of their super.In this episode, Adelaide University senior lecturer George Mihaylov and SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess discuss the findings, the emerging trends shaping the future of the SMSF sector and the value that professional financial advice can add.

Financial advice and sailing can be completely irrelevant and separated for many, but it is not the case for Freshwater Wealth financial adviser Roger Perret, as he said strategy deployments from both ends are quite similar. As a Power50 adviser, he continues to use his influence to advocate for the broader advice industry while sailing to his success. Tune in to hear from Perret on his journey in becoming a financial adviser.

The intensifying conflict with Iran has pushed oil prices sharply higher, triggered heavy selling and unsettled global markets.But this is not the first time a major global event has rattled markets and likely won’t be the last. So how do you keep your clients calm during times of intense uncertainty?Townsend & Cobain founding partner Tim Townsend joined the Financial Standard podcast to share his thoughts on navigating clients through the storm.

Family businesses are unique, underpinned by hard work and strong family values. What sets them apart is the ability to leave a meaningful legacy. Jen Goldsworthy, a third-generation wealth manager at Goldsworthy Private Wealth, shares how she runs a successful family business and keeps the tradition of helping others achieve financial freedom alive.Making the Power50 for the second year on a row, Goldsworthy is a strong advocate for the advice industry. She will be part of the Your Next Chapter: Life Planning, Legacy & Peace of Mind event on March 25.

Despite global sustainable funds recording more than US$80 billion in net outflows in 2025, Australia and New Zealand are bucking the trend and continue to attract new capital.In this episode, Australian Ethical deputy chief investment officer John Woods unpacks how ESG investing is evolving in 2026, explaining why there's still plenty of opportunities out there for sustainable investors, the importance of transparency, and the need for a reliable ESG fund labelling system.He also breaks down Australian Ethical’s approach to investing in emerging markets, and how it's looking at renewables, climate tech, private credit, and solar‑driven infrastructure.

In the last year, we have borne witness to significant regulatory changes in operation, shaping and reshaping financial advice. As advisers tread water against a rising tide of regulatory red tape, FAAA's general manager Phil Anderson speaks optimistically to the regulatory evolutions that may unfold in 2026.

Emerging markets staged a powerful comeback in 2025 – but is the rally built to last? Robeco senior portfolio manager Michael Lin shares his views on what he expects for the asset class in 2026.

The start of 2026 was a baptism of fire mired by geopolitical and market turmoils. Alternatives, meanwhile, continue to underscore resilience and cushion the downside risks as strong structural demands look promising for the asset class in the year ahead. Brookfield Private Wealth managing director and head of international Jeremy Hall is our special guest on today’s episode.

From valuations and capex to demand and real world deployment, Kieran Moore portfolio manager at Munro Partners discusses the main themes shaping the AI trade.

Although Australian fixed income may have shared a similar start as the previous year in 2026, Janus Henderson's head of Australian fixed interest, Jay Sivapalan, explains some opportunities investors can capitalise on. He believes it will be difficult for the asset class, which is traditionally used as a defensive asset in a portfolio, to produce negative returns. However, inflation can remain sticky, in turn delaying the RBA's interest rate cut decisions, which can impact performance.

Principal Asset Management head of alternative credit Tim Warrick says central banks around the world are providing a more “accommodated” policy, leading to a promising year ahead for private credit. In turn, he warns that investors should be cautious with the pricing component and increased accessibility, as improved liquidity can unintentionally flip the sector into a more ‘public-like’ market.

Despite the challenges financial advisers faced in recent years, as we head into 2026, there is much to be excited about. Rasiah Private Wealth Management founder and principal adviser Thabojan Rasiah shares how the profession has evolved, where opportunities lie and why the future is bright.

While some investors are winning big by investing in companies enabling the use of artificial intelligence, like data centres, others are using this booming technology to analyse companies and those who run them.Robeco head of next gen research Mike Chen joins the Financial Standard podcast to discuss opportunities in AI that are off the beaten track.

Despite ongoing market volatility, private credit returns remained “compelling”, as Peter Szekely, managing partner at Tanarra Credit Partners, shares his thoughts on the current landscape for the asset class.

From various regulatory updates to surging crypto prices, 2025 seemed to have it all. Speaking with Vakul Talwar, Crypto.com general Manager for Australia, he explained some of the most interesting developments of the sector over the past 12 months and how investors are reacting to these trends.

In this episode, ECP Asset Management portfolio manager Andrew Dale explains the current dynamics in Australian equities and how the asset class has performed since the beginning of the year. Investor sentiment has been mixed; there have been some pleasant surprises, while some traditional players have underperformed. Despite a bullish ETF market, Dale believes active managers can still provide value heading into 2026.

Alternatives in the form of private equity, private credit and hedge funds are undergoing as seismic shift in demand here and overseas. To delve into why they are having their moment in the sun, Navigator Global Investments chief investment officer Ross Zachary joins us.

If you had $1000 to invest back in 2010, would you put it in shares, cash or crypto? Which investment was the most generous and which was the most costly?Swinburne University of Technology senior lecturer of finance Jason Tian reveals which asset class came out on top in newly published research.

With $56 billion in assets under management, listed investment companies (LICs) and listed investment trusts (LITs) make up an important part of the listed securities ecosystem.Jesse Hamilton, the chief financial officer at Wilson Asset Management, provides an excellent breakdown of the ins and outs of the two investment vehicles.

Despite containing some of the highest-earning individuals, most medical professionals struggle with financial security. To unpack the phenomenon, PPS Mutal state manager for NSW and ACT Sabrina Sequeira-Walmsley highlighted some of the financial and psychological challenges these workers are faced with, while indicating areas where financial advisers can provide support and aid.

Global equities have continued to outperform despite sticky inflation, geopolitical tensions, ongoing wars and US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.It’s been good news for investors and portfolios, but can it really be sustained? Talaria co-chief investment officer Chad Padowitz joined the Financial Standard podcast to discuss.

In this episode of the Financial Standard Podcast, Julian Clarkstone hosts a panel discussion highlighting the rise of the private credit market. The Advisers in Focus event, held in Melbourne, featured industry experts Craig Schloeffel, Travis Schindler, and Calvin Richardson. The panel discussed the key drivers behind the rise of private credit, its role in investment portfolios, due diligence tips for advisers, as well as a review of the regulatory landscape. The discussion also delves into investor education, market expectations, and the uncorrelated nature of private credit, offering a comprehensive look into the burgeoning asset class. 00:21 Event Overview: Advisers in Focus01:45 Panel introduction and discussion kickoff02:21 Understanding private credit03:37 Insights from industry experts06:43 Private credit market dynamics18:26 Evaluating private credit funds21:45 Regulatory spotlight and governance26:21 Balancing liquidity and returns31:48 Innovations in funds management32:26 Australian vs. international portfolios33:18 Challenges of international real estate lending35:06 Mid-market residential lending in Australia37:47 Impact of wholesale investor definition changes42:00 Private credit's role in addressing housing under supply issues45:44 Private credit as a core portfolio component49:23 Managing defaults and risks in private credit55:10 Final thoughts and takeaways

ASIC has been cracking down on how super funds communicate with their members, saying trustees should be treating members more like customers.MLC chief customer officer Renee Howie joins the Financial Standard podcast to discuss the changing nature of how funds interact with their members as expectations change.

The Reserve Bank of Australia started 2025 with a cash rate of 4.1%, with the market expecting a number of cuts throughout the year. Instead, the central bank has delivered just three to bring the official interest rate to 3.6%, where it is now.While some economists believe a cut is still on the cards this year, others believe the RBA will stay on hold until early 2026.Capital.com senior financial market analyst Kyle Rodda joins the Financial Standard podcast to discuss all the things impacting the RBA’s decision making.

Do companies with founders at the helm run their businesses differently? Can the founders inspire more confidence from investors? Lumenary Investment Management managing director and founder, Lawrence Lam, shares what sets found-led companies apart.#financialstandard Subscribe: Click here to choose your favourite podcasting appContact Us: [email protected]: https://www.financialstandard.com.auThe weekly Financial Standard podcast covers the latest developments in finance, investment trends, and economics that are shaping the future of Australia’s wealth management landscape by talking to leading professional voices in Australia and from around the world.Brought to you by Financial Standard. Take the lead.

In this episode, Annabelle Miller, principle, investment at ECP Asset Management unpacks the current dynamics in the AI world, particularly chip manufacturing and the development of critical infrastructure like data centre. She also championed TSMC over the likes of Nvidia when it comes to stock selections – tune in to find out more.

In the lead up to the annual FAAA Congress in Perth in November, general manager of policy, advocacy and standards Phil Anderson joins Financial Standard managing editor Jamie Williamson to discuss the plethora of regulatory issues impacting the financial advice sector.He touches on what he anticipates to cover in his policy and advocacy update at Congress – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and what he hopes to get out of Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) chief executive David Berry, who will appear alongside Anderson on day two.Unafraid to tell it like it is, Anderson also shares his thoughts on the recent dumping of the inquiry into Dixon Advisory, why swift action is needed to avoid more disasters like Shield and First Guardian in future, and what he thinks we’ll still be talking about in 2026.

Australian public companies are laughing in the face of volatility and macroeconomic shocks, defying the odds to break records in the 2025 financial year. SG Hiscock & Company portfolio manager Hamish Tudgell talks about the reporting season that was.

Five years on from a hiatus across the entire industry, the aerospace sector has seemingly returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to T. Rowe Price portfolio strategist Sam Ruiz. Find out how recent developments across the airspace affect investment opportunities, as Sam also breaks down the dynamics between the traditional duopoly in this episode.

While tariffs from the US are consistently making headlines, their effect on the emerging economies can often be overlooked by investors. Speaking with Joseph Lai, principal and chief investment officer at Ox Capital, he explains thoroughly how investors can capitalise from opportunities presenting around the theme.

While most investors would argue that investing with emotions is a huge red flag, DivGro co-founder and chief investment officer Jonathan Nurick says embracing emotional resilience is extremely important, stating that the exposure to the “right feedback” can amount to achieving fruitful returns in dividend investments. 

Private equity’s big appetite for Aussie wealth managers has ramped up in recent years. From CC Capital’s $3.3billion offer for Insignia Financial to Apollo Asset Management selling its stake in Challenger, Morningstar equity analyst Shaun Ler takes a deep dive into PE’s big appetite for ASX-listed wealth managers.

As investors continue seek diversification through alternative assets, there is an asset class that some may think of more as a staple of their local community rather than an investment; Aussie pubs.Chris Unger, managing director and head of Redcape Hospitality, joined the Financial Standard podcast to talk about how investing in Australian pubs can offer diversification away from traditional real estate sectors and public market volatility.

US national debt appears to be out of control. According to USAFacts, it stood at whopping US$36.2 trillion as at May. But is this the true amount? Could more borrowing trigger a crisis if the debt isn’t contained? University of Sydney lecturer in economics Dr. Luke Hartigan sets the record straight.

While some investors are winning big by investing in companies enabling the use of artificial intelligence, like data centres, others are using this booming technology to analyse companies and those who run them.Robeco head of next gen research Mike Chen joins the Financial Standard podcast to discuss opportunities in AI that are off the beaten track. 

Although it is still early stages to determine if artificial intelligence (AI) will be a critical component for the financial services sector, AI has seemingly transcended to a more widely used tool for some of them. Speaking with Zhe Chen, research lead at Acadian Asset Management, he reiterates the importance in maintaining the ‘edge’ amongst competition by suitably leveraging innovation across the company to remain relevant.

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo traditionally demonstrates unique, cyclical characteristics. However, Eric Marais, head of client at Orbis Investment Management, believes its latest launch – that of the Switch 2 – may be a turning point for the stock. Here, he takes a deep dive into the gaming sector and the opportunities it presents.

Generation Development Group chief executive Grant Hackett explains why managed accounts are accelerating, evolving, and being leveraged by financial advisers. 

David Tuckwell, the chief investment officer of ETF Shares, is advising against panic-driven de-risking, advocating for a contrarian approach amid flare ups in the Middle East.

Who uses managed accounts? What is the difference between IMAs, SMAs and MDAs? What’s behind the meteoric rise of managed accounts? SuitabilityHub founder and managing director Recep Peker provides an explainer. 

Sam Perera, the director of Sydney-based financial advice firm Perera Crowther Financial Services, shares what it takes to make a financial advice firm thrive 20 years.

Despite ongoing market volatility, private credit returns remained “compelling”, as Peter Szekely, managing partner at Tanarra Credit Partners, shares his thoughts on the current landscape for the asset class.

Active ETFs are growing at an unprecedented rate and raking in inflows at the expense of managed funds and unit trusts - a phenomenon felt locally and internationally.J.P. Morgan Asset Management's global head of ETFs Travis Spence spoke with Financial Standard in London about what is taking active ETFs by storm.Financial Standard was a guest at the 2025 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Media Summit held in London.