Financial Standard Podcast

Paul Bloxham, HSBC’s chief economist for Australia, New Zealand, and global commodities, breaks down what’s in store for Australia from a macroeconomic lens.

To thrive in this rapidly changing environment, financial advisers must find a way to stay relevant and be there for their clients in the years to come.To do this, Ultimum Financial Services financial adviser Manisha Bhudia shares why it’s important to evolve, learn, and upskill.

Our guest, Tangelo Advice Consulting director and principal consultant Conrad Travers, says investing in processes reaps rewards for financial advisers and should be a critical part of their business strategy along with investing in their people, technology, and marketing.

Superannuation funds are emboldened to make financial advice affordable and accessible for all Australians. Adrian Gervasoni, the chief commercial and partnerships officer at Industry Funds Services (IFS), shares how funds are banking on digital advice and getting ahead of the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes laws.

What are the opportunities, themes and risks that will underpin 2025 and the next five years?Nick White, Mercer’s global strategic research director, reflects on look-forward views from an investment environment characterised by several potential ‘swing’ dynamics based on Mercer’s annual Themes and Opportunities 2025 report.This podcast is brought to you by Mercer.https://www.mercer.com/en-au/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/themes-and-opportunities/?utm_source=financialstandard&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=to25&utm_term=dec_2024&utm_content=podcast&utm_campaign_country=au

More Australians than ever are leaving the workforce due to mental health challenges, and they're doing so at younger ages. This growing trend threatens individuals, their families, and the national economy, placing added strain on already stretched government safety nets. 

ViewTrade International Australia chief executive Nigel Singh has highlighted that the financial adviser shortage may be more severe than reported, as the current count of advisers includes non-client facing roles. In a bid to attract new talent, he underscores the need to “make advice sexy again,” noting it’s often viewed as only relevant for older or wealthier people.

On the back of Donald Trump winning the US election for a second non-consecutive time, US equities reacted positively. But questions remain around the outlook for equities once Trump takes the office again next year. Fraser Allan, head of CMC Invest (ALPHA), discusses the outlook for 2025.

The largest cohort in Australia’s history are entering, or about the enter, retirement with the ABS estimating 710,000 Australians will retire in the next five years. As the superannuation system prepares for this major change, many retirees are considering annuities as a way to ensure an income stream throughout retirement. But there are still myths surrounding annuities and retirement income more broadly.  Aaron Minney, head of retirement income research at Challenger, joins the Financial Standard podcast to discuss. 

In part two of celebrating this year’s Power50 list, we talk to Fox & Hare Financial Advice co-founder Glen Hare about what being influential means to him. A champion for the profession, Glen has appeared on the Power50 list for the sixth time.