Stakeholders in the professional year discussion underscore the challenges in the current pipeline and what is holding back licensees from taking on new candidates.

Funds under management at Pinnacle Investment Management are approaching $180 billion, helped by a substantial jump in FUM from its overseas affiliates.

Colonial First State has partnered with JP Morgan Asset Management to make its inaugural private equity allocation, continuing the firm’s expansion into unlisted asset classes.

Betashares has expanded its equity range, launching its latest Australian equity ETF and reducing the management fee on its existing global dividend ETF.

Warakirri Asset Management has partnered with US-based investment manager ClariVest to give Australian retail and wholesale investors access to the firm’s global small companies strategy.

Global X has come out fighting in the race to the bottom for ETF fees with an Australian equity ETF offering fees of just 0.04 per cent per annum, less than half those of the $20 billion Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF.

A former director has pleaded guilty to providing financial product advice without holding an AFSL which saw almost $2 million transferred to him.

Two law firms have highlighted licensees’ responsibility to ensure they have sufficient cyber security measures in light of the enforcement action against Fortnum Private Wealth.

Commonwealth Private Limited, a subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has launched a wholesale offering with the help of JPMAM.

With active ETFs becoming the latest choice as fund managers target the retail audience, their high fees may be a detractor as research finds investors are shunning those priced any higher than 50 bps.