Financial Standard Podcast

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.