Clients of specialist SMSF software provider BGL will be given the ability to access the digital financial advice services of Ignition Wealth as the result of a new partnership arrangement between the two organisations.

La Trobe Financial today announced global asset management firm Blackstone has taken an 80 per cent stake in the company for an undisclosed sum.

Global equities specialist fund manager Cooper Investors has had two of its offerings recently included on BT Financial Group’s investment platforms.

Specialist financial modelling provider Optimo Financial has now included insurance bonds in its Pathfinder Online platform driven by client demand.

The Tax Institute has launched the “Grow Today. Master Tomorrow.” initiative to give tax professionals access to key resources and up-to-date information on the profession.

While the SMSF Association has stated it is pleased SMSFs are excluded from the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into banking and financial services, it hoped the commission would have no impact on financial advice reforms.

Private wealth adviser Minchin Moore has announced it is to merge with Sydney-based firm Smythe Financial Management (SFM), effective 1 December.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has banned a South Australian authorised representative of Centrepoint-owned Professional Investment Services from providing financial services for three years for being inadequately trained or competent.