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Cliona O’Dowd joined The Australian in 2016 and writes on financial services. She was previously the editor of business news and commentary website Business Spectator. Before moving into journalism she spent a number of years working in the financial services industry in Dublin and London. She holds a master’s degree in European public affairs and law.

@ClionaODowd

Cliona O'Dowd

Latest

WealthWealth

Golden years starting to lose their lustre

Mountains of debt and bigger bills mean Australians are now a lot more worried about retirement, but are their concerns well founded?

Cliona O'Dowd

TakeoversBusiness

Thursday 29th February 2024.Insignia Financial CEO Scott Hartley.Photograph by Arsineh Houspian.

Bain, CC Capital fire up Insignia bidding war

The takeover tussle for Insignia has narrowed, with rivals Bain Capital and CC Capital lobbing $5-a-share bids to value the wealth manager at $3.35bn.

Cliona O'Dowd

EarningsMarkets

????SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : NewsWire Photos - FEBRUARY 24 2025; A general view of people walking past the digital boards of the ASX in the Sydney CBD. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Results day ‘surprises’ come under ASX scrutiny

The ASX is cracking down on companies over their disclosure obligations during results season – particularly those which make market-moving announcements.

Cliona O'Dowd

SMSF investigationFinancial Services

Generic aerials over Melbourne taken from a hot air balloon. Melbourne Skyline. CBD. Sunrise. Picture: Alex Coppel.

ASIC probes links between First Guardian and Shield Master funds

The same group of advisers who spruiked now collapsed Shield Master Fund to superannuation investors, were also recommending now suspended First Guardian Master Fund.

Cliona O'Dowd

EXCLUSIVEFinancial Services

A glass jar full of Australian money; superannuation generic money

AustralianSuper cuts more ties with troubled MUFG

The nation’s biggest superannuation fund has severed ‘member facing’ operations with administrator MUFG and will bring advice in house in order to repair its reputation.

Cliona O'Dowd

ExclusivePolitics

Harvey Norman chief executive Gerry Harvey.

Harvey: nation’s day of reckoning ‘inevitable’

Prominent retailer Gerry Harvey says Australia has the worst energy and industrial relations policies in the world, but is still doing well; however, whoever wins the election we still face a daunting black hole of debt when the reckoning comes. And it will.

Eli Greenblat and Cliona O'Dowd

InvestingSuperannuation

ASIC takes aim at big super’s push into private markets

The corporate regulator wants to dig deeper into ‘private markets’. But will it hinder retail investor options as it seeks to examine big super?

Cliona O'Dowd

Legal AffairsBusiness

Director Paul Chiodo from Melbourne-based property developer Chiodo Constructions

Court freezes Falcon Capital, First Guardian assets

ASIC has secured freezing orders against a Melbourne co-founder and two funds with ties to embattled property developer Paul Chiodo while it investigates millions in missing investor money.

Cliona O'Dowd

Financial servicesBusiness

Australian Retirement Trust chief executive officer Bernard Reilly. Picture: Dylan Coker/The Photo Pitch

Perpetual flags staff cuts in turbocharged savings drive

Wealth manager targets $80m in savings, much of it from redundancies, following its failed carve-up deal with KKR.

Cliona O'Dowd

CompaniesBusiness

Andrew Clifford the Chief Investment Officer at Platinum Asset Management in Sydney today at the Livewire Live event. Picture: David Swift.

Platinum co-CIOs out under new firm structure

Andrew Clifford and Clay Smolinski will step down as co-CIOs of Platinum Asset Management and be replaced by an investment oversight group.

Cliona O'Dowd

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/cliona-odowd/page/12