In some embodiments, a thermally assisted data recording medium has a recording layer formed of iron (Fe), platinum (Pt) and a transition metal T selected from a group consisting of Rhodium (Rh), Ruthenium (Ru), Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir) to substitute for a portion of the Pt content as FeYPtY-XTX with Y in the range of from about 20 at % to about 80 at % and X in the range of from about 0 at % to about 20 at %.