Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 275

Cuffelinks Newsletter Special Edition 275

  •   12 October 2018
  •      
  •   

This week, we have a change of pace from our usual new articles on many different subjects. We are focussing on one topic in this edition, and it's also a chance to catch up on some of the 2,000 articles archived on our website.

It's rare that I read a book which makes me think differently. Hans Rosling's Factfulness has a subtitle, "Ten reasons we're wrong about the world - and why things are better than you think."

It was recently longlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award.

Bill Gates said of this book: "One of the most important books I've ever read - an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world."

The book starts with a quiz to test yourself about the world and how you understand it. We have recreated the test so we can compare Cuffelinks readers with worldwide and Australian results. Please take a few minutes to do the test before reading my article on the book. 

While I encourage you to buy the book for a better understanding (and note we have no commercial interest in you doing so), my article will give a flavour of Hans Rosling's analysis.

Many of you will know Rosling from the extraordinary visualisation he created in 2010 on '200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats'. Viewed some 8.5 million times, in only four minutes, he takes us through how life expectancy and income changed around the world over 200 years. The Youtube link is here.   

Remember, it's also a chance to catch up on those Cuffelinks articles you meant to revisit but never found time. You can also:

  • Use the search box in the top right of our home page to research any financial subject.
  • Check the 'About Us' section of the menu bar at the top of the home page to look for any of over 600 authors under the 'Find Writers' Articles' tab.
  • The menu bar also includes the six Special Ebooks we have produced over the years.
  • The Education Centre on the menu is chock full of reports on LICs, ETFs and White Papers.
  • The content written by all our sponsors is collected in their own section, if you want to find out more about their insights and whether you should invest with or use them.

But most important this week is the Factfulness quiz. After completing it, check the slides provided by Gapminder to explain the answers better.

The Additional Features section below includes the latest reports on ETFs, LICs and listed securities. Normal service on exclusive new articles will resume next week.

Graham Hand, Managing Editor

 

For a PDF version of this week’s newsletter articles, click here.

 


 

Leave a Comment:


banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Vale Graham Hand

It’s with heavy hearts that we announce Firstlinks’ co-founder and former Managing Editor, Graham Hand, has died aged 66. Graham was a legendary figure in the finance industry and here are three tributes to him.

The nuts and bolts of family trusts

There are well over 800,000 family trusts in Australia, controlling more than $3 trillion of assets. Here's a guide on whether a family trust may have a place in your individual investment strategy.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 583 with weekend update

Investing guru Howard Marks says he had two epiphanies while visiting Australia recently: the two major asset classes aren’t what you think they are, and one key decision matters above all else when building portfolios.

  • 24 October 2024

Warren Buffett is preparing for a bear market. Should you?

Berkshire Hathaway’s third quarter earnings update reveals Buffett is selling stocks and building record cash reserves. Here’s a look at his track record in calling market tops and whether you should follow his lead and dial down risk.

Preserving wealth through generations is hard

How have so many wealthy families through history managed to squander their fortunes? This looks at the lessons from these families and offers several solutions to making and keeping money over the long-term.

A big win for bank customers against scammers

A recent ruling from The Australian Financial Complaints Authority may herald a new era for financial scams. For the first time, a bank is being forced to reimburse a customer for the amount they were scammed.

Latest Updates

Shares

Looking beyond banks for dividend income

The Big Four banks have had an extraordinary run and it’s left income investors with a conundrum: to stick with them even though they now offer relatively low dividend yields and limited growth prospects or to look elsewhere.

Exchange traded products

AFIC on its record discount, passive investing and pricey stocks

A triple headwind has seen Australia's biggest LIC swing to a 10% discount and scuppered its relative performance. Management was bullish in an interview with Firstlinks, but is the discount ever likely to close?

Superannuation

Hidden fees are a super problem

Most Australians don’t realise they are being charged up to six different types of fees on their superannuation. These fees can be opaque and hard to compare across different funds and investment options.

Shares

ASX large cap outlook for 2025

Economic growth in Australia looks to have bottomed, which means it makes sense to selectively add to cyclical exposures on the ASX in addition to key thematics like decarbonisation and technological change.

Property

Taking advantage of the property cycle

Understanding the property cycle can be a useful tool to make informed decisions and stay focused on long-term goals. This looks at where we are in the commercial property cycle and the potential opportunities for investors.

Investment strategies

Is this bedrock of financial theory a mirage?

The concept of an 'equity risk premium' has driven asset allocation decisions for decades. A revamped study suggests it was a relatively short-lived phenomenon rather than the mainstay many thought.

Vale Graham Hand

It’s with heavy hearts that we announce Firstlinks’ co-founder and former Managing Editor, Graham Hand, has died aged 66. Graham was a legendary figure in the finance industry and here are three tributes to him.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.