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This time of year gives an opportunity to take a break and come back refreshed and renewed for the new year. It is often a time when we have the chance to read, think and consider more deeply those ideas and insights that may not receive our closest attention during busier times. In the spirit of reflection, and improving oneself, the five articles I’ve found most valuable start with Cuffelinks Special Edition 200 article, collating the two most valuable pieces of advice that over 30 investment professionals would give their 20-year-old selves. This piece becomes richer with every read, and is peppered with gems that will help to improve my decision-making for decades to come. Having spent many years in the public eye as an SMSF specialist, I am regularly asked about property investment within superannuation. The borrowing rules and their application continue to inflate – and then dash - investor hopes and understanding how it works is still limited. Monica Rule’s excellent piece on how those rules apply to property development continues to hold true. For those contemplating retirement, an investment concept that garners insufficient attention is sequencing risk. It's the risk of poor market performance early in the investment period, reducing the potential for longer term performance. Kevin O’Sullivan’s article should be read by all investors and professionals dealing with retirement. I recently re-read Roger Montgomery’s piece, Bubbles and the corruption of risk, quoting Stanley Druckenmiller, formerly of the famous George Soros’ Quantum Fund. Druckenmiller references raisings for credit of dubious quality and Montgomery points to stretched equity valuations as having the potential to create a ‘phony asset bubble’. Nearly three years since this piece was written, equities have rallied strongly and credit markets have suffered no significant correction, but the warnings are there. And finally, life is not all spreadsheets, as Jack Gray reminds us in Poetry for Investors. Sometimes the greatest insights come from the least likely sources. An honorary mention for Alex Denham’s powerful article on the aged care experience of her father. Alex has spent much of her career dissecting legislation governing super, tax, social security and aged care for financial planners and their clients. Ultimately what matters is the experience of our loved ones, and how we care for them.Gemma Dale, Guest Editor
Edition 235 | 18 Jan 2018 | Editorial | Newsletter
Two commonly asked questions are: 'How much do I need to retire' and 'How much can I afford to spend in retirement'? This is a guide to help you come up with your own numbers to suit your goals and needs.
There seems to be more confusion than clarity about the mechanics of how the new $3 million super tax is supposed to work. Here is an attempt to answer some of the questions from my previous work on the issue.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson is an ASX top 50 stock with one of the best investment track records this country has seen. Yet, most Australians haven’t heard of it, and the company seems to prefer it that way.
We are often quoted life expectancy at birth but what matters most is how long we should live as we grow older. It is surprising how short this can be for people born last century, so make the most of it.
A new report suggests Australian housing is twice as expensive as that of the US and UK on a price-to-income basis. It also reveals that it’s cheaper to live in New York than most of our capital cities.
Here are 10 rules for staying happy and sharp as we age, including socialise a lot, never retire, learn a demanding skill, practice gratitude, play video games (specific ones), and be sure to reminisce.
The best way to lose money in markets is to chase the latest stock fad. Conversely, the best way to build wealth is by pursuing a timeless investment strategy that won’t be swayed by short-term market gyrations.
Australian consumers have held up remarkably well amid rising interest rates and inflation. Yet, there are increasing signs that this is turning, and the weakness in consumer spending may last years, not months.
The nine lessons include there is always a cycle, the crowd gets it wrong at extremes, what you pay for an investment matters a lot, markets don’t learn, and you need to know yourself to be a good investor.
It's that time of year when investors sell underperforming stocks at a loss to offset capital gains from profitable investments. This tax-loss selling is creating opportunities in three quality ASX stocks.
Across the globe, leaders are concerned about the fallout from declining birth rates and shrinking populations. Australia, though attractive to migrants, mirrors global birth rate declines, and faces its own challenges.
Australians are paying almost two billion dollars in credit and debit card fees each year and the RBA wil now probe the whole payment system. What changes are needed to ensure the system is fair and transparent?
Many Australians neglect key retirement planning tools. Investment bonds are increasingly valuable as they facilitate intergenerational wealth transfer and offer strategic tax advantages, thereby enhancing financial security.