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22 January 2025
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Nobel Laureate Harry Markowitz, APRA stings public super funds and IMAs, accountants realising latent value, Council of Superannuation Custodians and the perils of peer reviews.
Harry Markowitz, the 1990 Nobel Laureate and Pensions & Investments Magazine's 'Man of the Century', explains his views on risks and returns and how he arrived at his Modern Portfolio Theory and Efficient Frontier.
Two linked factors explain and justify our concern for rank relative to our peers, one largely psychological and sociological, and the other primarily economic. But what are the risks of performance anxiety?
Accountancy practices have been a poor second cousin to financial planning businesses in terms of sale price and merger and acquisition activity. Here’s why that might change soon.
Anyone responsible for product design and pricing in the superannuation industry needs an understanding of the revised Australian Prudential Standards on bank liquidity. Some creative solutions may be needed.
APRA has given a clearer definition of the term 'financial institution', and it may be broad enough to catch a wide range of client-authorised activity, including Separately Managed Accounts.
Research now backs up the anecdotal claims that SMSF trustee confidence in the superannuation system is declining. The proposed Council with its independence and long term view will help address this.
Last year, I wrote an article suggesting returns from ASX stocks would trample those from housing over the next decade. One year later, this is an update on how that forecast is going and what's changed since.
The housing market was subdued in 2024, and pessimism abounds as we start the new year. 2025 is likely to be a tale of two halves, with interest rate cuts fuelling a resurgence in buyer demand in the second half of the year.
This examines the performance of key asset classes and sub-sectors in 2024 and over longer timeframes, and the lessons that can be drawn for constructing an investment portfolio for the next decade.
The renowned investor has penned his first investor letter for 2025 and it’s a ripper. He runs through what bubbles are, which ones he’s experienced, and whether today’s markets qualify as the third major bubble of this century.
Key lessons include expensive stocks can always get more expensive, Bitcoin is our tulip mania, follow the smart money, the young are coming with pitchforks on housing, and the importance of staying invested.
Check out the most-read Firstlinks articles from 2024. From '16 ASX stocks to buy and hold forever', to 'The best strategy to build income for life', and 'Where baby boomer wealth will end up', there's something for all.