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5 November 2025
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Where financial advice went wrong, shares v bonds, retirement products, real estate wins, finance fire drill, active/passive, discount LICs, Buffett.
Financial advisers, especially in vertically-integrated firms, attached a product sale to the advice, confusing clients and setting off a chain reaction where regulators stepped in. The reputation of financial advice was compromised.
For long-term investors who can tolerate short-term volatility, shares will deliver the best outcome including income in retirement. It's cash and term deposits that are the long-term risks.
Non-residential real estate performed strongly in 2017, but much of this return came from cap rate (yield) compression. Going forward, investors will need to focus more on income growth and sector allocation.
Enthusiasm for post-retirement investment products is growing, and the Government has just appointed an advisory group, but there are many reasons why the industry has not yet finalised the best outcomes.
The active v passive debate has deflected attention from a more important issue, a focus on managing to client goals. Plus active management has suffered relative to passive by the central bank-driven uplift of all assets.
The best time to do a financial fire drill is when there is no fire. Planning for a major bear market will help prevent emotional upheaval and panic selling, and advisers have an important role to play with their clients.
Plenty of LICs trade at a discount to their NTA value, often for good reasons, but there are opportunities to benefit from a narrowing of the discount if an investor knows what to look for.
Warren Buffett's latest letter to shareholders gives his definition of 'risk' and makes surprising points about holding bonds versus shares which will delight equity investors and managers.
Platinum’s Kerr Neilson shares his insights into long term investing in global markets, especially the disruptive effects of technology and globalisation. And always with a focus on the price of a stock.
Platinum's Kerr Neilson shares his insights into long term investing in global markets, especially the disruptive effects of technology and globalisation. And always with a focus on the price of a stock.
More Australians are retiring with larger mortgages and less super. This paper explores how unlocking housing wealth can help ease the nation’s growing retirement cashflow crunch.
In any year since 1875, if you'd invested in the ASX, turned away and come back eight years later, your average return would be 120% with no negative periods. It's just one of the must-have stats that all investors should know.
Younger Australians think they’ll need $100k a year in retirement - nearly double what current retirees spend. Expectations are rising fast, but are they realistic or just another case of lifestyle inflation?
Five mega trends point to risks of a more inflation prone and lower growth environment. This, along with rich market valuations, should constrain medium term superannuation returns to around 5% per annum.
Whether for yourself or a family member, it’s never too early to start thinking about aged care. This looks at the best ways to plan ahead, as well as the changes coming to aged care from November 1 this year.
Labor has caved to pressure on key parts of the Division 296 tax, though also added some important nuances. Here are six experts’ views on the changes and what they mean for you.