For many people, the idea of managing and investing your own retirement savings is very appealing. But there is debate over whether running your own self-managed super fund (SMSF) is cost effective. So, what are the arguments for and against having your own fund? Taking control of your super People choose to run their own…
Introduction The past financial year saw a spectacular rebound in returns for investors as the focus shifted from the recession to recovery against a backdrop of policy stimulus and vaccines. The big developments of the last financial year The global and Australian economies were confirmed to have seen deep recessions in the first half of…
Be suspicious of anyone that offers you easy money. Scammers are skilled at convincing you that the investment is real, the returns are high and the risks are low. But there’s always a catch. How to spot an investment scam There are three main types of investment scams: The investment offer is completely fake. The…
What does investing sustainably mean? Investing sustainably, also known as ESG investing, is a growing trend within Australia. ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, and represents the non-financial factors that define how responsible an investment is -and therefore how risky or appealing a prospect is to an investor. Examples of ESG criteria might include:…
Like most people, no doubt you have seen the headlines surrounding the case of missing person Melissa Caddick. The issues surrounding Ms Caddick’s disappearance and the business where it is alleged she was using millions of dollars of clients money to fund her lavish lifestyle are still under investigation. This case is a timely reminder to anyone…
We keep seeing the B word. Global markets have risen to record highs since the sharp falls we saw last March. Large technology stocks have had a particularly strong run. So, are we in bubble territory? And what, if anything, can investors do about it? To a hushed audience, the sage central banker adjusted his…
It’s an uncomfortable truth, knowing that one day we will pass away. No-one likes to think about the distress it will cause their loved ones or what kind of burden they’ll be left with. That’s why death is often considered a taboo topic of conversation, along with money and politics. When you pass away, hospitals…
2020 didn’t exactly turn out the way I or many expected a year ago. For Australia, the year started badly as severe drought had given way to the worst bushfires on record. But just as the bushfires were receding it gave way to the coronavirus pandemic. Every year has a big surprise – or what…
COVID-19 has created uncertainty everywhere and impacted not just our health but our wealth too. From millennials to retirees, we’ve had to review our finances and adapt to the changing environment. We’ve seen volatile share markets, slashed dividends on bank stocks, record-low interest rates and sectors like airlines, tourism and traditional retail struggling to survive….
As an investor, it’s very easy to get thrown off by the ever-present worry list surrounding investment markets that relate to economic activity, profits, interest rates, politics, and so on. This has been magnified by a digital media where everyone is vying for attention and the best way to get this attention is via headlines…
