29 October 2025

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Retirement income expectations hit new highs Four best-ever charts for every adviser and investor Why super returns may be heading lower The hidden property empire of Australia’s politicians Preparing for aged care

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Home / Author: Alan Hartstein

Alan Hartstein

Some active managers succeed while the majority struggle

According to S&P, the majority of active managers continue to underperform their benchmarks. However there are sectors where active styles perform well, and many managers justify their fees.

Alan Hartstein
1 December 2016
3

Lack of policy direction hurting renewables

The renewables industry is hampered by the combination of a shallow venture capital market and capital-intensive technology. The recent power outages in South Australia did not help.

Alan Hartstein
3 November 2016

Investor surveys highlight opportunities for financial advisers

Improving financial literacy and capitalising on the changing investment trends of SMSF trustees, are big opportunities for financial advisers, according to two recent surveys.

Alan Hartstein
8 September 2016

Finding beneficial tax alternatives to super

If contribution caps and lifetime limits on superannuation are getting in the way of long-term savings goals, there are other tax-effective alternatives available, especially investment bonds for higher income earners.

Alan Hartstein
1 September 2016
2

Deriving an effective retirement income

The wealth industry's focus on building retirement savings to a defined asset value should be replaced by aiming for a sustainable income level, argues Nobel Laureate Robert Merton.

Alan Hartstein
4 August 2016
4

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Latest Updates

A speech from the Prime Minister on fixing housing

“Fellow Australians, I want to address our most pressing national issue: housing. For too long, governments have tiptoed around problems from escalating prices, but for the sake of our younger generations, that stops today.”

James Gruber
22 October 2025
64

Taxation

Family trusts: Are they still worth it?

Family trusts remain a core structure for wealth management, but rising ATO scrutiny and complex compliance raise questions about their ongoing value. Are the benefits still worth the administrative burden?

Peter Bardos
22 October 2025
28

Exchange traded products

Multiple ways to win

Both active and passive investing can work, but active investment doesn’t in the way it is practised by many fund managers and passive investing doesn’t work in the way most end investors practise it. Here’s a better way.

Economy

The Future Fund may become a 'bad bank' for problem home loans

The Future Fund says it will not be paying defined benefit pensions until at least 2033 - raising as many questions as answers. This points to an increasingly uncertain future for Australia's sovereign wealth fund.

John Abernethy
22 October 2025
6

Investment strategies

Managed accounts and the future of portfolio construction

With $233 billion under management, managed accounts are evolving into diversified, transparent, and liquid investment frameworks. The rise of ETFs and private markets marks a shift in portfolio design and discipline.

Arian Neiron
22 October 2025
1

Property

Commercial property prospects are looking up

Commercial property is seeing the same supply issues as the residential market. Given the chronic undersupply and a recent pickup in demand, it bodes well for an upturn in commercial real estate prices.

James Gruber, Steve Bennett
22 October 2025
1

Infrastructure

Private toll roads need a shake-up

Privatised toll roads in Australia help governments avoid upfront costs but often push financial risks onto taxpayers while creating monopolies and unfair toll burdens for commuters and businesses.

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