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Adrian Harrington

What to look for in unlisted real estate funds

Part 1 of this two-part series on unlisted real estate funds, or syndicates, explores their characteristics and most importantly, how the Net Tangible Asset calculation can be misleading. Every syndicate is unique.

Real estate outlook: positive returns expected in challenging year

Given the strong returns from most real estate markets in recent years, investors are asking whether there is more upside potential in this cycle, and what is likely to do well.

Real estate social infrastructure coming of age

Demographic and social changes, longevity, cash-strapped governments and higher density living are all driving a shift towards investments in real estate social infrastructure. Here are some risks and benefits.

State of play in listed real estate

Amid the ups and down of the current A-REIT reporting season, the listed real estate sector performed relatively well, and most managers have not been tempted to boost returns by increasing gearing.

House affordability, where are the institutions?

Despite having one of the world’s largest pools of capital through the superannuation system, Australia’s institutional investors, including listed trusts, have shunned investment in private rental accommodation.

Demand for non-residential property drives returns

Non-residential property has been a key beneficiary of the hunt for yield, and for good reason. The lure of high and relatively stable income is driving investors to bid up property prices.

Latest Updates

Planning

Testamentary trusts have secured the CGT exemption

Treasury’s latest CGT reform draft delivers a win for testamentary trusts and deceased estates, exempting estate-derived gains from the 30% floor. However, questions on death and divorce rollovers remain unresolved.

Superannuation

How much super should you have?

Average super balances are one of the most misleading benchmarks. They ignore your goals, spending and future needs, creating a false sense of security. Here is how I calculate exactly where I need to be at every decade.

Retirement

Retiring from work is easy, retiring into life is harder

Most people spend decades planning how to retire. Far fewer plan for what comes next. The biggest retirement challenge isn't always financial, and it often catches even the most prepared retirees completely off guard.

Shares

Right asset class, wrong index: the trap in Australian small caps

Most Australian portfolios are concentrated in large caps, with relatively little exposure to smaller companies. But what if the biggest risk isn't the economy, interest rates or valuations? For many, the risk is hidden in plain sight.

Property

Are these assets the missing piece in Australian portfolios?

Many investors remain concentrated in shares, cash and property. Despite their popularity among institutional investors, real assets remain underrepresented in many SMSF portfolios. Could they be the missing piece?

Investment strategies

The biggest risk that buy-and-hold investors ignore

Investors spend decades learning how to stay invested, yet few have a plan for getting out. When a financial goal has a hard deadline, a worked example shows why a fixed derisking schedule should outrank buy-and-hold discipline.

Investment strategies

How passive investing is driving the decline of active fund alpha

Why have active managers struggled as passive investing has surged? Research suggests that flows into index funds and ETFs are creating structural headwinds, penalising the stock-picking strategies that once generated alpha.

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