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Ashley Owen

Are rising oil prices bad for Australian shares?

Rising oil prices may sound scary to investors, but if we go beyond the popular myth and look at the facts, we see a very different picture. Rising oil prices are more often accompanied by rising stocks.

Invest like Buffett? Diversification, Part 2

How is Buffett anything like a 60-year-old retiree who either cannot or does not want to work full-time anymore? Despite what the books say, you can't 'invest like Buffett' and focus on preservation of capital in retirement.

Diversification works?

Nobody ever built a great business, or created a great nation, or amassed a great fortune, or became a great painter or musician or sportsperson or anything else, by diversifying. You need to specialise, concentrate and focus.

Investing against the herd, Part 3, Testing the theory

An 'against the herd' portfolio is some 54% higher than the 'follow the herd’ portfolio, and 22% better than a passive portfolio. Ignore the market hype and general sentiment and focus instead on the facts.

Once in a lifetime returns from US shares

Not only has the US market returned 39% in Australian dollars over the past 9 months, volatility has not been lower since the mid-2000s. It has been the best run of consistent, high returns in my lifetime.

Investing against the herd, Part 2, Consumer sentiment and equity returns

Investors tend to believe that markets will keep going in the same direction they have been in the recent past - both on the way up and on the way down. Consumer sentiment peaks at the same time as the market.

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Investment strategies

How to choose a good fund manager

Despite the rise of passive investing, Australia has a number of top shelf fund managers who have consistently outperformed indices over the long-term. This looks at how to identify the best active funds for your portfolio.

Property

Key factors behind the housing supply crisis

Australia’s housing supply is falling far short of demand, driving up prices and rents. With approvals down, costs up, and planning delays rampant, the next generation may not forget - or forgive - this crisis. 

Economy

Electricity transmission is Australia's next problem

Australia’s energy transition will take decades to complete because new renewable generating capacity in the far-flung locations will require transmission capacity to be added. And we're well behind schedule on this.

Planning

Family trusts and relationship breakdowns

Trusts offer flexibility and asset protection, but in relationship breakdowns, courts can 'look through' them. Understanding control, purpose, and asset origins is key to preserving trust benefits in family law disputes.

Property

Selling your holiday home? You may be able to pay less tax

Selling your holiday home can make a lot of sense, but it can also lead to a big tax bill. Fortunately, there are strategies that investors can use to boost their retirement balance and cut their capital gains liability.

Why it's time to revisit the case for non-US stocks

History shows that global equity returns tend to be cyclical and that outperformance between regions can flip. After years of underperformance, there are growing reasons to add non-US equities to a diversified portfolio today.

Economy

Should America follow Australia with a sovereign wealth fund?

While appointing a seasoned banker to lead a US sovereign wealth fund sounds promising, the plan itself could expose the country to massive risks, market distortions, and dangerous expansions of presidential power. 

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