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Chris Cuffe

Don't be misled by investment classifications

Investment terms such as 'defensive', 'growth' and 'risk' are used heavily by professionals and retail investors alike, but these words can be misleading as they depend on the context and investors' goals.

My 10 biggest investment management lessons

Every experienced investor develops a set of beliefs about how markets operate, and finds the proof points to defend those views. Managing the Third Link Growth Fund has taught Chris some unconventional lessons.

Last minute tax deductions in a public ancillary fund

Although the end of the financial year is near, there is still time to establish a tax deduction in a sub-fund within a public ancillary fund – a simple philanthropic structure that allows a planned approach to charitable giving.

Planning to make your money live forever

Most people do not spend enough time thinking about achieving the best outcomes from their estate. Here's a novel idea: set up a trust to look after the medical and education needs of all your descendants. Forever.

Why we can’t resist tactical asset allocation

A combination of confidence in one's own ability to read the market and the excellent rewards for correct predictions encourages many investors to employ tactical asset allocation strategies. Is it worth doing?

Just when my portfolio was set for the long term …

Investment is more art than science, and even an investor who prefers a 'buy and hold' long term strategy will need to adjust the portfolio. When you think your portfolio is finally set, something will happen to test your resolve.

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Retirement

Why it’s time to ditch the retirement journey

Retirement isn’t a clean financial arc. Income shocks, health costs and family pressures hit at random, exposing the limits of age-based planning and the myth of a predictable “retirement journey".

Financial planning

How much does it really cost to raise a child?

With fertility rates at a record low, many say young people aren’t having kids because they’re too expensive. Turns out, it’s not that simple and there are likely other factors at play.

Exchange traded products

Passive ETF investors may be in for a rude shock

Passive ETFs have become wildly popular just as markets, especially the US, reach extreme valuations. For long-term investors, these ETFs make sense, though if you're investing in them to chase performance, look out below.

Shares

Bank reporting season scorecard November 2025

The Big Four banks shrugged off doomsayers with their recent results, posting low loan losses, solid margins, and rising dividends. It underscores their resilience, but lofty valuations mean it’s time to be selective. 

Investment strategies

The real winners from the AI rush

AI is booming, but like the 19th-century gold rush, the real profits may go to those supplying the tools and energy, not the companies at the centre of the rush.

Economy

Why economic forecasts are rarely right (but we still need them)

Economic experts, including the RBA, get plenty of forecasts wrong, but that doesn't make such forecasts worthless. The key isn't to predict perfectly – it's to understand the range of possibilities and plan accordingly.

Strategy

13 reflections on wealth and philanthropy

Wealth keeps growing, yet few ask “how much is enough?” or what their kids truly need. After 23 years in philanthropy, I’ve seen how unexamined wealth can limit impact, and why Australia needs a stronger giving culture.

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