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Graham Hand

Let’s stop calling them ‘bond proxies’

With cash and term deposit rates at all-time lows, and fixed interest bonds not much better, investors are looking for ‘bond proxies’ to deliver more income. But is ‘proxy’ a misnomer, and what are they anyway?

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 317

In an exclusive from Hamish Douglass, he shares 13 investment lessons he has applied in building the Magellan business. He divides the insights into four topics: finding investments, letting them work for you, temperament and risk.

Did your super do better than this in FY19?

Many super funds and portfolio managers delivered strong results in FY2019, and critics of our default superannuation system should ask whether individuals can match these consistent returns.

Welcome to the Firstlinks Edition 316

If you knew your incoming boss thought something the business does is 'absolutely abhorrent', would you fix it before he arrived? I know I would.

Megan Scott on multitasking in a COO world

The role of Chief Operations Officer is not well understood, but it involves everything from keeping the office running day-to-day to long-term strategic planning, and the ability to multitask is essential.

An easy fix for Dick Smith’s franking problem

Peter Fitzsimons calls franking 'ridiculous' and Dick Smith calls it 'outrageous', but Dick Smith probably receives a significant refund because his Australian share investments are held in a very large SMSF.

Latest Updates

The revolt against Baby Boomer wealth

The $3m super tax could be put down to the Government needing money and the wealthy being easy targets. It’s deeper than that though and this looks at the factors behind the policy and why more taxes on the wealthy are coming.

Superannuation

How to prevent excessive superannuation balances

There is an alternative, simpler approach which could be used to mitigate some of the difficulties that the proposed super tax has for holders of large assets such as properties, businesses and farms in SMSFs.

Shares

US shares: Ambitious multiples on ambitious EPS forecasts

Here's a detailed look at how current valuations and profit forecasts for the S&P 500 stack up versus history. The answer? Both seem excessive, making the market vulnerable to a correction or worse.

Taxation

Family trust tax: When is a loan not a loan?

A recent ruling could change the tax payable by beneficiaries of family trusts. If the ATO has previously demanded extra payments on unpaid present entitlements in your family group, you should watch this space.

Property

Things you must consider before subdividing a property

Subdividing can offer a lucrative first step into property development. Yet it comes with legal, planning and unexpected tax considerations that should be understood from an early stage to avoid surprises.

Investment strategies

5 insights that put market volatility in perspective

Though it may feel like this time is different, markets have shown resilience throughout history when confronted by wars, pandemics and other crises. In many cases, the best course of action has been none at all.

Strategy

Concerns about China's rise to power seem overblown

China has always managed its affairs in a very different way to Western countries and empires. For those concerned about China's rise as a global power, the big question is whether this approach could change.

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