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21 September 2026
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Centrelink is facing a robo-debt backlash after using computers to check ATO records, replacing the usual human interaction. Likewise, roboadvice algorithms need to know more about the circumstances of clients.
The memo from Howard Marks titled 'Expert Opinion' explains how forecasting is more art than science, and we give too much weight to many expert opinions which are little more than a 50-50 guess.
It will soon be the time of year when people turn their mind to some casual reading and enjoy a quiet moment. Tell us the best book you read in 2016. It could be an oldie or a newie, but let's get a reading list going.
Given the proportion of people over 65 paying income tax has halved in the last 20 years, the structure of seniors tax may be next for reform. Should money be left inside or outside super for those who can access it?
The number one requirement for a successful startup is resilience in the face of adversity. What lessons can Australian innovators learn from early-stage Israeli ventures, and what are the chances of success?
Many people have been saying they will only focus on the superannuation changes once they are legislated. That has now happened, and 1 July 2017 will come quickly.
The fight over testamentary trusts looked settled. Then the draft legislation arrived. Hidden in a technical detail is a question that could force many families to rethink wills they thought were already future-proof.
Investors have long accepted one portfolio rule without much question. A major tax shift could change that calculation entirely, forcing difficult trade-offs between risk, discipline and an overlooked cost lurking beneath.
For years, investors have benefited from a seemingly reliable growth story. But recent national accounts raise uncomfortable questions about what has really been driving Australia’s economy and whether that can continue unchecked.
The stocks that built retirement balances over the past decade now dominate many portfolios. The new challenge is whether these companies can continue meeting the increasingly high expectations embedded in today's share prices.
Sometimes the most important information in an earnings result isn't the number itself. It's the possibility that the market's assumptions have been fundamentally wrong and future earnings may look very different.
A rarely discussed detail buried in SMSF structures could dramatically change who wears the cost when something goes wrong. With penalties rising, a decision many dismissed as administrative may deserve a second look.
Buying global shares means making two bets: on the companies and on the Australian dollar. Most investors consciously choose only the first. Last financial year, the second bet cost 8.5% in returns for many investors.