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Thursday, 20 January 2022
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The Retirement Income Review has received criticism for compromising future super balances and not supporting the SG increase. The same result as an increase could be achieved by changing two other policies.
The back-to-work strategy is a fine balance between health experts advising on contamination, the need for a functioning economy and the adverse health impact of isolation. Perhaps we need a test region.
Just how drastic is that 200-point fall in US markets overnight? Data from the last 35 years shows it takes a big swing for the Australian sharemarket to predictably follow a US lead.
Any change to the pension eligibility age should consider the differing situations that influence an individual’s working life, health and mortality. If a labourer can’t work beyond 60 it’ll be a long wait to access a pension.
Super funds should provide a calculation of a member’s actual average return over their period of membership based on their own personal cash flow of contributions and fees experienced.
In 1909, there were 15 workers for every retiree, but by 2025 it will be down to only 3.5 workers. But we're still defining 'retiree' as over 65. Using dynamic retirement age principles gives a brighter perspective on old age dependency.
There are thousands of different indexes, and they are not all diversified and broadly-based. Watch for concentration risk in sectors and companies, and know the underlying assets in case liquidity is needed.
It is easy to feel like an investing genius over the last 10 years, with most asset classes making wonderful gains. But if there's a setback, companies like Reece, ARB, Cochlear, REA Group and CSL will recover best.
In the 11th year of a bull market, near the end of the cycle, some type of correction is likely. Underneath is solid, healthy and underpinned by strong earnings growth, but there's less room for mistakes.
In 2021, the gold price failed to sustain its strong rise since 2018, although it recovered after early losses. But where does gold sit in a world of inlfation, rising rates and a competitor like Bitcoin?
In a sentence or two, global experts across many fields are asked to summarise the biggest surprise of 2021, and enduring challenges into 2022. It's a short and sweet view of the changes we are all facing.
In 2021, sharemarket gains supported record levels of capital raisings and IPOs in Australia. The range of deals listed here shows the maturity of the local market in providing equity capital.
Governments and investors have been complacent, even encouraged, the build up of debt, but somewhere, a ceiling exists. Are we near yet? Trouble is brewing, especially in the eurozone and emerging countries.