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Chris Stott

Four key themes to emerge from Asia’s pre-eminent investment conference

An investment conference attended by thousands of leaders from industry and finance points the way to future investment trends.

LICs: Traders versus investors for tax purposes

The ATO distinguishes between LICs, deeming some as investors for tax purposes and some as traders for tax purposes. This distinction has implications for the way dividends are sourced and capital gains are treated.

CEO appointments: internal or external?

The merit of appointing an internal or external CEO depends on the company's circumstances. Internal appointments tend to be more successful, although alignment of interests with shareholders is critical.

Is there an ideal minimum investment in a portfolio?

There is no correct answer to the maximum or minimum amount of exposure to a single company in a portfolio, but liquidity, risk and costs play into the decision.

8 factors to consider when assessing LICs

There are now almost 100 Listed Investment Companies, but they are not created equally. There are important differentiating features that should be considered before choosing where to invest.

Insider sales can be a powerful warning

Purchases and sales of shares in their own company by directors and executives can be a powerful sign of the future potential within a company and should be monitored closely.

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Planning

Testamentary trusts survived the trust tax. The drafting battle has just begun.

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.

Investment strategies

The new capital gains tax trap for your portfolio

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.

Economy

Population growth masks Australia’s productivity problem

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.

Investment strategies

Why tomorrow’s winners may not be today’s index leaders

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.

Investing

What earnings surprises reveal about future returns

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.

SMSF strategies

Individual SMSF Trusteeship directly liable for ATO fines

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.

Investment strategies

The currency bet you didn’t know you made

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.

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