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Home / Author: Phil Strano

Phil Strano

The case for staying the course in credit

Rising oil prices and inflation pushed Australian yields higher. Markets expect further tightening, but weaker growth may reverse rates. Locking income and maintaining duration is a sound strategy for widening credit spreads.

Levered credit: A late cycle ingredient for drawdown pain

As credit spreads normalised through 2025, yield‑hungry investors have turned to leverage for high returns, uncomfortably echoing pre‑GFC behaviours. Investors need to be careful to understand the true risk‑return trade‑off.

AI’s debt binge draws European telco parallels

‘Hyperscalers’ including Google, Meta and Microsoft are fuelling an unprecedented surge in equity and debt issuance to bankroll massive AI-driven capital expenditure. History shows this isn't without risk.

Australia’s moment? De-dollarisation gains momentum

Global credit markets face a fundamental shift as US dollar dominance wanes. Australian investment-grade credit, with attractive spreads and stability, may emerge as a key beneficiary in this structural capital reallocation.

Credit trumps residential property for headache-free income

Following on from the strong performance of global investment grade credit in 2023, the Australian credit market is emerging as a great diversifier and alternative to investing in other ‘safe haven’ asset classes.

Market turbulence shows strength of Australian bank T2 bonds

Hybrid securities have gained popularity, though that faith was shaken when Credit Suisse bonds were wiped out. What's overlooked is that it strengthens the case for owning superior quality Australian bank T2 bonds.

Latest Updates

Superannuation

Do super funds need a massive wake up call?

UK retirement expert, Guy Opperman, believes super funds are failing at supporting members in deaccumulation. Here is what Australia should do about it. 

Retirement

Sequencing risk resurfaces for retirees

A retirement strategy must consider how both the timing of cash flows and the sequence of returns impact the final dollar outcome from which a retirement is funded.

SMSF strategies

Meg on SMSFs: Payday super – why should SMSF members even care?

Not filing your SMSF annual return on time can mean missed contributions under the new Payday super regulation. 

Strategy

There will be no permanent underclass

Worries about AI causing mass job loss are misguided. Far from creating a permanent underclass, Like other technological innovations AI will improve living standards around the world.

Taxation

Reforming the taxation of wealth and wealth transfers

As the budget approaches debate continues about the need and method for addressing wealth inequality. Could reinstating wealth transfer taxes be the answer?

Investment strategies

The biggest oil shock in history. Why isn't the price higher?

While increases in oil prices are dominating media coverage of the turmoil in the Middle-East it is worth exploring why prices haven't gone up more. 

Financial planning

Structured giving's new moment

A big year for philanthropy has seen multiple tax changes impact the approach donors are taking. For those with the intention to give generously there is a third structure available in the structured giving landscape.

Sponsors

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