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Home / Author: Ramani Venkatramani

Ramani Venkatramani

Super needs more rethinking outside the box

The Government has made two changes to super rules that would once have been considered highly unlikely, but there are other amendments which would not compromise the overall aims of super.

Are retrospective tax policies fair or foul?

One person's unjust retrospective policy change is another's overdue and necessary reform. Did people objecting about unfavourable policy retrospectivity complain when they benefitted from a retrospective change?

Anti-detriment abolition: death duty on the sly

Few people understand how valuable the 'anti-detriment' benefit was, which means there is little focus on how the Budget will collect $350 million from you in only two years. Imagine if they announced new death duties.

A lesson in bargaining, Medibank-style

The Medibank sale was carefully handled to ensure not much was left on the table, but that did not prevent a scramble for shares. Both retail investors and institutions were allocated a fraction of their bids.

Personal investors need credit reporting too

Individuals have their credit history checked by financiers whenever they apply for finance. Why isn’t there a way for retail investors to check the credentials of financial institutions before investing their money?

Epilogue: Death duties, where angels fear to tread

An article in November 2013 suggesting death duties be considered as a public finance tool attracted some strong criticism, and in the context of the need to fund ever-increasing deficits, the author defends his views.

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Retirement

Uncomfortable truths: The real cost of living in retirement

How useful are the retirement savings and spending targets put out by various groups such as ASFA? Not very, and it's reducing the ability of ordinary retirees to fully understand their retirement income options.

Shares

On the virtue of owning wonderful businesses like CBA

The US market has pummelled Australia's over the past 16 years and for good reason: it has some incredible businesses. Australia does too, but if you want to enjoy US-type returns, you need to know where to look.

Investment strategies

Why bank hybrids are being priced at a premium

As long as the banks have no desire to pay up for term deposit funding - which looks likely for a while yet - investors will continue to pay a premium for the higher yielding, but riskier hybrid instrument.

Investment strategies

The Magnificent Seven's dominance poses ever-growing risks

The rise of the Magnificent Seven and their large weighting in US indices has led to debate about concentration risk in markets. Whatever your view, the crowding into these stocks poses several challenges for global investors.

Strategy

Wealth is more than a number

Money can bolster our joy in real ways. However, if we relentlessly chase wealth at the expense of other facets of well-being, history and science both teach us that it will lead to a hollowing out of life.

The copper bull market may have years to run

The copper market is barrelling towards a significant deficit and price surge over the next few decades that investors should not discount when looking at the potential for artificial intelligence and renewable energy.

Property

Global REITs are on sale

Global REITs have been out of favour for some time. While office remains a concern, the rest of the sector is in good shape and offers compelling value, with many REITs trading below underlying asset replacement costs.

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