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Edition 38

  •   2 November 2013
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Welcome from Chris Cuffe

We received many comments last week on both Professor Deborah Ralston's article on post-retirement solutions and the RBA's views on FX risk. We welcome comments as there are few absolutes in this business. Witness the fact that the Nobel Prize in economics was just shared by two professors with opposite views on the efficiency of markets. It's timely that Graham Hand looks at S&P's latest 'Index Versus Active' scorecard for Australian fund managers, and it's far from flattering.

To add insights to this important debate, we've included a paper from The Financial Times in 2004 by British author, John Kay.

ASIC is required to "promote confident and informed participation by investors and consumers in the financial system". The regulator has been consulting with the industry on hedge fund disclosure, and David Bell explains the latest announcement but he worries about a missed opportunity in such a complex area.

Sorting out the estate of a deceased relative is no fun, but it's made even worse if the will or superannuation is contested and uncertain. Donal Griffin gives some guidance on how not to leave a mess behind. And while we're on this rather morbid subject, Ramani Venkatramani heads into controversy by making the case for death duties. At the present time of large budget deficits, unpopular taxes should be on the table.

And we take a quick look at Roy Morgan Research's survey of superannuation satisfaction levels. Regardless of market conditions and changing regulations, public funds cannot expect a flow back from the money that has gone into SMSFs.

Chris

Latest posts from Cuffelinks, 1 Nov 2013, Edition 38

  • ASIC focus on hedge funds may miss bigger picture David Bell
  • Don’t leave your estate to clean up a super mess Donal Griffin
  • Death duties, where angels fear to tread Ramani Venkatramani
  • Index versus active, Nobel Prize professors can’t agree Graham Hand
  • A fortune built on defying the pull of theory John Kay

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  •   2 November 2013
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