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17 September 2026
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Risk revisited by Howard Marks, hedging fx exposure, risk aversion and women's retirement, calculating intrinsic value, slowing of productivity growth and changes to personal credit reporting.
According to CFSGAM's research, Australian Gen-X women remain most at risk of not meeting their retirement objectives, in part due to an aversion to growth assets since the GFC, despite the market's recovery.
Howard Marks is best known in the global investment community for his ‘Oaktree Memos’ to clients which detail investment strategies and economic insights. Here are some extracts from his latest memo, Risk Revisited Again.
Investing in foreign assets brings with it foreign currency exposure. Your return not only depends on the performance of the asset but on changes in the exchange rate, which can work against you or for you.
When building an investment portfolio it's a good idea to buy quality companies at a discount to intrinsic value. But what is that, and how does it fit into portfolio construction?
Investors need to be aware of what’s happening to productivity and how this will affect future returns and the affordability of tax-payer funded pensions, especially if company profits fall.
Understanding what information is held on a consumer’s credit report can provide a pathway for negotiating better credit terms, whether or not a person has a strong credit history.
Fear of running out has become a defining retirement anxiety. Why do some retirees die with substantial wealth while others deplete their nest egg? Evidence suggests the answer is more complicated than we think.
Conventional wisdom encourages retirees to preserve superannuation. But if those likely to qualify for the Age Pension later in life spend a little more today, it may deliver higher lifetime income and a more stable retirement.
Tax rules have changed, but many investors are still using yesterday’s strategies. Insurance bonds may offer advantages for those seeking greater control, tax efficiency and certainty about their wealth.
Treasury’s latest CGT reform draft delivers a win for testamentary trusts and deceased estates, exempting estate-derived gains from the 30% floor. However, questions on death and divorce rollovers remain unresolved.
Reversionary pensions have long been a staple of SMSF estate planning, but are they still the best option? Meg Heffron revisits a once-clear favourite and asks whether changing super rules have shifted the balance.
The 4% rule has long been retirement's gold standard. But after a difficult period for investors, fresh analysis suggests a more conservative approach may significantly improve the chances of making savings last.