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1 October 2026
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Bad timing and poor returns, chasing alpha, what's wrong with reverse mortgages, three investment rules, China's stockmarket, and the superannuation default options.
When a managed fund reports its amazing five-year track record, who actually experiences this same return? The timing of entry and exit and mismatched time horizons are counting against the average investor.
The term 'alpha' may be financial jargon, but for fund managers, it's the highly sought-after prize for successful active management that justifies fees charged. But how do you select a good manager?
Using the equity in the home to supplement retirement income is worth considering for certain people, so why are banks dropping reverse mortgage products and why do so many retirees feel it's not for them?
Here are three simple investment rules that should see you through the volatile times, or indeed all times. But for starters, it's a good idea to have a plan, and a portfolio that suits you.
Despite the recent falls, the performance of Chinese shares over the last 12 months is still above Japan, Europe, the US and Australia. But the Chinese market is a casino, and currency movements are more important.
Most public super funds updated their 'default' settings under MySuper, and recent research shows these options are not solely for the disengaged. Many people are actively choosing the option based on trusting the fund.
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.
For generations, Australian investors have backed banks, miners and dividends. But has that loyalty come at a cost? A look at the numbers raises an uncomfortable question about where future returns will come from.
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 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.
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.
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.