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29 December 2025
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A harder look at SMSFs, Volkswagen bond market lessons, household borrowing overshadows business, income in retirement, your ethics may not be mine, and why is everyone complaining about super?
The lending patterns of households and businesses, when compared against GDP and disposable income, can provide useful insights into where the economy is headed.
When your accountant, financial adviser or golfing partner recommend an SMSF, check this list to consider all that's involved, even if you think you have the time to manage it.
When a company fraud is uncovered there are many losers, and companies are not run to benefit bondholders. The main protection against such unforeseeable risks is to maintain a well-diversified portfolio.
To give superannuation the best chance of providing the desired retirement income, it makes sense to manage for the relevant risks over time and protect investments from inflation.
It's a dilemma for fund managers to make divestment decisions on behalf of investors based on philosophical grounds. Does it reflect the investors' beliefs and will it adversely impact returns?
Australia's superannuation industry is experiencing an identity crisis of sorts as the government tries to legislate a 'purpose for super', while performance is often sacrificed in the quest to minimise fees.
Retirement isn’t a clean financial arc. Income shocks, health costs and family pressures hit at random, exposing the limits of age-based planning and the myth of a predictable “retirement journey".
The superannuation system has succeeded brilliantly at what it was designed to do: accumulate wealth during working lives. The next challenge is meeting members’ diverse needs in retirement.
Two years ago, I wrote an article suggesting that the odds favoured ASX shares easily outperforming residential property over the next decade. Here’s an update on where things stand today.
I am a professional real estate investor who hears a lot of opinions rather than facts from so-called experts on the topic of property. Here are the largest myths when it comes to Australia’s biggest asset class.
In an interview with Firstlinks, CEO Mark Freeman discusses how speculative ASX stocks have crushed blue chips this year, companies he likes now, and why he’s confident AFIC’s NTA discount will close.
It might not be quite an ‘everything bubble’ but there’s froth in many assets, not just US stocks, right now. It might be time to stress test your portfolio and consider assets that could offer you shelter if trouble is coming.