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20 January 2026

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Edition: 157

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Edition 157

  • 27 May 2016

In my various personal and professional roles, I am involved in setting many investment strategies based on vastly different resources and needs. Every circumstance is unique due to risk tolerance, expected returns, desire for income, time horizon, etc. It's not only for institutions. For example, all SMSF trustees are required by law to prepare an investment strategy. Raewyn Williams says we need to address the tensions between multiple needs and wants, such as 'min risk or max return', and understand our investing preferences and tradeoffs.

Results of retrospectivity and Budget survey

The proposed superannuation changes in the 2016 Budget generated the full range of emotions, from outrage to praise. The comments among the 700 responses reveal as much as the overall scores.

Investment objectives: are you max return or min risk?

The benefit of setting investment objectives is most apparent in times of market turmoil, but at any time, defining a preference for maximum returns or minimum risk will help to achieve the right outcome.

Managing uncertainty in retirement

The way retirement risks and outcomes are visualised and communicated needs to move from simplistic assumptions on returns to calculating a range of outcomes and probabilities to better represent the real world.

Commodities: has the trend changed?

The commodities market is impossible to predict in terms of cyclical highs and lows, and nobody 'rings the bell' at either point. One strategy is to scale in or out gradually on early detection of a new trend.

Philanthropy can blend tax deductions, engagement and impact

Public or private ancillary funds are tax-effective vehicles to manage charitable giving. Not only are there immediate tax advantages, but it can set up a family for generations of giving and engagement.

Are term deposits safe or risky for long-term investors?

Keeping superannuation savings in term deposits will protect the capital but doesn't optimise the retirement outcome. There are many alternatives that should provide higher sustainable income over the long term.

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