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27 December 2025
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Consensus expectations have finally centered on a long-term outlook characterised by tepid growth and inflation, but there is risk that a cyclical rebound in economic fundamentals could cause a market repricing, ultimately mistaking ‘the trend for the cycle’.
As we head into the end of the year, many parents are thinking about the onset of school fees and how to afford them.
The e-commerce giant’s entry into the Australian market has been a constant source of discussion for several months, and the likelihood of a large disruption for our local retailers appears to have already been priced in.
The essential service nature and large environmental footprints of infrastructure assets make sustainability considerations a vital part of doing business.
A large part of the return from investing in emerging market assets comes from currency exposure. However, Australian dollar investors typically lose out on this due to the economic links between Australia and Asia, and the impact of changes in commodity prices.
It’s been over 12 months since BetaShares launched a range of ETFs providing Australian investors with exposure to portfolios of sector specific global companies in a single ASX trade.
SMSFs primarily invest in three asset classes – cash, domestic shares and direct property. Commentators often suggest that home bias – a behavioural trait of investors who disproportionately prefer more familiar domestic assets – is responsible for the lack of international asset holdings in SMSFs.
How should an investor allocate across active and passive investments? It’s a challenging decision with many components. In the absence of a structured decision-making process, investors are left making arbitrary decisions based on implicit assumptions.
The Australian ETF industry grew by over $1 billion this month, with the industry rising to a fresh record high Total industry funds under management at the month end was $32.0 billion, a growth rate of 3.5% or $1076 million for the month.
Starting and running an SMSF can be a great way to build wealth for the future, but it also comes with some serious responsibilities.
Despite small gains in balances, investment returns will be lower for longer and many SMSFs are further away from achieving their retirement goals than previously.
Australian investors, as young as 18, are turning to the sharemarket in record numbers to build their wealth, according to new data released by nabtrade.
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.