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Tuesday, 7 December 2021
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Infrastructure assets experienced varying fortunes during the pandemic, from less travel at airports to strong activity in communications. On the road to recovery, what role does infrastructure play in a portfolio?
Alternative real estate sectors are growing in importance as their uniqueness and quality are appreciated. Australian investors are finally recalibrating their portfolios and there is a long runway from here.
A high level of spending capacity is left in consumers which will support consumer-related stocks for a longer period than is factored into current share prices. Savers have lots of money sitting in the bank.
Key factors to watch in 2021 are coronavirus cases and deaths, global business conditions, unemployment, inflation, bond yields and the gap between earnings yields and the US dollar. Where are we now?
Bonds have been strong performers over many decades and always play a role in defensively-positioned portfolios. There are some basic principles investors should understand such as the types of yield.
Financial software companies have favourable attributes and industry tailwinds that may see investors rewarded, especially with super funds driving for greater efficiencies and better member experiences.
Australia is in a relatively good position to borrow $200 billion, with the RBA using printed money to buy bonds in the market. The long-term consequences are better than the alternative.
Do you risk paying a lot of tax in accumulation phase? Or, if you're in retirement phase, do you face the risk of outliving your asset pool? Two key things to consider in the low-rate world of today.
Favourite quotations from famous people on markets, investing, processes, noise, pessimism, self perception and life balance. These lessons carry across investment cycles and lifetimes.
House prices have recovered quickly, driven by low interest rates, a relaxation of lending standards and the reelection of the Coalition. Will APRA be tempted to impose new prudential standards?
The search for income and cash flow by people relying on their investments has never been more difficult, so it's worth understanding both the opportunities and the overall context.
The RBA is likely to first exhaust conventional easing by cutting the cash rate to 0.5% by year end before deploying unconventional measures. Negative interest rates are unlikely.
Managing listed real estate investments on a global basis allows opportunities to be taken anywhere, and as demographics affects property, move into different sectors and countries. But ultimately, all property is local.
In 35 years watching investment markets, some themes continue to repeat. Investors don't need to live through the same mistakes if they follow this list of lessons learned from studying markets.
Australia is an outlier in energy. We are the world’s leading LNG and coal exporter, yet we have high energy costs and we lead the world in CO2 emissions. What does the future bring?
Both the Government and Labor have made impressive commitments to infrastructure, but it focusses heavily on roads and rail. Australia's economic potential depends on more essential services.
In our Federal Budget 2019/20 coverage, we present summaries and analyses of the Budget from Cuffelinks' sponsors, including newsletters and videos, plus a summary of Labor's overall strategy.
More investors than ever are expecting fund managers to allow for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, but what are the major factors for 2019?
Tim Keegan dives deep into the archive for a few classics, including Roger Montgomery, Noel Whittaker, Chris Cuffe and David Bell, plus one of our ever-popular ebooks on lessons from making a mistake.
With almost one thousand people entering retirement in Australia every day, they face different challenges to managing an investment portfolio in the accumulation stage.
This brief history of the GFC and the lessons we should learn is a reminder that similar events will happen again at some stage, and this time we have no excuse not to be ready.
Active ETFs have many similarities with actively-managed funds, but the key differences are due to investing via an exchange versus a platform. Investors now have another option to consider.
The active v passive debate has deflected attention from a more important issue, a focus on managing to client goals. Plus active management has suffered relative to passive by the central bank-driven uplift of all assets.
After many years of disappointment, there is a renewed focus on the US’s need to invest heavily in infrastructure. With investors looking for consistent revenue streams, it's a welcome addition to the asset class.
At its core, successful investing is simple, but we have a knack of making it look complex. Here are five basic lessons that demonstrate key aspects of investing.
Boom-bust cycles are inevitable and at some point, there will be a market correction although different to the GFC. Many of the signs of excess that normally precede severe and prolonged bear markets are not present yet.
A retirement financial plan must consider longevity, health and liabilities, making it far more complicated than the simpler investment strategy in the accumulation phase.
General principles previously governed ethical investing, but both fund managers and clients now accept the more hard-nosed approach of eliminating certain companies from portfolios.
Dynamic asset allocation should be exactly that ... dynamic. It calls for amending asset allocations as circumstances change, and that's certainly happening now.
Although the leading index-provider, MSCI, recently decided to delay accepting China A-shares into its emerging markets and other indexes, the long-term impact is likely to be minimal before these shares are included.
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.
In times of financial turmoil, returning to the classics can remind investors to take a long-term perspective and seek opportunities to focus on their financial goals.
Engaging people with their superannuation is the holy grail for the wealth management industry. Lifecycle funds can help take the customer on a long term journey provided the communication is good.
Since 1973, the Year of the Goat has generated the highest average returns among the 12 Chinese zodiac symbols, averaging an impressive 45.3% each year. Will this continue in 2015?
Many of the world’s most serious challenges relate to secular forces such as population growth and productivity, and amid the problems will arise a wide range of investment opportunities.
The way home ownership relates to retirement income is rated a 'D', as in Distortion, Decumulation and Denial. For many, their home is their largest asset but it's least likely to be used for retirement income.
There’s this story about a group of US Air Force generals in World War II who try to figure out ways to protect fighter bombers (and their crew) by examining the location of bullet holes on returning planes. Mapping the location of these holes, the generals quickly come to the conclusion that the areas with the most holes should be prioritised for additional armour.
House prices have risen at the fastest pace for 33 years, but what actually happened in 1988, and why is 2021 different? Here's a clue: the stockmarket crashed 50% between September and November 1987. Looking ahead, where did house prices head in the following years, 1989 to 1991?
Australia appears to be slipping from the pantheon of global superstar pension systems, with a recent report placing us sixth. A review of an earlier report, which had Australia in bronze position, points to some reasons why, and what might need to happen to regain our former glory.
Super funds will soon be required to offer retirement income strategies for members in decumulation. With uncertain returns, uncertain timelines, and different goals, it's possibly “the hardest, nastiest problem in finance".
You want to take a lump sum from your super, but what's the best way? Should it come from you or your spouse, or the pension or accumulation account. There is a welcome flexibility to select the best outcome.