Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 286

Summer Series Guest Editor, Warren Bird

Cuffelinks started just after I left Colonial First State, where I’d worked for many years with Chris Cuffe. I didn’t know what my next career step would be, but when Graham Hand approached me about writing from time-to-time for the newsletter, I was happy to accept. I love writing about investing and fixed income in particular. Even though I’ve been back into full-time work for the past four years, I’m glad to continue writing for Cuffelinks. It’s the least I can do for the investment community which has given me so many wonderful opportunities.

Cuffelinks launched with a heavy hitter. Paul Keating, whose views on policy have always been well formed and forcefully argued, provided three articles on superannuation in the early issues of the newsletter. I could have picked any of them as one of my favourites, but this one on the potential risks that SMSFs could pose to the goals of the super system remains pertinent: Where did SMSFs come from, and where are they going?

Talking about heavy hitters, an article by Bill Gates made its way to these humble pages. He didn’t, sadly, write it for Cuffelinks originally, but it’s an interesting read about what he learned from Warren Buffett (an investor whose initials I think are the best!) Three things I’ve learned from Warren Buffett

For most of the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with one of the champions of ethical investing in Australia, Michael Anderson. In his days on the AMP equity team, Michael led the establishment of their Responsible Leaders funds. Michael was pleased when AMP Capital last year took the bold step of extending ethical principles across all their funds, a decision explained in this article by their current CEO Adam Tindall: Should we exclude companies purely on ethical grounds?

Though I’ve been called an evangelist for fixed income, I’ve never argued exclusively for the asset class for the simple reason that this would not be the right thing to do. For most investors, including my own personal investments, a hefty exposure to shares is appropriate. The case for share investing was made well in this Peter Thornhill article earlier this year: Give me the long-term predictability of shares, at any age.

Before I share the favourite of my own articles, I have to include something from one the smartest - and most decent - people I’ve ever worked with, David Bell. He joined my team at Colonial as a graduate in 1998, and immediately made about $15 million of profit via improving the Net Present Value of the old Colonial Mutual annuity funds that we’d taken over managing early that year. He's had a stellar career since, and when David writes, I read, and always learn something. This is one of his best, about how he learns from himself as well! Learning from my investment mistake

Finally, many of you have been kind enough to give me some positive feedback about my articles. Thank you. I like doing two things in my writing. One is to present complex ideas in a clear way that helps people understand investing better. The other is to confront what I believe are myths and falsehoods which are all too often presented to investors as facts. My personal favourite, which I think does both, was this piece I wrote about how a portfolio of so-called 'junk' bonds doesn’t have to be a junk portfolio – au contraire, they should be a core holding for many investors: Why would you invest in junk?

 

Warren Bird, Guest Editor

Warren Bird is Executive Director of Uniting Financial Services, a division of the Uniting Church (NSW & ACT). He has 30 years’ experience in fixed income investing. He also serves as an Independent Member of the GESB Investment Committee.

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Raising the GST to 15%

Treasurer Jim Chalmers aims to tackle tax reform but faces challenges. Previous reviews struggled due to political sensitivities, highlighting the need for comprehensive and politically feasible change.

Here's what should replace the $3 million super tax

With Div. 296 looming, is there a smarter way to tax superannuation? This proposes a fairer, income-linked alternative that respects compounding, ensures predictability, and avoids taxing unrealised capital gains. 

100 Aussies: seven charts on who earns, pays, and owns

The Labor government is talking up tax reform to lift Australia’s ailing economic growth. Before any changes are made, it’s important to know who pays tax, who owns assets, and how much people have in their super for retirement.

9 winning investment strategies

There are many ways to invest in stocks, but some strategies are more effective than others. Here are nine tried and tested investment approaches - choosing one of these can improve your chances of reaching your financial goals.

The rubbery numbers behind super tax concessions

In selling the super tax, Labor has repeated Treasury claims of there being $50 billion in super tax concessions annually, mostly flowing to high-income earners. This figure is vastly overstated.

With markets near record highs, here's what you should do with your portfolio

Markets have weathered geopolitical turmoil, hitting near record highs. Investors face tough decisions on valuations, asset concentration, and strategic portfolio rebalancing for risk control and future returns.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

Finding income in an income-starved world

With term deposit rates falling, bonds holding up but with risks attached, and stocks yielding comparatively paltry sums, finding decent income is becoming harder. Here’s a guide to the best places to hunt for yield.

Economy

Fearful politicians put finances at risk

A tearful Treasury chief, a backbench rebellion, and crashing bonds. What just happened in the UK and why could Australia’s NDIS be headed for the same brutal fiscal reality?

Shares

Investing at market peaks: The surprising truth

Many investors are hesitant to buy into a market that feels like it’s already climbed too far, too fast. But what does nearly a century of market history suggest about investing at peaks?

Shares

Chinese steel - building a Sydney Harbour Bridge every 10 minutes

China's steel production, equivalent to building one Sydney Harbour Bridge every 10 minutes, has driven Australia's economic growth. With China's slowdown, what does this mean for Australia's economy and investments?

Investment strategies

Will stablecoins change the way we pay for things?

Stablecoins have been hyped as a gamechanger for the payments industry. But while they could find success in certain niches, a broader upheaval of Visa and Mastercard's payments dominance looks unlikely.

Infrastructure

An investing theme you can bet on for the next 30 years

Investors view infrastructure as a defensive asset class rather than one with compelling growth prospects. These five tailwinds for demand over the coming decades suggest that such a stance could be mistaken.

Investment strategies

A letter to my younger self: investing through today's chaos

We are trading through one of history's most confounding market environments. One day, financial headlines warn of doomsday scenarios. The next, they celebrate a new golden age. How can investors keep a clear head?

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.