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24 October 2025
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There were mixed performances by LICs and LITs last year although they generally delivered an increase in dividends. Total returns including price are driven by the extent to which they trade at a discount to NTA.
Fund managers have more staff, more information, and more access to companies, yet individual investors have one advantage in their favour. Anyone selecting a manager should consider such constraints on performance.
Over decades, relatively few companies generate all the stockmarket's outperformance. Is this an argument for passive investing or does it prove active investing is rewarded? Bessembinder lets you decide.
Flows into equities were not strong in 2022 as investors worried about the selloff, but more money flowed into fixed interest at the wrong time. Managed funds still dominate ETFs and LICs but the gap is closing.
Conservative investors who want the greater capital security of bonds can now lock in 5% but they should stay at the higher end of credit quality. Rises in rates and defaults mean it's not as easy as it looks.
Investors often overlook the capital risk in high-yielding stocks. It's better to ensure capital grows and investors can sell a portion each year to make up for the shortfall in income from dividends.
Following the uncertainty of the GFC, 2010 to 2019 delivered decent Australian share results overall, with wide variations by sector. It's fascinating to see who won and lost over the decade.
Depending on the type of fund you use and whether you pay for advice, there is a large difference in the size of fees. It might be worth paying for extras but choose the fund and advice level that suits you.
Morningstar's full report on asset class returns for all terms out to 10 years updated to 31 December 2017, plus standard deviations (volatility) of returns in each asset class, a 'risk' measure often overlooked by investors.
How was your asset allocation last year? Take a look at every financial year since 1998 and there's no pattern. Please complete our quick survey on the best and worst for 2017/2018.
Long gone are the days when 'passive' investing meant simply replicating a cap-weighted index, especially with the surge in 'active' and 'factor-based' funds such as smart beta. We need more nuanced definitions.
Morningstar’s asset class gameboard for 2015 updates how each asset class has performed over the last 20 years, and shows that no single asset class consistently outperforms the others.
Younger Australians think they’ll need $100k a year in retirement - nearly double what current retirees spend. Expectations are rising fast, but are they realistic or just another case of lifestyle inflation?
In any year since 1875, if you'd invested in the ASX, turned away and come back eight years later, your average return would be 120% with no negative periods. It's just one of the must-have stats that all investors should know.
Five mega trends point to risks of a more inflation prone and lower growth environment. This, along with rich market valuations, should constrain medium term superannuation returns to around 5% per annum.
With rising home prices and falling affordability, political leaders preach reform. But asset disclosures show many are heavily invested in property - raising doubts about whose interests housing policy really protects.
Whether for yourself or a family member, it’s never too early to start thinking about aged care. This looks at the best ways to plan ahead, as well as the changes coming to aged care from November 1 this year.
Labor has caved to pressure on key parts of the Division 296 tax, though also added some important nuances. Here are six experts’ views on the changes and what they mean for you.