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8 October 2026
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It's so tempting to get lost in the noise and intrigue of financial markets that we can easily forget what type of investor we are. To have any chance of success, it's critical to avoid playing somebody else’s game.
Investment styles go in and out of fashion and can explain why some fund managers spend long periods under- or out-performing an overall index. But what are these major styles?
As we wrap up 2014 and position ourselves on the blocks of 2015, it is worth considering how investors and consumers might behave. The big uncertainties centre around economic growth, inflation and the value of stocks.
It's surprising to learn that only 25% of Australian listed companies are actually profitable. Whether you favour fundamental or technical analysis or both, how do you find and invest in cheap, good quality companies?
While fund managers are reluctant to reveal their newly-found 'top picks' to the public, there is an underlying process which can be used to identify an attractive company to invest in.
When investing capital, you expect the return to adequately compensate you for the likelihood of loss. Understanding both risk and reward is vital, so the more you know about 'knowns' and 'unknowns' the better.
Value investing is much more than simply buying cheap stocks. The quality of a company is extremely important and there are three key elements you should consider that will help sort the good from the bad.
Investors are often advised to take the long-term view and pay little attention to the ups and downs of the market. But adopting a strict ‘set and forget’ strategy can sometimes be short-sighted.
The two main approaches used to find good companies in equity markets are technical and fundamental analyses. Devotees of each style will argue their way is best. Roger Montgomery favours the fundamentals.
Looking beyond the top quality companies, it pays to find the true visionaries, the companies whose prospects are compelling into the distant future because of the strong momentum they have built.
Poor quality companies sometimes deliver impressive short term gains, especially when left behind in a previous rally, but the longer term is likely to disappoint. When equity markets turn, nobody likes to be exposed.
Many people who open a small business learn the most valuable lessons on the job. Here are some hard-earned insights after 20 years without a big corporate structure to deliver a regular pay cheque.
Conventional wisdom encourages retirees to preserve superannuation. But if those likely to qualify for the Age Pension later in life spend a little more today, it may deliver higher lifetime income and a more stable retirement.
A high-profile dividend cut and a prominent fund manager’s apology have reignited a long-running debate. If investors can access similar exposures more cheaply and efficiently elsewhere, what exactly is keeping LICs alive?
For generations, Australian investors have backed banks, miners and dividends. But has that loyalty come at a cost? A look at the numbers raises an uncomfortable question about where future returns will come from.
The fight over testamentary trusts looked settled. Then the draft legislation arrived. Hidden in a technical detail is a question that could force many families to rethink wills they thought were already future-proof.
Investors have long accepted one portfolio rule without much question. A major tax shift could change that calculation entirely, forcing difficult trade-offs between risk, discipline and an overlooked cost lurking beneath.
What if investment success depends less on picking the right assets and more on understanding the decisions of other investors? A principle borrowed from game theory offers a different perspective on markets.