Don’t confuse risk with volatility When talking about risk, many investors are actually talking about volatility – the usual ups and downs of investment markets. When the actual return from an investment is lower than expected, investors believe that they have lost money in a physical sense. But in fact they have only lost money ‘on paper’. It is only when they actually sell the investment at the wrong time (when returns are at their lowest) that they permanently lose [...]
In this video presentation, Managing Partner and SA Leaders 'Industry Expert' Andrew Creaser explores the concept of 'planning for success' with a broader goals-based approach to investment, risk and estate planning strategies.
Financial markets can be subject to periods of event-related volatility during which investor confidence can be significantly undermined. Here, we provide 10 key messages to help investors steer their portfolios through volatile times. 1. Volatility is a normal part of long-term investing From time to time, there is inevitably volatility in stock markets as investors react nervously to changes in the economic, political and corporate environment. Above all else, financial markets dislike uncertainty. Yet markets are also prone to [...]
There is a famous Indian parable that is taught in philosophy classes throughout the world to prevent absolutism and foster tolerance for the views of others. To paraphrase, six blind men are taken to “see” an elephant for the first time. One man feels the elephant’s tusk and declares that the elephant is like a spear, one man feels the elephant’s legs and declares that elephants are like trees, another man feels the trunk and declares the elephant is like a [...]
With the 2019 Budget week having concluded following the formal delivery of the 2019/20 Federal Budget by the Treasurer on 2 April 2019, and the Opposition response on 4 April 2019, it’s now “game on” in terms of policy positions as the electorate starts to consider where they will cast their vote in the upcoming election. For some voters, the decision on where they cast their vote will be influenced by where the future elected Government will focus their spending. In [...]
Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets rose over the last week helped by optimism on US/China trade talks, progress towards averting a renewed partial government shutdown in the US along with okay earnings results. Australian shares were little changed having outperformed sharply in the previous. Bond yields were little changed. The oil price rose but metal and iron ore prices fell. The $A was little changed as the $US rose. Progress in US/China trade talks [...]
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) proposal to limit cash refunds of franking credits will clearly impact many pension phase SMSFs, but we believe it also has the potential to impact many other superannuation funds. In this paper, we build a model of the key variables which determine whether a superannuation fund is likely to lose refunds of net franking credits under the ALP proposal. Our model is consistent with and helps explain an article in The Australian which reported that $309 million in [...]
Global shares had a bumpy couple of weeks, as strong economic data and corporate earnings were offset by geopolitical concerns. Most major markets had a positive start to the week as investors regained their composure after last week's sharp sell-off, with many indices posting their largest one-day rallies since March. What caused the sharp sell-off? The main reason underpinning the pullback was a response to concerns that rising interest rates (increasing bond yields) in the U.S. would cause a national or [...]
When the history books are written, they leave out the bits that didn’t matter and line up in orderly rows what is now seen as significant, even if it was overlooked at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear what was and what was not important. In real time, of course, it is far harder to see what is going on. I am enjoying a podcast series at the moment on Watergate, which for obvious reasons is resonant today. [...]
If you’re like me, looking to build a house on your own, then the following should come as no surprise: In order to construct a new home, I first off have to know my strengths—and areas where I need to rely on experts and specialists instead. For instance, I know what I want my home to look like: two floors, an open kitchen, north-facing windows and an oversized deck. But I don’t really know how to go about building it to [...]