Should Inheritance Be Considered in Retirement Planning?
When clients ask, “Do I have enough to last through retirement?”, it’s often one of the biggest and most emotional questions they face. After nearly 27 years as a financial…
The World Is Your Market: Invest Like It
Despite a slowdown in Australian economic and productivity growth in the last five years, Australia’s economy is usually considered strong and resilient when compared with other developed nations. Given our economic strength, why would anyone want to invest anywhere else?
To answer this question, let’s consider what stocks might be included in a share portfolio with an international focus.
For simplicity purposes, we will look into the portfolios of a leading provider of index managed funds and their top 10 holdings. These funds tend to be passively rather than actively traded, and seek to reflect their chosen share index over the medium-to-long term.
Lessons From My Mentor: Peter Thornhill’s Guide to Long-Term Investing
As a young financial advisor attending my first industry conference in early 2001, I was fortunate to meet someone who would profoundly shape my investment philosophy: Peter Thornhill. His guidance…
Super contributions explained . . . easily
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
Why I Choose Direct Investing: Lessons from Experience
Over the last 20 years, I’ve shaped my investment philosophy and business around one central idea: direct investing. Rather than relying heavily on managed funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), I…
Quarterly Economic Update: Feb-Apr 2025
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
Helping Your Kids Buy Their First Home Without Stealing Their Dreams
Buying a home in Australia has become a monumental challenge. With skyrocketing property prices and average mortgage debts exceeding $600,000, many young Australians feel homeownership is out of reach. As…
Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
How the Media Fuels Fear During Market Volatility (and How Smart Investors Win)
Market volatility is a natural part of investing in global share markets. Over the past 26 years as a financial adviser, one lesson has stood out: while short-term market movements…
Understanding Managed Funds
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
“Equity Mate”: Why Borrowing Against Your Home Isn’t Always a Smart Move
Remember that old ad with the guy proudly polishing his boat while his neighbor asks, “How do you afford all this?” His response—“Equity, mate”—has stuck in the Australian psyche for…
Wait! Before you buy that…
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
Becoming Wealthy Slowly: The Most Reliable Path to Financial Freedom
Everyone wants to become wealthy. There’s no shortage of information on how to achieve it, but much of that information is filled with noise, distractions, and, more often than not,…
Spending a Dollar to Save 30 Cents: The Risk of Tax-Driven Investment Decisions
Australians love a good tax deduction. It’s almost ingrained in us—if there’s a way to pay less tax, we’re all ears. But what happens when tax savings become the main…
What happens to my superannuation if…?
A client once shared a poignant regret:
“When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”
This simple reflection struck a chord with me. It got me thinking about the delicate balance between saving for the future and living fully in the present. While we all know the importance of financial security, is it possible to save too much—at the expense of the moments that matter most?
Why Budgeting Sucks (and What to Do Instead)
Why Traditional Budgeting Fails We’ve all been told that the key to managing money is to create a budget and stick to it. Track every dollar, set spending limits, and…
Numbers vs. Emotions: The Real Game of Investing
When people think about investing, they often focus on the numbers: analysing balance sheets, forecasting earnings growth, understanding sectors, and evaluating dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios. While these elements are…
Helping Your Kids Financially: Why Timing Matters More Than Amount
As a financial adviser, one of the most common discussions I have with clients is about helping their children financially. For those with the means, the question isn’t if they…
The Regret of Over-Saving: How to Balance Financial Goals and Family Moments
A client once shared a poignant regret: “When I was working and the kids were young, I saved too much. It restricted what we did when the family was together.”…
Retirement Planning for Couples with an Age Gap: 5 Conversations You Need to Have
Planning for retirement can be challenging enough, but when there’s a significant age difference between partners, it adds another layer of complexity. Different life stages often mean differing priorities, timelines,…
The Big Money is in the Waiting: Lessons from Charlie Munger
As a financial adviser, I often find inspiration in the words of seasoned investors who have spent decades mastering their craft. While Warren Buffett tends to grab the spotlight, his…
Quarterly Economic Update: October-December 2024
The final quarter of 2024 reflected a mixed economic landscape. While consumer spending and equity markets showed resilience, persistent inflation, cost-of-living pressures and a cooling housing market have tempered optimism….
The Risks of Home Bias: Why You Need to Look Beyond the ASX
Australian investors have long been known for their strong bias toward local markets. It’s understandable—people invest in what they know and trust. However, relying solely on the Australian Stock Exchange…
Investing for income
Share markets are renowned for taking unexpected downturns and while history shows that markets eventually recover, this rebound in value can occasionally take time. Investors concerned about this risk might…
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