Quarterly Economic Update: April to June 2026
It was a quarter of two halves. Overseas, the US and Iran agreed to end their war, sending oil prices tumbling and sharemarkets rallying. At home, households copped another rate…
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Quarterly Economic Update: January to March 2026
The first quarter of 2026 will be remembered as one of the most consequential in decades. A war erupted in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz closed, oil prices surged past US$100 per barrel, and inflation roared back to life. Central banks pivoted sharply from cutting rates to raising them. For Australian households, that has so far meant two consecutive rate hikes and a stark reminder that the cost of living battle is far from over.
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The Real Reason Property Prices Exploded (And Why We May Have Hit the Ceiling)
I’ve been digging back into some excellent research from Tim Farrelly—our asset consultant who I really rate for his independent, no-conflict views. A few years ago, he published a brilliant piece…
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Quarterly Economic Update: October to December 2025
The December quarter has been defined by unexpected twists. Just as we thought inflation was under control, it kicked back up. Just as rate cuts seemed certain for 2026, we’re…
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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.
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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? -
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…
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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….
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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…
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Inflation vs. Your Savings
Inflation is a slow force working against your financial goals. It can quietly erode the purchasing power of your money over time. While it’s tempting to see cash as a…
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Understanding Short-Term Market Volatility: Causes and Solutions
Volatility is part and parcel of investing in share markets. It’s what makes them exciting when prices are climbing but equally nerve-wracking when they swing downward. As much as we’d…
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Quarterly Economic Update: July-September 2024
The Australian economy is still growing, but things are moving slower than usual, and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is being cautious with any changes to interest rates. They’re…
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Quarterly Economic Update: April – June 2024
The economy continues to slow, with inflation remaining sticky, the new federal budget making waves, and global events that may have a significant impact. Uncertainty at home and abroad The…
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2024-25 Federal Budget Recap
In his 2024 Federal Budget speech, treasurer, Jim Chalmers, announced that ‘The number one priority of this government and this Budget is helping Australians with the cost of living’. But…
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Quarterly Economic Update: January-March 2024
The first quarter of 2024 saw the Government roll out considerable changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts, inflation continuing to slow but remaining stubbornly high across some areas, surging…
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Quarterly Economic Update: Oct – Dec 2023
Global growth is forecast to slow and remain below its historical average in 2024, reflective of tighter monetary policy in advanced economies, as well as a soft outlook for China….
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Your recession survival guide
In the ever-fluctuating world of economics, recessions are an inevitable part of the financial cycle. While they can be daunting, understanding their nature and preparing for their impact can make…
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Quarterly Economic Update: Jul – Sep 2023
Australia’s annual inflation rate has taken an unexpected step up, increasing pressure on the Reserve Bank to push interest rates higher and once again raising the prospect that Australia will…
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Building a Strong Foundation: Avoiding Mortgage Default
When building a home, it’s often said that the foundations are the most important part. Their primary purpose is to hold your house up – supporting the structure and preventing…
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Federal Budget 2023-24 Summary
Lady Luck has once again looked down fondly upon Australia, creating the first Federal Budget surplus in 15 years, through a higher tax take on record export earnings and increasing…
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Fixed rate mortgage expiring… Now what?
If your fixed interest rate expiry is coming up, you might have started to think about what happens next and what action you need to take. Or you might be…
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The Wealth of Gold: Investing in a timeless asset
As investors navigate through unpredictable and volatile economic times, it is essential to consider asset classes that can provide a level of stability and protection against market fluctuations. One such…
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Quarterly Economic Update: January-March 2023
The Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to pause its cycle of interest rate hikes, keeping the cash rate target unchanged at 3.6 percent due to softening inflation data, a…
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