By Mathew Kaleel.

Last month, I discussed three themes that we believe will be critical in the determination of investment returns going forward. Over the last couple of months, another issue has started to re-emerge that will have a significant bearing on the world in the area of (geo)politics, war, wealth and  the environment. I am of course talking about energy, and more specifically, oil. I will touch upon some aspects of the oil picture which illustrate how quickly the world is changing.

On August 4, Peter Bobbin and Ray Griffin will set off from Bourke, in rural NSW, on a 10-day, 1250km bike ride to Sydney. Their aim is to raise awareness of the Future2 Foundation, and also to raise money to fund the foundation’s works. Both Peter and Ray are founding trustees of Future2.

By Simon Hoyle.

The new chief executive of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), Mark Rantall, has a message for members or former members who believe the association has caved in to pressure from regulators, consumer groups and the media: “The FPA is not rolling over.”

By Brenda Reed.

Financial advisers often ask when is a good time to invest in global equities? The answer is almost always “right now”, as there are always interesting global themes that Australian equity managers can’t exploit.

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) says it is looking forward to working closely with the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA), as IFSA announced plans to broaden its policy agenda and address a wider range of macro-economic issues.

Three key global themes will influence investment strategies in the years ahead. Mathew Kaleel looks at these themes, how they are likely to play out, and the potential ramifications of each.