Buy-and-hope is not a very clever investment strategy
For my sins, I am often asked which stocks people should have in their super funds I started out in 2007 with a traditional sort of stock portfolio, but it rapidly transformed into one that was just right for me As someone else said: “Hope is not an investment strategy.”
August 01, 2011
Hedge funds regain their poise and get back on the front foot
Financial planners have understandably been reluctant to include hedge funds and alternative return funds in client portfolios. Now the funds are looking to woo planners back. Simon Hoyle reports.
August 01, 2011
Getting to know all about you
As we move along this path of fee for service, the question arises as to what are the most valuable elements of a service. It seems much of this talk of value is more adviser-centric than attached to the deeper, values-based needs of clients.
August 01, 2011
People are people, not robots
Aniket Das say it’s simply not rational to assume that human beings are rational.
August 01, 2011
Residential recovery could be defeated by rising interest rates
Frank Gelber says an expected upswing in the residential property market may not be as long, or as strong, as first thought.
August 01, 2011
More planners taking direct action
More than a third of financial planners would prefer to use a platform to transact direct share investments, if they could transact via only one channel, but only 16 per cent of planners rate their main platform’s share trading capability as “very good”.
August 01, 2011
Too many dials spoil the broth
When I was first spruiking my measure of exuberance (which I discussed in the previous issue) in 2005-2007 to all that would listen, fund managers would invariably ask, “Can you do it for other countries?”
July 01, 2011
To hedge or not to hedge, that is the question
Is it time to start hedging global growth assets? EQUITIES Deciding whether or not to currency hedge equities assets ultimately depends on a portfolio’s risk/return aims PORTFOLIO VOLATILITY HEDGING AIDS RETURNS
July 01, 2011
Wraps for philanthropists
Structured sub-funds avoid having to reinvent the wheel Private ancillary funds (PAFs) - formerly known as prescribed private funds - have received a lot of attention since their inception According to Belinda Morrissey, director of philanthropic development at Sydney Community Foundation (SCF), sub-funds are “for those that do not want the ‘self-managed’ option, which comes in the form of PAFs”.
July 01, 2011
The five hallmarks of a sound commercial property investment
With continuing volatility across equities and uncertainty surrounding the values of residential property in particular, it may surprise some to know that there have been strong recent inflows to unlisted commercial property investments. And, despite some of the unarguable issues of the recent past, there are very good reasons for this.
July 01, 2011
Good for advisers, good for clients
In the same way that investors have sought increased control of their finances in recent years - becoming more risk-averse and more concerned about corporate transparency - the ripple effects of the global financial crisis have also been felt in the philanthropic community.
July 01, 2011
Bringing clients peace of mind
When asked, many planners say their goal is to bring their clients peace of mind. Is this what you wish to achieve for your clients? The only way for this to happen is if there was stress and suffering in the first place.
July 01, 2011
