How we construct an ETF portfolio: Quality first, then price  

ETF Portfolio

There are two sensible ways to build an ETF portfolio.  The first is to use a diversified ETF such as VDAL or DHHF. The second is to construct your own portfolio using several ETFs.   Both can work. The right choice depends on two things: how much money you are investing, and whether you have the knowledge, temperament, and discipline to build a …

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How to deal with investment concentration risk  

Concentration Risk

Concentration risk is something every investor needs to be mindful of. It can materially increase the overall risk of a portfolio and potentially undermine future returns. As retirement draws closer, the focus should arguably shift towards lowering portfolio risk, while still positioning investments to deliver strong long-term returns.  What is concentration risk?  Portfolio concentration occurs when too much of …

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Investing a lump sum into shares: risky or rational? 

lump sum

For most investors, putting a large sum into the share market all at once feels risky, even reckless. That is why many prefer to drip-feed money into the market over time. But is that caution reducing risk, or simply creating a different kind of cost?  My view on this has changed  When investing large sums into share markets, I have generally preferred to …

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Beyond the median: 10 Melbourne property case studies that outperformed…and why 

flat market

According to Cotality, since its daily index began at the start of 2010, Melbourne house values have risen by around 4% p.a., which is only about 1.3% p.a. above inflation.   But of course, not every property has delivered such a mediocre result. That begs the real question: which types of properties have outperformed over this period, and what …

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CGT discount changes: what property investors need to do now 

The Senate committee reviewing the CGT discount released its final report yesterday. Commentators are now suggesting the government could reduce the CGT discount for property investors and potentially cap negative gearing to two or three properties.  Let’s look at the impact a change to the CGT discount could have.  Why is CGT under the microscope?   The government …

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The Forever Test: The one principle behind all long-term wealth  

There is one investment principle that, if you truly understand it, will help you make the smartest financial decisions and create the most wealth in the long run.   I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I assure you, it’s not. I cannot overstate how important this principal is.  The most important investment principal is…  The principle is simple: buy the investments with the strongest past evidence and fundamentals to …

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Non-bank borrowing is much higher – when to use them  

The lending landscape has changed dramatically since I started this business in 2002, and especially over the last decade.   The gap between bank lenders and non-bank lenders has never been wider.   For borrowers, understanding these differences can materially shape what you can do, how fast you can do it, and in some cases, it can make or break …

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The AI trade – what can we learn from the dot-com bubble? 

AI has quickly gone from tech buzzword to investment obsession, with “the AI trade” now shorthand for backing the companies most likely to benefit from its growth.   But before you assume today’s obvious winners will still look obvious in a decade, it is worth revisiting the last time a world-changing technology captivated markets. The dot-com era offers a surprisingly …

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Financial modelling for wealth: Advice or sales pitch?

There are a growing number of businesses offering financial modelling as part of their services, particularly in the property industry i.e. buyer’s agents.   It is not uncommon for buyers’ agents to provide you with a model of how you might build wealth through investing in multiple properties. These projections typically include cash flow and net worth over time, which can make it easier to …

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