Investing Compass

In this listener requested episode, we take a look at how taxes impact you as an investor. Understanding the maths behind all of the variables for your total return means you're able to make better decisions. Tax is a big one.In this week's Unconventional wisdom column, Mark explores whether investor complacency is out of touch with reality. He looks at game theory and a prisoner's dilemma, and the lessons that investors can take from it, especially when it comes to the current market volatility. He looks like at where Trump - and the market, might go from here. Finding superior long-term investments as a stock picker requires you to find companies that defy the laws of capitalism. But how might you go about doing this? In the next edition of his Bookworm column, Joseph explores Marathon Asset Management’s capital cycle approach to investing and how it can identify so-called “compounders”. Joseph also highlights a holding from his portfolio that he thinks fits the bill. Successful investing doesn't end as soon as you hit 'buy' in your trading account. Shani's Future Focus column looks at a methodical framework to monitor and maintain your portfolio, to increase your chances of achieving your financial goals. Easy access to technology means younger generations are more informed and confident in their investment decisions than ever. Furthermore, changes to the industry has led to structured financial advice increasingly becoming a luxury to access. In this week's Young & Invested, Sim explores whether financial advisers have any value proposition for young people. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

We run through some of the main choices that investors face when going through the ETF selection. We toss up the options with international ETF choices, and point to a few factors that investors should look for when choosing between similar ETFs.You can find the full article here.Mark has written through the full process, including an ETF pick for income here.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

We strongly believe that investors should know what they're investing in. Vanguard's 2 new ETFs, Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index ETF VDAL and Vanguard Diversified Income ETF VDIF are bound to interest investors as they are income and growth plays. We take a deep dive into both, and multi-asset offerings in general.You can read the full article here.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

In a listener-requested episode, we look at the pros and cons of the US and Australian retirement systems.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

In a listener requested episode, we explore the trade offs that parents are making with private school. We look at the costs of Government, Catholic and Independent schools, and the impact that these costs can have on your financial outcomes. Although schooling is a personal preference and not a purely financial one, it is always important to understand the opportunity cost.You are able to find the full article here.You can find the travel fund episode here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

We run through the Monte Carlo simulation and how you can use it to understand how asset allocation and other variables in your portfolio will determine the longevity of your retirement portfolio. You can use these outcomes to improve your retirement outcomes.You can find the Monte Carlo simulator here.You can read Mark's full article here.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

Some investors don't think that they have any goals to work towards, so they are unable to add proper structures and frameworks to their investment portfolios. This episode goes through a framework to dig deeper for your financial goals by exploring what you want from life, and therefore your finances.You are able to find the full article here.As cost of living increases and careers become more demanding, many younger people are also turning to income investing to derive a passive income. As more Aussies move towards this style of investing, we must understand what the opportunity cost is. Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column explores the opportunity cost of being an income investor. In Shani's Future Focus column, she looks at the insights for investors from a man responsible for $16 trillion. Salim Ramji is the new captain at the helm of Vanguard. His recent visit to Australia included a conversation with Johnathan Shapiro which revealed insights into how Salim sees the world, and how investors can apply those insights to how they invest. A study found that younger generations were disengaged when it came to their superannuation – and this isn't surprising. It's hard for young people to be excited at the prospect of retirement. But the reality is, failing to review your super is like cutting a hole in your wallet and walking around as the money falls out. This week Sim explores how your level of engagement with superannuation can have a significant impact on your retirement outcomes. Every big decision in life has trade offs. This can make it hard to make a decision in the first place and, perhaps even worse, lead to regrets seeping in later. In this week's Bookworm, Joseph explores a simple three-step method for tackling life's big choices with confidence. From deciding between two jobs to choosing whether to rent or buy. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

We look at the ETFs that would go into a 3 ETF portfolio, using Morningstar's Manager Research Medalist ratings. In this week's Unconventional Wisdom column, Mark runs through what he should do about a position in his portfolio that has grown too large. He is reluctant to sell shares, especially due to the tax consequences, but it also aware of the dangers of having a large concentration in one share that violates his investment policy statement. Shani recently wrote an article on why she includes managed funds in her portfolio. She received many questions about whether it was the right choice. Her Future Focus column this week comes out in defence of her decision, and why it's important that investors consider their own situation when choosing investment products. Benjamin Graham is widely revered as the dean of value investing and the master of flipping stocks that traded below their asset value. Despite this, Graham's best ever investment actually stemmed from a very different approach. In this week's edition of Bookworm, Joseph finds buy and hold inspiration from this most unlikely of sources. In Sim's day to day, she often gets asked for investment advice when she least expects. Whether it's about shares at the dinner table or Bitcoin at a doctor's appointment. Recently this turned into a request from her younger sister to invest her savings in the market as I see fit. In Sim's latest column, she discusses how she constructed her sister's portfolio amidst the added pressure of giving financial advice to family. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

This episode focuses on tarriffs - how investors should think about them, how they should position their portfolios, and the types of companies that will continue to prosper.Industry super funds have turned to private assets to invest the retirement savings of millions of Australians. In this week's Unconventional Wisdom column, Mark explores whether they live up to the hype. The proposed $3 million super cap was originally seen as a tax for the wealthy. With no adjustment for inflation, with time it will impact more and more Australians. Shani's Future Focus column looks at whether investors should stop contributing to their super, and the ways in which they can approach the problem. Warren Buffett often cites Phil Fisher as one of his biggest investing influences. In this week's Bookworm, Joseph explores one of Fisher's essential criteria for a long-term holding. As Joseph shows, this 'X factor' can be the difference between owning a company that fizzles out after an initial success and one that continues to thrive for many years. Australia’s obsession with homeownership is constantly increasing, as first home buyers rush to get on the ladder. Last week, Sim explored whether you should save for a deposit or invest in shares. It appears that amongst the shares vs housing debate, there emerges a third, enigmatic wildcard that is ‘Rent-vesting’.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.