Investing Compass

In this episode, we look at the top shares of Australia’s best performing super funds, and our equity analysts’ outlook for the stocks.You're able to view the 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.This week for Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column, he grades the superannuation system in Australia, offering each part of the system a letter grade of A, B, C or D. It allows investors to understand what our super system does well and what it doesn’t, and how that might impact them. Shani's Future Focus column looks at a quirk to one of the most generous tax concessions that we have in Australia, the CGT exemption for your home. The CGT exemption also allows for you to rent out your property for a number of years, and still claim the CGT-exempt status. Shani takes a deep dive into the tax policy, the circumstances that it suits and the situations to avoid that would make homeowners pay more tax than they need to. Small caps have historically traded at a premium given conviction behind long term outperformance. Market narratives surrounding their sizeable growth prospects can sway younger investors who performance chase. As a follow up on a previous article 'The Beginner ETF Portfolio', Sim explores the risks and merits of small cap exposure in a beginner's ETF portfolio.  AI chatbots and search assistants have transformed the way that many people seek information. But can they be relied upon for investment advice, too? Acting on a recommendation from a recent industry event, Joseph asked ChatGPT to impersonate an investment board of three famous investors. Then, he asked it to discuss some potential investments. What happened next left Joseph impressed and worried in equal measure.

Buffett has invested for over 7 decades, where his investing style and approach has evolved. There are many lessons, quotes and soundbites that investors take from him. This episode looks at the lessons that we should ignore from Buffett.You can find 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.We always have market sceptics (including us at times) declare that there will be inevitable bear markets. However, we’ve had significant economic and social disruption in the form of a pandemic, and the volatility and uncertainty of President Trump. Still, the market continues to rise. In Mark’s latest column, he has explored the reasons for why the market continues to rise, and whether the trend will continue. Stock market participants can broadly be split into two camps: investors and speculators. In the next edition of Bookworm, Joseph shows how Warren Buffett's teacher Benjamin Graham distinguished between the two in a single paragraph of text. He also poses a question that every budding investor should ask themselves, and shares his view on a five word approach to markets that Graham recommended.  Shani's last edition of her column looked at a tax targeting super accounts over $3 million. In this edition, she broadens the lens. Australia has a National Financial Capability Strategy, but it is inactive. She runs through the dire impacts that putting financial literacy on the backburner can have on Aussies. She writes an open letter to the newly re-elected Government, urging an immediate focus on improving financial literacy. 60% of Aussies report not feeling confident about managing their own retirement. The relationship between you and your super fund might end up being one of the longest relationships you’ll ever have. And just like life, you’re at liberty to chop and change as you go. But much like picking a good partner, who you start with matters. In this week's Young & Invested, Sim explores some of the things you should consider when picking between super funds. 

This episode runs through what the new Division 296 tax is, who it impacts, what investors should do to prepare for it.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.Shani's Future Focus column takes a deep dive into the controversial Division 296 tax - also known as the unrealised capital gains tax in super. She runs through how it works, why more Aussies are going to be impacted by it than we think and what investors can do to prepare for it.Buffett has invested for over 7 decades, where his investing style and approach has evolved. There are many lessons, quotes and soundbites that investors take from him. In this week's edition of Unconventional Wisdom, Mark has looked at 3 lessons to ignore from the Oracle of Omaha. With most Aussies now holding at least one ETF in their portfolio, it’s a hard proposition to ignore for beginner investors. Following on from her previous column on the beginner ETF portfolio, this week Sim explores the Aussie equity ETF market and compares two investor favourites in this category.  Joseph's featured article is the first edition of Stock Showdown, a new series that uses Morningstar insights to compare the business and investment merits of different ASX companies. To kick things off, Joseph enlisted the help of our global mining analyst Jon mills to compare BHP and Rio Tinto. How similar are the two mining heavyweights, where do they differ, and which would Jon choose if he had to? Find out in the first Stock Showdown.

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.