Investing Compass

In this guest episode, we host Shamir Popat, Senior Analyst, Manager Research, at Morningstar. He runs through his report and findings on what investors should consider before investing in new ETFs. You can find more on the report here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to pr...

We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we take a deep dive into dividend ETFs and how investors can pick one that suits them by running through 4 dividend ETF examples. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed...

We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, Mark and Shani take a look 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. We take a deep dive into the tax policy, the circumstances that it suit...

We look back at the top episodes of 2025. In a listener-requested episode, we look at the pros and cons of the US and Australian retirement systems. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers an...

We take a look at our top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we look at the ETFs that would go into a 3 ETF portfolio, using Morningstar's Manager Research Medalist ratings. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of h...

Maximisers spend a lot of time researching and thinking about the best choice to make. Satisficers settle for the best option that they can see with modest criteria. Mark and Shani run through how to determine what type of investor you are and what this means for you. You can find Christine's article, 'The case for a 'good enough' portfolio' here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five ye...

It's our annual Christmas gifts episode! We run through some gifts that you can give to your favourite investor, and we take part in our annual tradition of getting each other a gift. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the...

In our guest episode today, we host Matt Wacher, Chief Investment Officer, APAC at Morningstar Investment Management (MIM). We run through where MIM sees opportunities, what they consider overvalued and how investors should approach markets. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived...

Shani and Mark speak about offset accounts. There are smart ways to take advantage of your offset account, but balance is the key. You can find the full article here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds...

Mark and Shani speak about the predatory companies encouraging you to pillage your retirement savings, and the methods that they are using to do this. You can find the full article here . A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by...

Lochlan Halloway, Market Strategist at Morningstar, joins us for a guest episode today. He talks about whether we're in a bubble now, what investors should do and what we can learn and apply from past crashes. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtf...

The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Centre (GFLEC) at Stanford University has created a three question financial literacy quiz that has been used in more than 20 countries. Mark and Shani run through the three questions, and add a couple of their own. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve...

Buying a home is a financial goal for many of us. Mark and Shani go through the questions you need to ask yourself to get clear on whether it is the right decision for you. You can read the full article here . A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtf...

In this episode, we're joined by Bianca Rose, Senior Portfolio Manager at Morningstar Investment Management. Nobody has a crystal ball, but having a guideline for what asset classes are forecasted to return allows you to make an informed decision about asset allocation. Bianca runs through Morningstar Investment Management's forecast for asset classes, and how this fits into your investment strate...

In this episode, Mark and Shani run through 6 life changing tips that Shani delivered to high school students during a financial literacy course. Do you have any life changing tips? Send them through to mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com, or leave a comment in your podcast app. You can find the full article here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to...

In this episode, we discuss some key lessons for investors from Morgan Housel's book, Same As Ever. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar. We’ve shared our...

In a listener requested episode, we look at investing and balancing goals outside of super. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar. We’ve shared our journeys...

There are some obvious red flags that investors intuitively know to steer clear of—high fees, low liquidity, poor performance. Mark and Shani run through three lesser-known red flags to look for when you are choosing an ETF. You can find the full article here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We...

SMSFs (Self-Managed Super Funds) are increasing in popularity. SMSFs provide a lot of great features. They allow investors to access the investments they want, and in the proportion they’d like to. They allow a level of customisation to invest in asset classes that aren’t available through traditional superfunds. The popularity of SMSFs with investors – particularly investors with high balances –...

The largest asset manager in the world, Blackrock has declared that the 60/40 portfolio should be rethought. They also believe that a 70/30 portfolio is likely to deliver 6.5% going forward. Mark and Shani take a look at the research, and what investors can realistically do to still achieve their financial goals. You can find the full article here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five y...

Two years ago Mark purchased CSL. The share has not done well in that period. Mark goes through his thoughts on CSL, whether it still meets his original thesis, and evaluates whether the share deserves a place in his portfolio. You can find the full article here. A message from Mark and Shani For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully....

Can you lower your tax burden with a trust? Tax is a large detractor from your total return, can this structure help? Mark and Shani discuss the investors that it may suit and those that it won't. Listen to this before committing, as the establishment and maintenance fees for trusts can put you on the back foot if it doesn't suit your circumstances. You can find the full article here. A message fr...

Is an unrealistic portrayal of investing success holding you back? Mark and Shani talk through their investing journey and their realisation of how to reach their goals. A message from Mark and Shani: For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hund...

Financial advisers are investing in droves in Separately Managed Accounts, or SMAs. We take a look at the benefits of this investment product, and why more and more advisers are joining its church.  A message from Mark and Shani: For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful an...

Many investors are wary after the collapse of First Guardian. What are the steps that you can take to make sure that your super is safe? A message from Mark and Shani: For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professio...