Investing Compass

We take a look at how much franking credits adds to an investor's returns, and whether the obsession with the tax credits is justified. 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 professiona...

We run through why dividends are valuable for investors, and a valuation technique for shares that investors are usually quick to dismiss. 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 professi...

This episode of Investing Compass reviews the Australian superannuation system. For each aspect of the retirement system, Mark gives it a grade, but also shares the average grade that Morningstar readers gave. This week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column , he speaks about how investors can navigate their investments and their portfolio in an age of economic disorder. In a world awash with debt...

Some investors focus on what the markets are doing each day to understand how their portfolio is going to perform. In this episode, we run through the common behavioural mistakes that will likely have an outsized impact on your portfolio, and how investors can prevent making these mistakes. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to...

This week, 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 suits and the situations to avoid that would make home...

This week's podcast focuses on traditional metrics for understanding whether you're wealthy, and whether there are better ways to assess your progress towards wealth creation in your End of Financial Year review. We run through the ratios you can use during your portfolio review to conduct a holistic assessment. Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column takes a deep look at the state of housing in Austr...

In this episode, we dive into private assets. What they are, their history, the risks and benefits and whether they suit investors. In this week's Unconventional Wisdom column, Mark runs through the reason why private credit is a hard no for him . As investors rush into the attractive yield offered by private credit providers, he urges caution and why all that glitters is not always gold. Shani's...

In this listener requested episode, we look at the difference between Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRPs) and Dividend Substitution Share Plans (DSSPs). There are some very important benefits to each plan that may mean one plan will suit investors better than the other. You're able to find the full article here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or lea...

This episode goes through the steps to successfully monitor your portfolio. For successful investors, your job doesn’t end when you hit ‘buy’. You're able to 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&nbsp...

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. Au...

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 po...

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 F...

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...

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...

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, plea...

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. Hosted on Acast. See a...

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 t...

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....

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...

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 s...

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...

Mark goes through why the conventional wisdom is to reinvest dividends, but despite this, why he has stopped. This week, Mark’s Unconventional Wisdom column takes a deep dive into the Yale model. He looks at whether Industry superfunds are following the wrong investment strategy, as there are signs that it may not work as well in the future as it has in the past.   For International Women's D...

In a listener requested episode, Shani goes through why she uses managed funds and how she chose to use the investment product for the problems that it solves for her. Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column takes readers on a trip to Monte Carlo this week. He looks at the levers that investors can pull to have a more secure retirement, reducing uncertainty for investors.   Shani's Future Focus c...

This episode explores what to do when you receive an inheritance, and the options that you have when you invest. We consider paying off a mortgage and investing in and out of superannuation. Other episodes where we speak about inheritances include: Your options when you inherit a house How to incorporate an expected inheritance into a financial plan The documents you need to protect your assets Ma...

We speak about the positives and perils of diversification in your portfolio, and how to find a balance. This week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column he challenges the traditional classifications of income and growth stocks. He runs through his focus on dividend growth, rather than just focusing solely on yield. Mark runs through a controversial income pick that he believes offers significant...