Investing Compass

Insurance is a necessary evil of a holistic financial plan. Some investors avoid enroling or reviewing their insurances.as it's a tedious task that provides no immediate benefit. It however, provides peace of mind and protection at some of the most vulnerable times of your life. It's important to optimise your insurance to make sure you are adequately covered, but also that you are minimising the...

In this episode, we look at the places where our system is failing some Aussies as it relates to super tax policy. We offer some guidance about what they can do until the system catches up. Shani's article on this topic can be found here. You can also find the HECS/HELP article mentioned during the podcast here. Find our weekly wrap below: Resilience can’t compete with the popular portrayal of suc...

We go through a list of the assets that Mark doesn't hold. We get asked constantly about what's in our portfolio, but sometimes we find it even more insightful to explore what is deliberately excluded.  You're able to find the full version of Mark's article here.   How a huge ASX winner upset the odds : Many of the stock market's biggest winners come from companies that manage to dominat...

This episode is based on an email that we received from a listener who has a specific allocation in their portfolio to taking speculative bets. The rationale was that it helped control their behaviour by allowing them a designated allocation, while the rest of the portfolio remained untouched. We explore whether a strategy like this, called 'Mad Money', can work for investors. Interested in our in...

We go through the characteristics of what a perfect ETF would look like. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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: ...

We take a deep dive into dividend ETFs and how investors can pick one that suits them by running through 4 dividend ETF examples. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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 ...

This episode was one of our most popular of 2024. We go through what's needed to get to $100k in passive income.     Interested in our investing course? Find it 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...

This episode was one of our most popular of 2024. Our guest James Gruber discusses how to build a lazy portfolio with 3 ETFs, and the issues that you come across when you do this.   James Gruber is the Assistant Editor of Firstlinks. Prior to that, he covered Asia as a leading fund manager, stockbroking analyst and journalist. More recently, he was a portfolio manager for Asian equities at AM...

Mark and Shani exchange Christmas gifts, and discuss a stock pick and a few book recommendations from Mark. If you'd like to get Mark and Shani a Christmas gift, a podcast review on your podcast app would be the best gift you can give. Thank you for your support in 2024 and we hope you have a safe and happy holiday period. You're able to find the video here or on Morningstar Australia's YouTube ch...

We explore yield at cost - a metric that can improve your results as an income investor. You can find the full article here. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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   we...

A recent Vanguard survey showed that the best way for investors to take action with their super is to show them the actual difference it would make to their retirement outcomes. We run you through the steps that you can go through using a free, Moneysmart tool to model your own circumstances. You can find the tool here , or search for 'Moneysmart Retirement Planner'. Find the full article here. In...

An approach for investors that have just a few dollars to invest. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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. Hosted...

This listener requested episode runs through how to pick a super option. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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....

A look into Power-of-Attorney and related documents to protect yourself and your assets, and why they're important. You can find the full article here. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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 availa...

Three high-quality growth companies that have wide moats and a history of good capital allocation. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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...

Retirement aside, travel is the most common goal for many investors. We look at the best way to build a portfolio of passive income, that can be applied to any goal that requires a regular and sustainable income. Interested in our investing course?  Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast&...

On this listener requested episode, we discuss the phasing out of hybrids and the way that investors can replace them in their investment portfolios. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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 availabl...

Are you part of the sandwich generation? We talk about how to prevent financial stress when caring responsibilities arise from children and parents.  You can find the full article  here. Interested in our investing course?  Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast  here. Addi...

More than 50% of wills are contested. Here’s how to increase the possibility your wishes are honoured. You can find the full article  here. Interested in our investing course?  Find it 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&nbs...

This multi-asset option is an all in one ETF. But investors may have negative tax consequences. You can find the full article here Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the...

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. You can find the full article here. Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com o...

Ever had a Dollarmites account? It teaches us some valuable lessons but not the ones CBA touted. You can find the full article here . Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on t...

James Gruber goes through Aussie stocks he would hold forever. You can find the full article here. Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it 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 r...

We try to increase your media literacy with a 101 on how to critically evaluate fund manager investment picks in the media. You can find the full article here. Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it here. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a...

What is the meaning of life? Am I a cat person or a dog person? We try to answer an easier age-old question – dollar cost averaging vs lump sum investing. You can find the article Shani wrote, as well as the graphs from the study here. Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ podcast:  https://link.chtbl.com/YEE71vpx Interested in our investing course? Find it here. To submit any ques...