Basis Points

What can a Navy officer teach you about financial advice? Jason Petersen, Managing Partner at Five Financial, shares how military discipline shapes his approach to advice, leadership, and client relationships. He explains why his firm has gone all-in on a market beta investment strategy, arguing that consistent returns, tax efficiency, and low turnover matter more than chasing outperformance. Beyo...

If you've ever wondered how the pros really pick fund managers, this episode is for you. This week, we’re joined by Jo Cornwell, the Head of Manager Research at $34.5 billion managed account provider Evidentia Group. Plus, we discuss the red flags advisers should look out for when backing funds. In this episode: 00:00 SMA Boom Explained 03:23 Assessing Fund Managers 09:02 Local vs Offshore Debate...

$3.5 to $5 trillion is set to change hands in Australia by 2034. For advisers, this is a once-in-a-generation client acquisition opportunity. In this episode, Ally Selby sits down with Candice Bourke, Senior Investment Adviser at Shaw & Partners, who has built a $600 million advice business alongside Felicity Thomas. Candice how advisers can position themselves to capture intergenerational wea...

What does it take to deploy $15 billion into the industries that will define Australia's economic future? This week’s guest is uniquely placed to answer that. Mary Manning is the inaugural Chief Investment Officer of the Albanese government's National Reconstruction Fund. In this episode we discuss the seven key sectors identified as “engines of growth” for the Australian economy over the next 20...

In this episode, we're joined by Paul Burgon, the Managing Partner and CIO of Lipman Burgon & Partners, who ranked #4 in the 2025 Barron's Top Adviser List. Burgon argues the biggest concern facing his clients is the “third-generation curse” - and he may just have the cure advisers are looking for. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Paul’s Career Journey 03:38 Growing to $3B AUM 06:40 T...

For years, cryptocurrencies had been cast aside as the speculative Wild West of the investment world. But something has quietly shifted in the last two years. That’s according to Global X ETFs Investment Strategist Justin Lin, who argues that the asset class has moved away from its retail-driven origins to become an increasingly institutionalised asset class. While our host, Ally Selby, has long b...

Kerr Neilson, the legendary contrarian investor behind Platinum, lays out a bold case for why the next decade may belong not to AI darlings. He argues markets are entering a period of profound disruption, pointing to geopolitical fragmentation, war in the Middle East, and fragile global oil supply as long-term threats- warning these forces are reshaping markets. Beyond the macro themes, he offers...

We have an exciting announcement- meet the new host of Basis Points; Ally Selby. It’s been one year of Basis Points, and what a year it’s been! We reflect on some of the highlights so far and usher in a new (and we think improved) era of the show. A new host, even bigger guests, weekly episodes and live events to look forward to. Links Mentioned: 🎧 Listen to the Magunthan Siva episode here 🎟️ Joi...

Crypto. Rates. AI debt. Green bonds. In this episode, Chris Joye, CIO of Coolabah Capital, lays out a macro view that cuts against consensus. He calls Bitcoin “pure Ponzi”, makes the case for re dollarisation not de dollarisation, and warns AI driven CapEx could be understated as hyperscalers ramp up debt issuance. We also unpack Coolabah’s active bond trading model and the Global Carbon Leaders F...

Commodity markets are back in focus. Gold has more than doubled in recent years. Lithium has flipped from surplus to deficit and iron ore continues to quietly underpin the Australian economy. So, is this the start of something bigger, like a commodity super-cycle? In this episode, we’re joined by Greg Cassidy, Senior Analyst at Milford, to unpack the forces driving the global resource rally and wh...

2025 saw global markets outside the US outperform and Betashares’ Cameron Gleeson believes that trend is far from over. We sat down with Cam, Senior Investment Strategist at Betashares, to unpack the macro and market forces that could see Europe, Japan, and emerging markets lead the charge in 2026. You’ll learn: Why the US may lag despite strong earnings growth Europe’s policy pivot and Japan’s in...

”Conventional wisdom will tell you that the lowest risk portfolio you can have is to have 70% of your assets in one country…that's a violation of common sense.” Ben Preston Portfolio Manager at Orbis Investments, warns that in markets dominated by a handful of mega-caps, portfolios that look diversified on the surface- may be carrying far more risk than advisors realise.  We sat down with Ben...

What if the most reliable out-performers in the Australian market aren’t the blue chips, but the companies graduating quietly through the mid-cap ranks? Advisors often focus on small-cap potential or large-cap stability. But Jovana Gagic, Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Paradise Investment Management believes Australia’s mid-caps are where earnings growth, diversification and structural tailwinds...

“No client wants to be scaled. ” So how do you grow an advice business without making clients feel that they’re just a number? In this episode, we explore how Evalesco balances efficiency, scale, and deep personalisation to serve their “ millionaire next door ” client base. Ren sat down with Jeff Thurecht (CEO) and Marshall Brentnall (CIO) to hear how they scaled an advice business with a strong c...

Australia's corporate bond market has quietly become the third largest in the world, and signs point towards more growth to come.   With offshore giants tapping local liquidity and the AI infrastructure boom demanding trillions in new capital globally, Australia's fixed income market is no longer a niche corner of the capital market- it’s globally relevant. So what kind of opportunities...

Today’s guest believes investors should rethink risk, and be wary of confusing calm waters with safety.   In this episode, we speak to founder and CIO at Auscap Asset Management, Tim Carleton- and he does not hold back. He unpacks the flaws he sees in how private markets are valued, questions the sustainability of private credit and declares that three out of the four Big Banks in Australia h...

Is the next decades biggest growth story hiding in plain sight? Bryce and Ren sit down with Vern du Preez, Investment Specialist at Orbis Investments, to explore the new face of emerging markets and why it’s time to challenge old assumptions. They discuss: •Where to find real opportunity as China cools. •Using the active edge in emerging markets.  •How to capture Emerging market upside while...

AI and digital media are reshaping financial advice. Advisors now need to offer transparency, harness technology, and engage with clients in new ways or risk losing out on a new generation of clients. In this episode, we speak with Owen Raszkiewicz, founder of the Rask Group, who is leveraging these shifts to build a practice that leans into the future of financial advice. It’s a practical look at...

Beating the market doesn’t always mean chasing growth. Sometimes, it means means falling less when markets turn. Defensive equities aim to capture 80% of the upside, but only 50% of the downside- a profile designed to compound steadily and keep clients invested through volatility. Bryce and Ren speak with Hamish Fitzsimons, CIO of Australian Equities at AllianceBernstein, about how advisors can us...

For the first time, Australia’s largest family offices now hold more in private markets than in public equities.  It’s a shift that’s reshaping portfolio construction. So how can advisors respond?  In this episode, Bryce is joined by Jordan Ryan, Private Wealth Advisor at Koda Capital, to discuss the role private assets should play in client portfolios and the realities of educating clie...

Investors are facing a hole in their portfolio. Bank hybrids have been a popular product for retail investors, with 40% of the $40 billion market taken up by everyday Australians.  Now with APRA phasing out bank hybrids, advisers face a $16 billion hole to fill in client portfolios.  In this episode, we ask Helen Mason, Portfolio Manager at Schroders, where advisors can look to fill it?&...

Banks, miners and franking credits. Australian investors summed up in five words. But as the first 6 months of 2025 come to an end, the top of the ASX during this time has been characterised by a struggling resources sector and a strong rotation into banks. Is this the start of a longer term shift? Or is it just a blip? In this episode, we're joined by Will Curtayne, Portfolio Manager of the Milfo...

What makes a good fund manager? That is one of the hardest questions to answer in finance. Today's guest is as well placed as any to help us work through it. Chris Cuffe AO is the founding director and portfolio manager of Third Link. Chris was formerly CEO of investment managers Colonial First State and Challenger Financial Services Group. He was also previously the Chairman of UniSuper. Basicall...

After more than 30 years experience in financial markets, Ben Griffiths, has learned a thing or two. As investing fads come and go, and different industries rise and fall, we wanted to unpack the lessons and techniques that have stood the test of time. Ben Griffiths, Managing Director at Eley Griffiths Group, is a well-known small cap investor in Australia. His flagship fund has averaged more than...

"In hindsight it will be clear that this was an opportunity" That is a quote from today's interview with Simon Skinner, Head of the Global Investment Team at Orbis Investments. Investors have notoriously short memories, always chasing the last bull market and learning lessons from recent history. In today's episode, Simon wants us to take a step back and look at the lessons from the longer arc of...