A never ending story of leviesBY PHIL ANDERSON | TUESDAY, 4 AUG 2026 2:57PM The extensive processing period for Shield and First Guardian complaints means financial advisers will likely not be able to see an end to a series of levy hikes.
 Calming volatile markets with alternative strategiesThe concept of diversification was famously described as the 'only free lunch in finance' by the father of portfolio theory, Harry Markowitz.  How to really defend your portfolioNo-one in their right mind would invest purely in a single asset class. Most people are invested in what is called a "balanced" portfolio that contains ...  Sell in May and go away, but don't bet on itA well-known saying in the share market is 'Sell in May and go away'. That piece of advice is based on the idea that share prices are likely to dip after ...  Achieving portfolio excellence in post-HayneOf all the revelations that the Hayne Royal Commission highlighted earlier this year, it was the issue of institutions charging a customer a fee for no ...  Active versus passive in fixed incomeGiven the recent passing of Jack Bogle, who is largely considered to be the father of passive investing, we felt it might be a reasonable time to look ... Zombie killers neededOne of the key ingredients to reality television is kicking out characters at the end of each episode. It's a fast-track way for the program to renew ...  A failure of intent"Effective leadership is key. Leaders drive culture. Whether they do it by accident or by design, and whether culture is set by those at the top of the ... Scorecard not pretty for active managersThe SPIVA scorecard on active funds in the US is out, courtesy of S&P Dow Jones Indices. Unless you are an index manager, it's not pretty.  Positioning portfolios for a late cycle environmentAs Rudy Dornbusch said in 1997: "None of the U.S. expansions of the past 40 years died in bed of old age; every one was murdered by the Federal Reserve." ...  The life insurance industry in Australia is in troubleThe Royal Commission's recommendation that life insurance sales should not be rewarded with a commission or a payment from the product provider to the ... |
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Advice with soul
SACHA BURCHGART
FOUNDER AND FINANCIAL PLANNING SPECIALIST
BURCHEART
FOUNDER AND FINANCIAL PLANNING SPECIALIST
BURCHEART
Though she initially tried, Sacha Burchgart couldn't escape the call of a career in financial advice; it just took staring down her own mortality to see what's possible when you do things differently. Jamie Williamson writes.
Expert Feed
A never ending story of levies
The extensive processing period for Shield and First Guardian complaints means financial advisers will likely not be able to see an end to a series of ...
When 'diversification' stops being diversified
While many are worried about the dominance of US mega-cap companies, the same trend is also transpiring domestically, creating a concentration issue for ...
Secondaries: Handling a double-edged sword
Secondary transaction volume in private markets continue to hit new highs, as does fundraising for secondaries vehicles. Yet the market presents vulnerabilities ...
Operational alpha: How wealth tech is reshaping fund distribution in Australia
Innovative technology emerging across wealth management is transforming how funds are distributed among financial intermediaries, an expert says.
