Storm

This article was originally published as 'Storm' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 10th August 2013. Image borrowed from www.couriermail.com.au

The dumbing down of education and the reliance on one's own feelings as a reasonable basis for decision making are topics previously addressed in the column.

It seems to me that we have moved from a situation where few were relatively tertiary educated, but educated to a high standard, to one where a shallower style of tertiary education is available to most everyone. And we have moved from a system of highly organised (definitely flawed and perhaps over-bearing) religion as a source of self-reflection to one where daring to question the crowd is deemed heretical. The popular default now is a reliance on feelings and bureaucracy.

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Feelings

This article was originally published as 'Feelings' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 15/6/2013.

CIPL's chairman is an expert regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and my association with him has led to a heightened interest in aspects of psychological type. While Extroversion and Introversion are traits commonly discussed, it’s Thinking vs. Feeling that I want to explore here.

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Busy

This article was originally published as 'Busy' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 18/5/2013.

Being busy is good, and if you are a protestant being busier is (apparently) even better. But what is busy–good and what is just wheel-spin?

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De-amalgamation

This article was originally published as 'De-amalgamation' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 21 February 2013. Image taken from http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/debate-may-determine-future-deamalgamation/1775058/

The region is still shackled by small minded politics and bureaucracy. I was chastised for bringing to public light endemic problems with RRDL, generally related to conflicted and unsustainable reliance on Council funding. The end result - no chamber, no RRDL, no mayor and no change. Behind the scenes, the same people with the same outdated and ill-informed ideas prevent the region's growth

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Greetings from Sydney

This article was originally published as 'Greetings from Sydney' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 29 December 2012. Image taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luna_Park-Sydney-Australia.JPG

Greetings from Sydney, where I am staying with my three children on a dad-inspired visit, while Sandra takes a well earned break with her sister and mother in a much more relaxed and tropical location. This visit is reminiscent of trips my mother took me and my siblings on – to Brisbane.

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Livermore

This article was originally published as 'Livermore' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 1 December 2012.

Many will be elated at Kirsten Livermore’s decision to step down at the next election, but I’m not one of them.

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Fast Train

This article was originally published as 'Fast Train' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 8 September 2012.

Many claim that the rail track between Rockhampton and Gladstone is at capacity. It is not - QR National’s own data shows that, and with most infrastructure already in place, the service could probably be run with a modest subsidy.

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Rundown on CIPL

This article was originally published as 'Rundown on CIPL' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 21 July 2012.

Of the $150 million or so our business looks after, about $90 million originates from Central Queensland. That’s a lot of money, but think about it this way – that’s only money entrusted to our firm - one of probably 30 financial services firms in the area.

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Borghetti

This article was originally published as 'Borghetti' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 14 July 2012.

The frequency to Brisbane is excellent. The revamped cabins, and crew-wear are classy and the staff are on the look-out to make the time in the air memorable - for me it's about using that quiet time well. New planes, and routes are in the offing.

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The Grand

This article was originally published as 'The Grand' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 16 June 2012.

Passers-by will notice that the Grand Hotel and the house next to it has been demolished, with only Legacy house still standing. The combined land parcel comprises more than 1,700 square metres of prime commercial land, snugly situated between City Centre Plaza, The Edge and the new Empire apartment hotel (to be started in January).

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Assessing the value

This article was originally published as 'Assessment of Value' in The Morning Bulletinon 21 April 2012.

It strikes me as odd that people will happily fork out $38 for a carton of beer every week, but will balk at spending the same amount on upgrading their car. Or they will happily buy a can of coke each week, but persevere with a clapped out washing machine.

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Check your face

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Check your face' on the 31st of March 2012.

Financial advisers don’t follow a ‘face code’ (I hope!) – exclusivity should not be a barrier to receiving financial advice. Some advisers may charge more than others, but you shouldn’t be discriminated against based on the balance of your bank account. This is related to a question I am often asked: how much money do you need to have before you see a financial adviser? Many people think that there’s no use getting financial advice unless they have a spare couple hundred thousand dollars lying around. The truth is that you don’t need to have money to justify seeking out financial advice; you just need to be interested in making the most of your financial situation.

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Just Google It

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Just Google It' on the 17th of March 2012.

How great is the internet? Want to know how many ping pong balls fit in a jumbo? Just google it (around 28 million). Want to know Tony Abbott’s date of birth? Just google it (4 November 1957). Want to know how much the world’s most expensive watch costs? Just google it ($4.7 million). Want to know where the….ok you probably get it by now. It’s almost hard to imagine life without access to all of this amazing information. Though of course much of what you find on the internet is of dubious quality – have a look for when the world will end and you’ll see what I mean (21st of December apparently, so go easy on the Christmas presents this year).

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Fleeting 1st lesson in finance

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'A kiss from Julia Roberts' on the 26th of November 2011.

Starting early is important not only in education, but also in saving and investing. The earlier you start saving up for something, be it a new car, a nice pair of shoes or your retirement, the more chance you have of reaching your goal. Now we all already know this, so why is it so hard to do? It’s simply a trade-off between immediate and delayed consumption. We all want it now! Having to wait a week, six months or forty years before we get to spend our savings is no good, we want it all now.

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A perfect 10

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'A perfect 10' published on 24 December 2011.

It’s a shame there isn’t a World Championship of Fainting, as I’m confident I could win gold for Australia. My most recent example, prompted by a stomach complaint, would certainly have come as close to perfection as Nadia Comaneci’s 10 out of 10 on the uneven bars at the 1976 Summer Olympics. It was a fairly spectacular effort, with all the hallmarks of a great faint – sweating, shivering, mumbling and kryptonite-like weakness.

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In a 'roundabout' way

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'The Robot Says Stop' published on 10 December 2011.

I was thinking about the different names for traffic lights as I was stuck on red at Tamworth’s newest set of traffic lights (at the intersection of Bridge Street and Belmore Street). As I waited for green, I wondered why we had swapped a perfectly good roundabout for a set of traffic lights.

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A boy and his toys

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Ken and Barbie won't make you rich'?

It wasn’t until many years later that I finally figured out what I really should have been buying with my fifty pounds – shares in BHP Billiton. If I had the foresight to spend my fifty pounds on BHP shares each year, I would now be sitting on a tidy investment worth just over $23,000. A little deposit perhaps towards the fast red sports car that somebody wants for their fortieth birthday. I guess the toys never change, they just get bigger and more expensive.

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Music 'Embrace the change'

This article was originally published as 'Music Industry is embracing the change like never before' in The Morning Bulletin on 08th October, 2011.

Queensland is known for its resource and tourism industries, but if you were invited to attend conferences on financial planning and music, would you think of Brisbane as a natural location? And would you expect the financial or the musical people to have a better grip on their industry? Which would you think of as the most professional?

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QANTAS An Airline Grounded

This article was first publihed in The Morning Bulletin dated 05th November 2011. Titled 'QANTAS'

Regardless of variants, Qantas’ domestic operations have always been the driver of Qantas’ profit and that history provides a sound basis against which to test the views of Alan Joyce. Consider now the very strong $A, high fuel prices and vastly increased international competition. Then add a rebranded Virgin, which is showing signs of having all of the quality of the old Ansett, without the inflexible work practices and cost base. Sound like an environment for unrestrained pay increases?

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Who's This Jason Guy?

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Who's this Jason guy'?

Given my regular message that most investing behaviour is driven by our cognitive and emotional states, it probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that the same failure to act sooner rather than later is also prevalent in how we manage our investments. Researchers have given it the fancy name of the ‘disposition effect’, but really all it means is that when it comes to share investing we tend to hold on to our losers and sell our winners. It’s not so much the selling of the winners which is a problem (as they say, nobody ever went broke taking a profit), it’s holding on to dud investments for far too long, when they should have been sold immediately when things started to go downhill.

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The Death Drop

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Jumping off a cliff can hurt' on the 1st of October 2011.

The wild gyrations we’ve been seeing on global stock markets are largely because there is no certainty that Germany and France will make the right decision, or even if saving Greece is the right decision. With any luck the outcome is more positive than when I paid my US$90 to experience the ‘death drop’ a little over a decade ago. On that occasion I blacked out on the way down and nearly threw my back out – here’s hoping Greece avoids the same fate.

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What sort of car are you?

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'What sort of car are you'?

Early last year my wife and I experienced two momentous occasions: we found out we were having a baby and we had to buy a new car. Clearly the latter was brought about by the former, for as much as I argued otherwise, it was apparent that fitting a baby capsule to the ute’s passenger seat was not an option.

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Theories

This article was originally published as ‘Theories’ in The Morning Bulletin in September 2011.

The Chinese do know what they are doing. Once fragmented, four or five companies now control much of the commodity market, making prices much less volatile. High prices are not evoking the supply response of times past, and therefore prices are remaining “stronger for longer”. Such an outcome is consistent with microeconomic theory - big consumers will want to bypass the problem by owning the resources directly. Not keen on economics? Watch the movie “Dune”.

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Don't just do something, sit there

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leaderunder the heading, don't just do something, sit there.

Unsurprisingly, these are the sort of questions that scientists love to answer, and a 2007 study by a group of Israeli researchers found that when facing a penalty kick, goalkeepers have an ‘action bias’ – which means that they tend to dive left or right more frequently than was useful. The study showed that goalkeepers went left or the right 94% of the time – meaning they stay in the middle for only 6% of the kicks they faced. However, the penalty shot went straight at the middle of the goal 29% of the time, so it turns out that goalkeepers could increase their chances of saving the penalty kick simply by doing nothing.

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Don't feel compelled to do things that make you uncomfortable

This article was first published in The Northern Daily Leader under the title 'Hello Brian' on 23 July 2011.

The ‘Do Not Call Register’ is a great idea – apparently signing up to the register means you won’t be troubled by pesky telemarketers, who have a knack for knowing when you have just sat down for dinner. Last week, while my wife and I were preoccupied with convincing our six month old son Jack, that liquidised pumpkin is a tasty food source, we were interrupted by a telephone call from ‘Brian’. In hindsight we should have just ignored the call, but we had been expecting a call from a family member.

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Flicking the switch

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Electricity dated 16 July 2011.

Electricity is the ultimate perishable good - It has to be used as it is produced. Coal fired power stations are at their most efficient when producing constant amounts for long periods of time. This is at odds with demand patterns, which fluctuate throughout the day, and in particular, with the weather. Industry says that power stations have to be built to meet peak demand, but coal fired power stations frequently lose money selling electricity in the off-peak, when demand is low. When demand is very high, wafer thin links between the states mean generators can’t even buy in from elsewhere, and in any event the wastage from transmission is high. Further, much distribution infrastructure is not set up to handle the two-way electricity flows necessary for a smart grid.

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Bubbles in Paris

This article was first published in The Northern Daily Leader under the title 'Bubbles in Paris' on 09 July 2011.

Too often we see ordinary Australians being duped by the modern-day equivalent of John Law and his exciting yet ultimately worthless investment opportunity. So whenever a ‘John Law’ comes your way, be a sceptic first and a believer second. The Mississippi Company wasn’t the first speculative bubble to collapse, and it certainly won’t be the last.

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Rockhampton It's The Vibe

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin Titled (The Show) dated 11 June 2011.

The show has moved with the times, but not so our region. These initiatives were all driven by individuals who want to achieve something. None relied on Government, and consequently avoided the squabbling and do-nothing mentality that we are saddled with. After more than 10 years back here, the problem is clear. There is simply too much politics – bring back Brophy.

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Boring Budget

This article was first publihed in The Morning Bulletin dated 21st May 2011. Federal Budget Undoes Our Buffer Against GST

Is the recent Commonwealth budget boring? Perhaps, but it is important because of what it has failed to do. It is an embarrassment to the party that through Whitlam, dragged Australia kicking and screaming into the 20th Century, and into a liberal financial mainstream through Hawke and Keating. In fact, it seems to sow the seeds of undoing much of the great work that has led to Australia’s ability to withstand the GFC, and the nation’s current prosperity.

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The culture of fear

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin Titled (The culture of fear) dated 04 March 2011.

Being gloomy has become fashionable. Once the fun police were the precious domain of the movie theatre (a special hello to Rockhampton Twin Cinema’s, Mr. Styles), but now they are everywhere. Driven by painful political correct ideology, they seek to impose their totalitarian views on the rest of us. Most of us already understand the need to respect each other, but the PC crowd employ their tools to subvert intelligent debate and stifle development.

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The Splendour of isolation

This article was first publihed in The Morning Bulletin dated 07th January 2011. Titled 'Splendid Isolation'

The plight of people badly affected, and the efforts of those involved in helping maintain the community deserves respect, but it’s pretty important that our community leaders speak frankly about the resilience and importance of the town. That includes not making misleading statements that 40 per cent of the city is underwater, or that we are isolated, when we never were - you only had to call the Royal Oak Hotel at Yaamba and look on the RACQ website to discover that (that’s what I did anyhow). Perhaps one sensible suggestion is a river height gauge at Pink Lily Highbanks. The grief really only starts when the river breaches those banks.

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Fly In Fly Out

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Income Returns dated 18 September 2010.

The future growth in our region is not in mining or in oil and gas per se, but in servicing and making investments in those growth industries. This is Rockhampton’s history. There are many reasons to choose Central Queensland as home, but unless the thinking changes, notwithstanding the resources boom, our communities will fall further and further behind. In a fly-in, fly-out environment, much better commuter transport links between employee residences and the “coal face” are key to Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast becoming a viable alternative to Brisbane for mining workers.

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Will She Be Right Mate?

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Will she be right mate? dated 30 October 2010.

Underinsurance can have a huge impact on the lifestyle your family chooses to follow. The family income can often halve if families lose the main breadwinner and an unexpected event can affect your family’s way of living including making mortgage repayments, the cost of running a car, holidays and other expenses. While your superannuation fund may provide a basic level of cover – quite often it is not enough.

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Super is not an asset

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Income Returns dated 18 September 2010.

Many think that superannuation is an asset. It is not - superannuation is a special trust formed with the express goal of providing for an individual’s income needs during retirement. From cash to property to shares to art, the assets which can be held in the superannuation trust are broad. Comparing income yield across asset classes is not easy.

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Cold Comfort

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Cold Comfort on 17 July 2010.

CQ’s future lies in dispensing with wrongheaded ideas and embracing a positive social attitude. Let’s recognise that we are a service town, and regain excellence in that. I say those holding us back have had their turn. Once on our way and not before, we can launch a new slogan – “CQ. It’s Hot!”

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A Positive Social Attitude

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Budget on 12 June 2010.

In this week’s State Budget, more than $5.1 million is being directed at indigenous people and other disadvantaged groups in Rockhampton. Specific programs included $512,061 to prevent substance abuse, and $1.31 million for a diversionary centre as an alternative for police custody. As noble as these endeavours are, they should elicit sadness and anger.

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2050 The New Town Dream

This article was first publihed in The Morning Bulletin dated 15th May 2010. The New Town.

The suggestion of a “new town” to accommodate the influx of people that some expect from the mining and gas boom smacks of being dreamt up by people who don’t know the history of urban development in contemporary Australia. Once home to Queensland’s second largest city, our region’s struggle to keep up, is perhaps more a matter of culture than ability. Some civic leaders expound the region’s natural position with respect to the resources boom, but most development of new mines is much nearer Mackay.

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Succession Planning for your future

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading Sucession Planning LN Input on 07 April 2010.

Involuntary incapacitation can be dealt with through a specially prepared life insurance plan so that the business can continue to run, or to purchase shares from the owners if the business must close. But what of pre-determined retirement? A business with free cash flow will probably have value - the trick lies in structuring it properly.

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Ripoll on the water

This article was first publihed in The Morning Bulletin dated 13th March 2010. Titled 'All The Rivers Run'

Despite frequent bad press, financial advisors are going to become more, not less, important to people. The advisors will cover all types of personal finance and act as a hub between accountants, solicitors, Centrelink, superannuation and small business. They will provide broad, tailored advice on all these matters, drawing on particular expertise as required. They will charge a fee for service, based on the workload, for managing these things.

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Church Change and Climate Change

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading electricity generation on 19 December 2009.

As an intermittent churchgoer and a constant thinker, considering the motives of other attendees is interesting. Do they fall into one of two categories? Those who believe and try to practise the principles of Christianity (or its alternatives), or those seeking gain (insurance against damnation for example). Or are there more? Could the debate regarding climate change be considered against similar parameters?

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All Ordinaries Valuations

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin under the heading 'Valuations' on the 23 of September 2009.

The point is that the overuse of “return on equity” as a performance yardstick, and the slavish belief that markets at all times value things appropriately, caused overuse of debt and declining asset values, at a time when the economy could least withstand it.

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A Brave New World

This Article was first published in The Morning Bulletin as 'Relevance of Novels' dated 02 August 2009.

Conveying a deep respect for work, nature, dreams, wounds, and the reciprocated love a boy can have for his mentor, it is a brilliantly spare description of man’s purpose. Amongst the sea of tabloid sex-cases, it’s a reminder that such relationships are normal - in fact required - if boys are to reach maturity.

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Are 'Queenslanders' being sold out?

This article was originally published in The Morning Bulletin as "Bligh's state asset sell-off the right move for everyone" dated 04 July 2009

Now some unions are making trouble for the Bligh Government's proposed sale of some ports, toll raod concessions and parts of Queensland Rail. It is normal to draw down on savings in tough times, and many Government assets earn way less than their potential, due to bloated cost structures, abysmal customer service and politically compromised business plans.

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Governments Running Up Debt - In An Economic Downturn

This Article was published in The Morning Bulletin on Saturday 6th June 2009.

Persistent increases in the price of goods and services result in higher interest rates, reduced purchasing power and increased costs for business. Tax bracket creep benefits the Government, but everyone else misses out. How can we avoid a spike in inflation?

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Opportunities for Primary Producers

This article was originally published in The Morning Bulletin as an article on the 16th of May 2009.

Self sufficiency means having a plan for retirement, and not having to unduly rely on others. Like ants building a colony, we all have to interact to make things happen. But beyond that is a requirement to fulfill our own destiny. Setting up your financial and business affairs in such a way that your ability for self-direction, your negotiating power and your freedom is increased has to be liberating. The absence of these things is probably at the heart of many simmering family problems common on the land.

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Queensland Government Elections - The Upper House

This article was originally published in The Morning Bulletin on 1 April 2009.

Before every election my phone rings. Clients and business associates hang on the end of the phone muttering about the need for change. It’s always difficult to say something sensible. Of course we need change, but will a 1950’s time warp fit the bill?

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