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.

Read more...

Wacademia

This article was originally published as 'Wacademia' in The Morning Bulletin in July 2012

Flinders prided itself on was an interdisciplinary approach to learning streams. As part of my economics degree I studied statistics, demographics, politics, history and even had the opportunity to enrol in “death dying and bereavement” and other subjects in the medical school. More experienced, it’s almost uncomfortable to realise that I only now understand what they gave me back then.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

Jackpot

This article was first published inThe Northern Daily Leader under the heading, 'Hi Mum I've won the lottery' on the 15th of October 2011.

Unfortunately, your real chances of winning the lottery are slim – winning Powerball is a 1 in 55 million long shot. However your odds of having to deal with a windfall of a different sort are quite high – every one of us has money in superannuation and many of us will need to decide what to do with our lifetime savings when we retire. While not quite on the same scale as a lottery win, you may still be required to decide what to do with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Read more...

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”.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

A cut above

This article was originally published in The Morning Bulletin in March 2011. Titled What can a financial planner do?

The ongoing nature of financial advising provides the opportunity for continuous financial improvement, whether through investment or through structural means. Like a GP, personal financial professionals will call in expert help when needed, but the primary relationship will be with the generalist.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

Superannuation changes to the way that minimum pensions are calculated

This article was published in Capricorn Investment Partners Limited First Quarter Newsletter 2009

On the 18th of February 2009, the government announced the suspension of the minimum account-based pension draw down requirements.

Read more...