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14 May 2024
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Our September COVID survey asked readers about what has been personally affecting them during the pandemic and what they think would be the long-lasting effects. We have compared their responses to our COVID survey in April.
Over half of our September respondents are still reporting declines in investment values and expected income, but this has improved since April when 70% chose this response. However, fewer (21%) are seeing this time as a good investment opportunity than in April (38%).
The fear of becoming sick and feelings of social isolation have diminished in line with Australian case numbers declining as a whole.
While the recent Pfizer announcement deserves optimism, the global life sciences supply chain is likely to create more sustainable profits than those in the highly-competitive vaccine market.
It's tempting to focus on the negatives of the pandemic, the US election, the China/US cold war and inequality. But technology is delivering benefits that even wealthy people in the past could not have imagined.
Australians are underestimating the impact of a third Omicron wave, and with a severe flu season, hospitals will struggle over coming weeks. Governments will avoid lockdowns but we will need mask mandates.
If you’re like me, you may have put money into term deposits over the past year and it’s time to decide whether to roll them over or look elsewhere. Here are the pros and cons of cash versus other assets right now.
Life has radically shifted with my brain cancer, and I don’t know if it will ever be the same again. After decades of writing and a dozen years with Firstlinks, I still want to contribute, but exactly how and when I do that is unclear.
How useful are the retirement savings and spending targets put out by various groups such as ASFA? Not very, and it's reducing the ability of ordinary retirees to fully understand their retirement income options.
Australia will have 3.7 million more people in a decade's time, though the growth won't be evenly distributed. Over 85s will see the fastest growth, while the number of younger people will barely rise.
There's been little debate on how spending changes as people progress through retirement. Yet, it's a critical issue as it can have a significant impact on the level of savings required at the point of retirement.
The $3 million super tax will capture retired, and soon to retire, public servants and politicians who are members of defined benefit superannuation schemes. Lobbying efforts for exemptions to the tax are intensifying.
Every year, millions of dollars are spent on legal fees, and thousands of hours are wasted on family disputes - all because of poor estate planning. Here's a guide to a key part of estate planning - making an effective will.
As the world shifts away from one of artificially suppressed interest rates and cheap manufacturing, investors will need to carefully consider how companies are positioned to navigate the new higher-cost paradigm.
2024 looks set to be another year of reflation and geopolitical uncertainty — with the latter significantly raising the tail risk of a return to problematic inflation. That’s a supportive backdrop for commodities.
It's no secret that Australian commercial property has endured its most challenging period since the GFC. Yet, there are encouraging signs that the worst may be over and industry returns should improve in the medium term.
Allan Gray's Simon Mawhinney thinks two groups with huge influence over our public companies often fall short of helping shareholders. In this interview, Mawhinney also talks boards, takeovers, and active investing.