Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), is suing Fiducian Investment Management Services (FIMS), alleging that one of its ethical funds included mining and fossil fuel companies – despite being marketed as socially responsible.[1] As the case unfolds, it’s a timely reminder that misleading fund labels – intentional or not – can […]
What to make of all time highs
Clients often ask me if it’s time to take profits or sell based on the recent performance of a particular investment. It seems that we’re conflicted about record-high share prices – on one hand we’re pleased to see existing investments gain in value but apprehensive that higher prices are some kind of indication that prices […]
The butterfly effect
You may have heard of a concept in chaos theory called ‘the butterfly effect’. The mathematician and meteorologist Lorenz famously described how a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could set off a tornado in Texas. It might also describe how a politician moving his lips in the US (talking about tariffs, say, or job […]
A dip into Nvidia’s deep dive
On Tues 28 January 2025 (AEDT) tech giant Nvidia’s shares plunged 17 per cent – its worst day on the market since March 2020 (which was early in the Covid-19 pandemic). To put that drop in Aussie dollars, that comes to a loss in value of almost $1 trillion. ($AU948 billion, or $US593 billion.) So […]
Thinking about financial advice?
Thinking about getting financial advice but haven’t taken the first step? If so, you’re not alone. According to an Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) report[i] on Australian attitudes to financial advice, 41 per cent of survey participants who’d intended to seek advice, still hadn’t gone ahead. If that sounds like you, there’s probably a […]