Oliver's Insights: Investment cycles - what are they & why you need to be aware of them

The key points are:

  • Cyclical fluctuations are a key aspect of investment markets. Most are driven by economic developments but get magnified by swings in investor sentiment.

  • Of particular importance are the long-term cycles which are often driven by waves of innovation and the 3-5 year business cycle. Lately we have been in the benign phase of the business cycle and may have be entering a weaker and constrained phase of the long-term cycle.

  • Periods of poor returns invariably give way to great returns & vice versa. The key is to not get thrown by them.

CFS News Digest: Top 10 cyber safety tips

Online scams are becoming more sophisticated, making it essential to protect your personal information and finances. These top 10 tips will help you stay safe online every day.

Scammers use tactics like fake emails and impersonation to steal your data and money. The threat is real — in Australia, cybercrime occurs every six minutes, with losses exceeding $2 billion in 2024 alone. While October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, strong cyber habits are vital year-round.

  1. Use strong passphrases
    Use long, unique passphrases for every account. Avoid personal details like birthdays or pet names, and consider a password manager to keep them safe.

  2. Always set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) enhances security by requiring two forms of verification: something you know, like a password, and something you have, such as a phone or security token.

  3. Recognise and report phishing
    Phishing scams mimic legitimacy and use urgency to deceive. Watch for suspicious links, attachments, and info requests—always verify before acting.

  4. Avoid clicking on suspicious links
    Always type URLs and phone numbers from official sources. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or messages, even if they seem to be from trusted contacts.

  5. Protect your data
    Delete old sensitive data, shred documents, secure your mailbox, and monitor your credit for suspicious activity.

  6. Keep your devices updated
    Software updates fix known vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates on your devices and restart them regularly to apply changes.

  7. Install internet security apps
    Use internet security apps like anti-malware and antivirus to protect your mobile and computer from threats.

  8. Secure your devices and passwords
    Never share your passwords or PINs, even with friends or family. Memorize them, delete any written records, and use strong, unpredictable combinations.

  9. Be cautious on public wi-fi
    Avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi. Always log out after browsing and use secure connections whenever possible.

  10. Stay informed and alert
    Cyber threats are always changing. Stay updated by checking trusted sites like Scamwatch, ASIC’s scam register, idcare.org, and the CFS Staying Safe Online hub.

Source: Top ten cyber safety tips

Oliver's Insights: Bubble trouble - is AI enthusiasm driving a bubble in shares?

The key points are:

  • Rich share market valuations are warning of the risk of a pullback in shares and fears of a bubble and it’s possible that enthusiasm for AI has run ahead of itself. But the fundamentals behind this are arguably far stronger than they were at the time of the late 1990s tech boom.

  • For investors and super fund members, the danger in trying to time corrections and bear markets that you miss out on the longer-term gains. The key is to adopt an appropriate long-term investment strategy appropriate and stick to it.

Read full article

Moneysmart tips: $2.6B ready to be found | Knowing when to take action

Find your share of $2.6 billion

When a financial institution loses touch with you, money that’s sitting in a bank account, life policy or investment can become unclaimed and get transferred to ASIC. There’s currently $2.6 billion being held - use our free search tool to check if some of that could be yours.

Unclaimed money search

Safe shopping tips

October is Cyber Security Awareness month and with pre-Christmas sales due to start soon, we have tips on staying safe when you shop online.

Shop safe

World Investor Week tips

It's World Investor Week and we have some easy actions you can take, to help you invest smart. 

Investing tips

Here's when to hang up the phone

High-pressure sales tactics are putting the super savings of Australians at risk. If someone you don’t know contacts you about your super – hang up. They’re not looking out for you.

Be super smart

Advice Evolution and Fintegrity Monthly News Update

A comprehensive guide to managing your personal finances
Personal financial planning is essential at any age. It provides a safety net for you and your family and helps you make informed decisions. Many adults are concerned with key topics like retirement and investing, showing its wide importance.

Top 5 legal issues in estate planning — and why professional advice matters
Estate planning goes beyond just writing a will—it protects your wealth, supports loved ones, and minimizes legal and tax issues after you’re gone. However, many Australians delay planning or use generic templates, risking costly disputes, extra taxes, and outcomes that don’t match their wishes.

The top 5 goals of retirees – and why good advice makes all the difference
Retirement is a new chapter filled with opportunity and uncertainty. After years of work, many retirees ask, "What’s next?" Though answers differ, five common goals often stand out.

Top 5 goals for business owners: Taking an idea to market
Starting a business begins with a spark—an idea worth pursuing. But turning that idea into reality needs more than passion; it demands strategy, resilience, and clear goals. For business owners, the right goals turn an idea into a successful, thriving brand.

Helping kids with managing living expenses before becoming independent
When a child leaves home, it brings parents mixed feelings—sadness, apprehension, and relief—while children often feel excitement. Whether during the teenage years or later, this milestone marks their step toward independence.

Debt recycling explainer: Turning debt into wealth
For many, debt is a burden to clear quickly, with paying off a mortgage seen as a top goal. But debt recycling flips this idea—using debt strategically to build wealth. It’s powerful but complex, involving debt, investments, insurance, and planning, so expert advice is essential.

Caution urged on supposedly ‘balanced’ super funds
A financial planner warns that some super funds’ “balanced” options are now heavily weighted toward risky “growth” assets. Alex Jamieson of AJ Financial Planning says providers may be “gamifying the system” to boost returns in these funds.

Oliver's insights: Medium term investment returns face five key constraints

The key points are:

  • Five mega trends still point to risks of a more inflation prone/lower growth environment than pre-pandemic.

  • These are: a move away from economic rationalist policies; the reversal of globalisation; rising geopolitical tensions; climate change and decarbonisation; as well as slowing and aging populations. A productivity boost from artificial intelligence should provide some offset though.

  • But taken together and along with rich share market valuations this will likely constrain medium term superannuation returns, potentially to around 5% pa.

Read full article

Advice Evolution & Fintegrity Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the tips, news and updates from Advice Evolution and Fintegrity’s latest newsletter.

  • Preventing falls for those in or approaching aged care

  • Is ethical investing a no brainer? 5 Questions to ask your financial adviser

  • How to approach wealth transfer and estate planning: key considerations

Read newsletter

Moneysmart tips: Don't get caught in this super trap | Spring clean your finances

Spring has arrived – and if the idea of spring cleaning your home doesn’t inspire you, consider refreshing your finances instead. Moneysmart has put together some practical savings tips that won’t require giving up your daily coffee.

In this edition, Moneysmart has also explored the advantages and risks of becoming a guarantor, how to assess your retirement readiness, and ways to review your superannuation with confidence.

Time for a budget clean up
Spring is the perfect time to review your budget and ensure you're getting the most value for your money. Start with a few simple savings tips and use a detailed budget planner to help track your spending.

Budget planner

Set a savings goal
Now that the budget’s sorted, why not set a savings goal? The savings goal calculator was used more than 350,000 times last financial year.

Crunch your numbers

What to know about going guarantor on a loan
Spring is home buying season. If you suspect the Bank of Mum/Dad might be called on to go guarantor, here are some key things you need to know.

Know the facts

If you're in the market
The August cash rate reduction has flowed through to home loan rates. If you're in the market to buy, this mortgage calculator can help estimate how much you may be able to borrow, what your repayments might look like, and how to pay off the loan faster.

Work it out now

To do: Fact check your super account
You’ve probably received your annual superannuation statement by now (or it’s on the way). Here are five key things to check when it arrives in your inbox.

Key actions

What happens to your super if you die
Superannuation doesn’t automatically form part of your estate, which means it may be tied up rather than passed on promptly. One way to ensure your super goes to the right people is by making a binding death benefit nomination. However, according to a Super Consumers Australia survey, only one in four Australians have made this nomination.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help take control of the process.

Nominating beneficiaries

Oliver's Insights: Gold at record highs - can it keep going? Implications for investors

The key points are:

  • The gold price has surged to record highs. Key drivers have been central banks increasing their gold reserves, rate cuts, a renewed downtrend in the $US and demand for a hedge against public debt worries and geopolitical threats.

  • While gold is short-term overbought, implying the risk of a short-term correction, more upside is likely over the medium-term as a hedge against a falling $US, public debt and geopolitical worries.

  • There is a case for gold in investment portfolios, but its speculative nature suggests only a modest exposure and over the very long-term shares have done better than gold.

Read full article

Oliver's Insights: Australian growth on the mend – implications for profits and interest rates

The key points are:

  • Australia is seeing a gradual economic recovery with growth likely to reach 2.5% next year.

  • This in turn is underpinning a likely upswing in profits.

  • The RBA is expected to cut again in November, February and May to 2.85%, although the risk is on the upside.

Read full article

Moneysmart tips: Rate cuts, lost super and unexpected retirement

Home loan savings

Last week’s Reserve Bank decision to cut the cash rate is great news for borrowers. We’re here to help you understand what to watch for when choosing a home loan — check out the guide here.

Try using the mortgage calculator to find out how much you could save by negotiating a lower interest rate.

Dealing with unexpected retirement

Unexpected retirement can disrupt your plans and bring challenges like loss of income, purpose, and daily routine.

To manage this change, focus first on addressing immediate pressures, then plan thoughtfully for the future. Read here for the five key steps to help manage unexpected retirement.

Stop, check and protect your money

Scams Awareness Week runs from 25 to 29 August. With Australians losing $945 million to investment scams in 2024, we’ve put together a refresher on what to verify before investing. Check before you invest

Oliver's Insights - Compound interest and returns are an investor's best friend

The key points are:

  • Compound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare.

  • The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works.

  • To make the most of it, ensure an adequate exposure to growth assets, contribute early & often to your investment portfolio and turn down the noise around investing.

Read full article

Oliver's Insights: The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%

The key points are:

  • The RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle.

  • The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash rate will continue to “follow a gradual easing path”, implying that without further easing, growth and inflation will be lower and unemployment higher than its forecasting.

  • We expect the RBA to cut again in November, February and May taking the cash rate to 2.85%.

  • The ongoing rate cutting cycle should help underpin a modest further pick up in Australian economic growth to around 1.8% yoy by year end, but with the tariff threat posing some downside risk.

Read full article

Advice Evolution & Fintegrity Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the tips, news and updates from Advice Evolution and Fintegrity’s latest newsletter.

Understanding generational traits and financial advice needs: a guide to supporting every life stage

Each generation has distinct values, experiences, and financial priorities. From those shaped by war and hardship to today’s digital natives, financial needs vary widely. Understanding these differences is vital for individuals planning their futures and advisers providing relevant support. While everyone is unique, generational traits help reveal how people approach money and the advice they seek.

Health and wellbeing across the generations: how each age group can thrive

Health and wellbeing vary across generations, shaped by the times we live in. Each faces unique challenges and opportunities to enhance life quality. By valuing the wisdom of older adults and the energy of youth, we can create healthier, happier lifestyles for all.

Generational attitudes toward property ownership and the importance of expert advice

Property ownership is a major financial milestone, but each generation approaches it with different values and challenges. Whether buying a first home, investing, or downsizing, all generations benefit from expert advice to make informed property decisions.

10 questions to ask your accountant and why a close relationship matters

A skilled accountant is essential for managing personal or business finances, offering clarity, advice, and strategies to improve financial health and compliance. Developing a close relationship with your accountant builds trust and enables personalized, proactive support.

Oliver's Insights: Poor Australian productivity – why all the fuss? And what to do about it?

The key points are:

  • The last decade has seen productivity stagnate in Australia. This has curtailed growth in living standards and real wages.

  • Policies to boost productivity include: deregulation; more housing supply; a cap on public spending; and tax reform. 

  • Unfortunately, the political pendulum has moved against many of the necessary policies and the lack of a “crisis” like Labor faced in the 1980s may make many reforms difficult.

  • But the good news is that the Government now recognises the problem and is starting to focus on how to boost it.

Read full article

Advice Evolution & Fintegrity Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the tips, news and updates from Advice Evolution and Fintegrity’s latest newsletter.

  • Understanding generational traits and financial advice needs: a guide to supporting every life stage

  • Life insurance: why we need to be educated before it’s too late

  • Making the most of your FIFO years: 10 tips for money and life

Read this month’s newsletter here

Moneysmart tips A monthly e-newsletter with free tools, tips and guidance

July is a great time to tick a few ‘to do’ items off your list. Whether you’re lodging your tax return, resetting your budget, or just thinking about your future, we have tips and tools to help you.

Podcast episode: Stopping the scammers

This month the Inside ASIC podcast covers how fraudsters are using artificial intelligence to produce scams that leave even the experts second-guessing.

Listen now

How to lodge your tax return for free

It’s that time of the financial year. We outline how you can prepare and lodge your own tax return online, using the Australian Taxation Office myTax service.  

Learn more

New financial year, new focus

Time for a budget reset? Our online budget planner helps you work out how much you’re earning and where your money is being spent. More than half a million people used it last financial year.

Budget planner

What happens to your super when you retire

Your superannuation may be a big part of your retirement planning – and you can decide what to do with it. Here are some of the common options.

Retirement choices

Protect your super from pushy sales tactics

If someone you don’t know contacts you about your super, it’s a red flag. Learn what to watch out for.  

Protect your super

Oliver's Insights: Seven key charts on the state of the Australian property market

The key points are:

  • The Australian housing market remains far more complicated than many portray it to be.

  • The Australian housing is cycle is turning up again; falling interest rates are the key driver; along with a chronic undersupply of homes of 200,000-300,000 dwellings; this partly reflects a surge in building times; poor affordability is a key constraint though; but it varies significantly between cities; and finally, mortgage arrears remain low.

  • Average prices are expected to rise 5-6% this year boosted by falling rates but constrained by poor affordability.

Read full article

Oliver's Insights: China - the tariff threat, structural challenges & implications for Australia

The key points are:

  • Chinese growth is running around 5% and while threats remain high – with the property downturn and tariffs – policy stimulus is likely to be enough to keep growth okay.

  • However, longer term structural challenges – around excess saving, demographics and state control – will likely see growth slow to around 3% pa over the next decade.

  • Australia is now less sensitive to China, but Chinese growth is likely to be enough to keep the iron ore price elevated.

Read full article