Investing Compass

We run through why dividends are valuable for investors, and a valuation technique for shares that investors are usually quick to dismiss.

A message from Mark and Shani

For the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.

We’v...

This episode of Investing Compass reviews the Australian superannuation system. For each aspect of the retirement system, Mark gives it a grade, but also shares the average grade that Morningstar readers gave.

This week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column, he speaks about how investors can navigate their investments and their portfolio in an age of economic disorder. In a world awash with debt, it's important for investors t...

Some investors focus on what the markets are doing each day to understand how their portfolio is going to perform. In this episode, we run through the common behavioural mistakes that will likely have an outsized impact on your portfolio, and how investors can prevent making these mistakes.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here...

This week, Mark and Shani take a look at a quirk to one of the most generous tax concessions that we have in Australia, the CGT exemption for your home. The CGT exemption also allows for you to rent out your property for a number of years, and still claim the CGT-exempt status. We take a deep dive into the tax policy, the circumstances that it suits and the situations to avoid that would make homeowners pay more tax than they need ...

This week's podcast focuses on traditional metrics for understanding whether you're wealthy, and whether there are better ways to assess your progress towards wealth creation in your End of Financial Year review. We run through the ratios you can use during your portfolio review to conduct a holistic assessment.

Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column takes a deep look at the state of housing in Australia. He explores whether housin...

In this episode, we dive into private assets. What they are, their history, the risks and benefits and whether they suit investors.

In this week's Unconventional Wisdom column, Mark runs through the reason why private credit is a hard no for him. As investors rush into the attractive yield offered by private credit providers, he urges caution and why all that glitters is not always gold.

Shani's Future Focus looks at three wa...

In this listener requested episode, we look at the difference between Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRPs) and Dividend Substitution Share Plans (DSSPs). There are some very important benefits to each plan that may mean one plan will suit investors better than the other.

You're able to find the full article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature...

This episode goes through the steps to successfully monitor your portfolio. For successful investors, your job doesn’t end when you hit ‘buy’.

You're able to find the full article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.

Audio Producer and mix...

In this episode, we look at the top shares of Australia’s best performing super funds, and our equity analysts’ outlook for the stocks.

You're able to view the article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.

Audio Producer and mixer: Will...

Buffett has invested for over 7 decades, where his investing style and approach has evolved. There are many lessons, quotes and soundbites that investors take from him. This episode looks at the lessons that we should ignore from Buffett.

You can find the full article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional re...

This episode runs through what the new Division 296 tax is, who it impacts, what investors should do to prepare for it.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.

Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

Shani's Future Focus column takes a deep dive...

In this listener requested episode, we take a look at how taxes impact you as an investor. Understanding the maths behind all of the variables for your total return means you're able to make better decisions. Tax is a big one.

In this week's Unconventional wisdom column, Mark explores whether investor complacency is out of touch with reality. He looks at game theory and a prisoner's dilemma, and the lessons that investors can ta...

We run through some of the main choices that investors face when going through the ETF selection. We toss up the options with international ETF choices, and point to a few factors that investors should look for when choosing between similar ETFs.

You can find the full article here.

Mark has written through the full process, including an ETF pick for income here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@...

We strongly believe that investors should know what they're investing in. Vanguard's 2 new ETFs, Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index ETF VDAL and Vanguard Diversified Income ETF VDIF are bound to interest investors as they are income and growth plays. We take a deep dive into both, and multi-asset offerings in general.

You can read the full article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morni...

In a listener-requested episode, we look at the pros and cons of the US and Australian retirement systems.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.

Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

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In a listener requested episode, we explore the trade offs that parents are making with private school. We look at the costs of Government, Catholic and Independent schools, and the impact that these costs can have on your financial outcomes. Although schooling is a personal preference and not a purely financial one, it is always important to understand the opportunity cost.

You are able to find the full article here.

You can fin...

We run through the Monte Carlo simulation and how you can use it to understand how asset allocation and other variables in your portfolio will determine the longevity of your retirement portfolio. You can use these outcomes to improve your retirement outcomes.

You can find the Monte Carlo simulator here.

You can read Mark's full article here.

To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or l...

Some investors don't think that they have any goals to work towards, so they are unable to add proper structures and frameworks to their investment portfolios. This episode goes through a framework to dig deeper for your financial goals by exploring what you want from life, and therefore your finances.

You are able to find the full article here.

As cost of living increases and careers become more demanding, many younger peopl...

We look at the ETFs that would go into a 3 ETF portfolio, using Morningstar's Manager Research Medalist ratings.

In this week's Unconventional Wisdom column, Mark runs through what he should do about a position in his portfolio that has grown too large. He is reluctant to sell shares, especially due to the tax consequences, but it also aware of the dangers of having a large concentration in one share that violates his investmen...