Investing Compass

Why you shouldn’t take tips from professional investors

09 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Professional investors operate in a very different environment from individuals. Their careers, compensation, and business objectives are often tied t...

Is the relationship between risk and return broken?

02 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After more than a decade where US technology stocks dominated global markets, late 2025 and early 2026 saw signs of a rotation. Less glamorous sectors...

The investing mistake I never want to make

25 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Investors are often told that success comes from optimisation: lower fees, better tax outcomes, and the highest possible expected returns. In this epi...

Listen to these tips before giving a financial gift

18 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Helping family members financially is common. Parents may contribute to a house deposit, grandparents might support education costs, or relatives may ...

How much you need in super if you retire without a home

11 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia’s financial system - through tax policy, superannuation and retirement benchmarks implicitly assume that retirees own their own homes. Hom...

How much you need to invest if you started late

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The financial services industry tends to focus on how important it is to get started as early as possible. Starting to invest in your 20s provides a p...

The big bets you’re taking in passive investments

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The issue with investing in broad market index products is that you are anything but a passive investor. Owning the market does not mean that you own ...

Lessons from the GFC (correction)

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Shani discuss the lessons that investors can take from the GFC.Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morning...

Lessons from the GFC

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Shani discuss the lessons that investors can take from the GFC.Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morning...

Underappreciated benefits of cash

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Morgan Housel's book Same As Ever has got Mark thinking - he runs through three underappreciated benefits of cash.You can find the full article here.W...

How much you need to replace your salary with passive income

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Shani runs through what it would take for the typical Aussie to replace their salary with passive income. You can find the full art...

Mark's new super approach

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark runs through how he decided to change his super and what he changed it to.You can find the full article here.Would you like more free insights fr...

Most surprising tax rules in 2025–2026

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mr. Taxman, Adrian Raftery, listed 101 tax rules - Mark and Shani run through the ones that jumped out at Shani when she read the book.You can find th...

Why I don't like dividend stocks

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this guest episode, we have James Gruber, Editor at Firstlinks. He has a debate with dividend lover Mark, about why he doesn't like dividends.You c...

Three ways to make your family's life easier

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

No one wants to think about what happens after you die, but a few steps can save your family a lot of pain at an already difficult time in their life....

Lessons for investors from Droneshield (ASX: DRO)

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Droneshield has had a meteoric rise - and fall. We take a look at the back story - what the company does, what impacted the share price and importantl...

2026 Market Outlook

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at the market going into 2026, and how investors should think about the year ahead.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years...

5 considerations for new ETFs

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this guest episode, we host Shamir Popat, Senior Analyst, Manager Research, at Morningstar. He runs through his report and findings on what investo...

[BEST OF 2025] Dividend ETFs

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we take a deep dive into dividend ETFs and how investors can pick one that suits them by ...

[BEST OF 2025] One of the most generous tax breaks in Australia

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, Mark and Shani take a look at a quirk to one of the most generous tax concessions that we...

[BEST OF 2025] Cage fight: US & Australian retirement systems

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We look back at the top episodes of 2025. In a listener-requested episode, we look at the pros and cons of the US and Australian retirement systems.A ...

[BEST OF 2025] 3 ETF portfolio in 2025

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at our top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we look at the ETFs that would go into a 3 ETF portfolio, using Morningstar's Manager Res...

Are you a maximiser or a satisficer?

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Maximisers spend a lot of time researching and thinking about the best choice to make. Satisficers settle for the best option that they can see with m...

Christmas gifts for investors 2025

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's our annual Christmas gifts episode! We run through some gifts that you can give to your favourite investor, and we take part in our annual tradit...

Where a CIO sees market opportunities

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our guest episode today, we host Matt Wacher, Chief Investment Officer, APAC at Morningstar Investment Management (MIM). We run through where MIM s...

Tax free earnings Aussies are taking advantage of

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shani and Mark speak about offset accounts. There are smart ways to take advantage of your offset account, but balance is the key.You can find the ful...

A fatal error with super

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Shani speak about the predatory companies encouraging you to pillage your retirement savings, and the methods that they are using to do this....

Are we in a bubble?

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lochlan Halloway, Market Strategist at Morningstar, joins us for a guest episode today. He talks about whether we're in a bubble now, what investors s...

3 question quiz to see if you're financially literate

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Centre (GFLEC) at Stanford University has created a three question financial literacy quiz that has been used...

Is buying a home the right decision for you?

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buying a home is a financial goal for many of us. Mark and Shani go through the questions you need to ask yourself to get clear on whether it is the r...

Morningstar's forecasted returns for asset classes

18 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're joined by Bianca Rose, Senior Portfolio Manager at Morningstar Investment Management. Nobody has a crystal ball, but having a g...

6 life changing tips

11 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mark and Shani run through 6 life changing tips that Shani delivered to high school students during a financial literacy course. Do y...

Key lessons from Morgan Housel's Same As Ever

04 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss some key lessons for investors from Morgan Housel's book, Same As Ever.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five year...

How to invest outside of super

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a listener requested episode, we look at investing and balancing goals outside of super.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’...

Red flags for ETFs

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are some obvious red flags that investors intuitively know to steer clear of—high fees, low liquidity, poor performance. Mark and Shani run th...

Is there a better option than an SMSF?

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

SMSFs (Self-Managed Super Funds) are increasing in popularity. SMSFs provide a lot of great features. They allow investors to access the investments t...

The largest asset manager in the world doesn't think you will achieve your goals

06 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The largest asset manager in the world, Blackrock has declared that the 60/40 portfolio should be rethought. They also believe that a 70/30 portfolio ...

Should Mark sell this underperforming share?

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two years ago Mark purchased CSL. The share has not done well in that period. Mark goes through his thoughts on CSL, whether it still meets his origin...

Can you lower your tax with a trust?

23 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you lower your tax burden with a trust? Tax is a large detractor from your total return, can this structure help? Mark and Shani discuss the inves...

The pathway to financial freedom

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is an unrealistic portrayal of investing success holding you back? Mark and Shani talk through their investing journey and their realisation of how to...

Advisers are investing in droves in this product

09 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Financial advisers are investing in droves in Separately Managed Accounts, or SMAs. We take a look at the benefits of this investment product, and why...

How to avoid losing your super

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many investors are wary after the collapse of First Guardian. What are the steps that you can take to make sure that your super is safe?A message from...

{REPLAY} The Value of Franking Credits

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at how much franking credits adds to an investor's returns, and whether the obsession with the tax credits is justified.A message from ...

Can you value a share just using dividends?

26 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

Your thoughts on Australia's super system

19 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Investing Compass reviews the Australian superannuation system. For each aspect of the retirement system, Mark gives it a grade, but a...

Market returns are secondary to this driver of returns

12 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

One of the most generous tax breaks in Australia

05 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 hom...

Are you wealthy?

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast focuses on traditional metrics for understanding whether you're wealthy, and whether there are better ways to assess your progress...

Private Assets 101

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Unco...

How to defer income tax until you sell your shares

14 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this listener requested episode, we look at the difference between Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRPs) and Dividend Substitution Share Plans (DSSPs)...

How to successfully monitor your portfolio

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

The stocks the best performing superfunds are investing in

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Lessons from Buffett you should ignore

24 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buffett has invested for over 7 decades, where his investing style and approach has evolved. There are many lessons, quotes and soundbites that invest...

Why you should pay attention to the new super tax

17 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 feed...

Lowering the impact of tax on returns

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 you...

Listen to this before you pick an ETF

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 choice...

2 new Vanguard ETFs: Income and Growth

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Va...

Cage fight: US & Australian retirement systems

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Market turmoil and should you send your kids to private school?

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Work out the probability of running out of money in retirement

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 determi...

Buying a home out of reach? Try these financial goals instead.

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 po...

Building a 3 ETF portfolio in 2025

22 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to invest in a post-tariff world

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode focuses on tarriffs - how investors should think about them, how they should position their portfolios, and the types of companies that w...

Should I reinvest my dividends?

08 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark goes through why the conventional wisdom is to reinvest dividends, but despite this, why he has stopped.This week, Mark’s Unconventional Wisdom...

Why Shani uses managed funds

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a listener requested episode, Shani goes through why she uses managed funds and how she chose to use the investment product for the problems that i...

How to use an inheritance: Pay off your mortgage or invest?

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode explores what to do when you receive an inheritance, and the options that you have when you invest. We consider paying off a mortgage and...

How many holdings should I have in my portfolio?

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We speak about the positives and perils of diversification in your portfolio, and how to find a balance. This week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom col...

Insuring yourself for worst case scenarios

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Insurance is a necessary evil of a holistic financial plan. Some investors avoid enroling or reviewing their insurances.as it's a tedious task that pr...

Every Aussie deserves a fair go with super

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we look at the places where our system is failing some Aussies as it relates to super tax policy. We offer some guidance about what t...

Mark won't hold these assets

25 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We go through a list of the assets that Mark doesn't hold. We get asked constantly about what's in our portfolio, but sometimes we find it even more i...

Should I allocate part of my portfolio to having a punt?

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is based on an email that we received from a listener who has a specific allocation in their portfolio to taking speculative bets. The ra...

The perfect ETF

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We go through the characteristics of what a perfect ETF would look like.Interested in our investing course? Find it here.To submit any questions ...

Dividend ETFs

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We take a deep dive into dividend ETFs and how investors can pick one that suits them by running through 4 dividend ETF examples.Interested in our inv...

[Best of 2024]: How to make $100k in passive income

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was one of our most popular of 2024. We go through what's needed to get to $100k in passive income.  Interested in our investin...

[Best of 2024]: How to build a lazy portfolio with 3 ETFs

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was one of our most popular of 2024. Our guest James Gruber discusses how to build a lazy portfolio with 3 ETFs, and the issues that you ...

Christmas gifts for investors 2024

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Shani exchange Christmas gifts, and discuss a stock pick and a few book recommendations from Mark. If you'd like to get Mark and Shani a Chri...

Is this the best metric for income investors?

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We explore yield at cost - a metric that can improve your results as an income investor.You can find the full article here.Interested in our investing...

Increase your super balance by 25%

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A recent Vanguard survey showed that the best way for investors to take action with their super is to show them the actual difference it would make to...

How to invest with a couple of dollars

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An approach for investors that have just a few dollars to invest. Interested in our investing course? Find it here.To submit any questions or fee...

How to pick a super option

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This listener requested episode runs through how to pick a super option.Interested in our investing course? Find it here.To submit any questions ...

Protecting yourself and your assets

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A look into Power-of-Attorney and related documents to protect yourself and your assets, and why they're important.You can find the full article here....

3 ASX growth stocks for the long term

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Three high-quality growth companies that have wide moats and a history of good capital allocation.Interested in our investing course? Find it her...

How to build a travel fund

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Retirement aside, travel is the most common goal for many investors. We look at the best way to build a portfolio of passive income, that can be appli...

Replacing hybrids

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this listener requested episode, we discuss the phasing out of hybrids and the way that investors can replace them in their investment portfolios.I...

The Sandwich Generation: handling caring responsibilities on both ends

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you part of the sandwich generation? We talk about how to prevent financial stress when caring responsibilities arise from children and parents.&n...

Chances are your estate will be contested. Here's how to protect it.

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

More than 50% of wills are contested. Here’s how to increase the possibility your wishes are honoured.You can find the full article here.Intere...

All in one Vanguard ETF deep dive

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This multi-asset option is an all in one ETF. But investors may have negative tax consequences. You can find the full article hereClick the following ...

The value of franking credits

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at how much franking credits adds to an investor's returns, and whether the obsession with the tax credits is justified.You can find th...

The lessons of Dollarmites

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever had a Dollarmites account? It teaches us some valuable lessons but not the ones CBA touted.You can find the full article here.Click the following...

Aussie stocks to hold forever

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

James Gruber goes through Aussie stocks he would hold forever. You can find the full article here.Click the following link for the 5-in-5 With ANZ pod...

Decoding stock picks from experts

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We try to increase your media literacy with a 101 on how to critically evaluate fund manager investment picks in the media.You can find the full artic...

DCA vs Lump Sum Investing

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the meaning of life? Am I a cat person or a dog person? We try to answer an easier age-old question – dollar cost averaging vs lump sum inve...

Private Credit

17 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We look at what the asset class is, why it has grown in popularity and whether investors should take on private credit in their portfolios. Click...

Market Update: What should you do?

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We go through what's happening in markets, and talk about the 'manic-depressive' episodes of Mr. Market. We would really appreciate it if you would fi...

Hedging against risks

03 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should investors hedge against risks like currency?.We would really appreciate it if you would fill out our Investing Compass survey (approx. 5 minute...

Your inheritance will likely be a house. What should you do with it?

27 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We go through the implications of inheriting or bequeathing property.We would really appreciate it if you would fill out our Investing Compass su...

Shani's investment strategy

20 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shani's investment strategy is simple - she focuses on asset allocation and factors within her control, such as her own behaviour, fees, transaction c...

Dividend Aristocrats

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A dividend aristocrat is a US coined term that denotes a company that has raised dividends for the last 25 years. There are none in Australia. We...

Why you shouldn't wait until 35 to take your super seriously

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A recent Rainmaker study concludes that the best time to start taking super seriously is in your mid-thirties. We don't agree. Note: this podcast...

How to conduct a common sense check on a stock

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We use the Guzman y Gomez IPO as an example on how investors can conduct a back of the envelope common sense check on a stock's valuation or current p...