Visionary Wealth

17/10/2023

“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

The immortal line from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and a perfect summary of the new financial world.

The past two years have ushered in profound structural changes that are affecting how the investment market behaves.

Supply chain disruptions, higher and sustained inflation, global geo-political changes, government and business responses to climate change, and aging populations, are putting major strains economies. They have shattered old precepts about managing the economy.

And what is clear is that relying on past strategies is fraught with danger.

Previously, cheap and easy money saw most investment classes prosper, and passive and index tracking investment funds did well.

Not anymore.

The active managers have not had an opportunity this good in over two decades; it is their ‘time to shine’ and Atrium is leading the way.

💻 Live Webinar with Q&A: The new investment realities

Join Visionary Wealth's Dene Kilpatrick, and Glen Foster, Head of Risk and Senior Portfolio Manager at Atrium, as he unpacks the new investment landscape – and gives guidance on how you can thrive in this new world order.

📋 Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
⏰ Time: from 6pm to 6.45pm

Visit our website to register >>

We look forward to seeing you there!

The past two years have ushered in profound structural changes that are affecting how the investment market behaves. Join Dene Kilpatrick and Glen Foster, Head of Risk and Senior Portfolio Manager at Atrium, as he unpacks the new investment landscape – and gives guidance on how you can thrive in t...

06/10/2023

In the aftermath of the GFC, economic growth stalled. In a low inflation, low interest rate world, central banks and governments reacted with expansionary policies that made money easily available and very cheap.

As a result asset prices surged, yielding impressive returns even for passive investors.

However the world has changed.

In essence Covid, supply chain disruptions, increasing geo-political tensions, climate change and inflation have shattered old precepts about managing the economy.

And what is clear is that relying on past strategies is fraught with danger.

The old economic assumptions have been shattered over the past two years. Which creates both opportunity and risk. Join Dene Kilpatrick and Glen Foster, Head of Risk and Senior Portfolio Manager at Atrium, as he unpacks the new investment landscape – and gives guidance on how you can thrive in thi...

14/08/2023

One of the most common questions I get about retirement is: “Will we be ok?” Which is code for, “Will we have enough money?”

And the unspoken deepest fear? “Will we run out of money before we run out of life?”

In simple terms, it depends on so many personal circumstances. But the Australian Super Fund Association researches that a lot, and here is their answer.

For a couple to afford a comfortable lifestyle they will spend $63,352 per annum.

To understand what that means in everyday terms, look at the table below.

One of the most common questions I get is about retirement: “Will we be ok?” Which is code for, “Will we have enough money?” In simple terms it depends on so many personal circumstances. But the Australian Super Fund Association researches that a lot and here is their answer:

22/06/2023

I held a live webinar where I hosted Nigel Watts, a successful buyer’s agent from Niva Property who shared his expertise and experience.

We discussed different property markets, what to look for when choosing a property and the opportunities right now.

Here you can find Niva property checklist for investors and watch the webinar replay.

Choosing the right property is critical. It’s a big investment and if you get it wrong, there is a lot of sunk cost draining your future wealth. Here we share a data-driven approach to finding the right property. Watch the presentation and download the checklist here.

01/06/2023

Choosing the right investment property is critical.

It’s why we are delighted to have Nigel Watts, a successful buyer’s agent, come and share his expertise and experience with Visionary Wealth.

Nigel helps people choose the right property to invest in and has been investing in property himself for over 25 years. To the point now where he has financial freedom – to do as he wants, which after all is the whole point of the game.

In this live session he will cover:

- The many different property markets even here in Newcastle
- What to look for when choosing a property
- The opportunities right now
- Debunking the myths about property investment

It will also feature a Q&A for any questions you may have.

Join us on Wednesday 7 June 2023 at 6.00pm.
Just click the link and register, then look out for the confirmation email. See you there.

I will be hosting a workshop on choosing the right property which will take place on Wednesday 7th June 2023 at 6.00pm.

25/05/2023

Choosing the right investment property – the pitfalls and opportunities.

Based on decades of experience as a buyer’s agent, Nigel Watts has a data-driven approach to choosing the right property.

He has also been investing in property himself to the point where he now has financial freedom – to do as he wants, which after all is the whole point of the game.

This is your chance to learn and ask questions.

In our live session Nigel will cover:
✅The many different property markets even here in Newcastle
✅What to look for when choosing a property
✅The opportunities right now
✅Debunking the myths about property investment

We will also include a Q&A session for you to ask any questions you may have.

Please join us on Wednesday 7 June 2023 at 6pm.
👇You can click below to register.
We look forward to seeing you there.

https://visionaryadvisors.com.au/personal-services/visionary-wealth/visionary-wealth-insights/choosing-the-right-investment-property-the-pitfalls-and-opportunities/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post

19/04/2023

People love predictions. They distil the complex, messy world in which we live into simplistic soundbites. And provide a sense of reassurance.

If they chime with our own beliefs, then they become certainties.

Predictors love the inflated ego sense of being accorded some air-time.

Except when they are wrong. Which is most of the time.

✘ Experts and doomsayers have been predicting a recession every year since the GFC. That was 15 years ago.
✘ China’s economy is going to be bigger than the US in 2015 …2027….2030…or maybe not at all.
✘ Crypto’s the new currency …. Crypto’s a fad, Crypto’s a fraud… Crypto’s baaaack.

…… and the beat goes on.

But over time, shares do go up in value. Not because they are a bullet-proof asset class. But because they are based on some fundamentals of human society:

click to read more...

People love predictions. They distil the complex, messy world in which we live into simplistic soundbites. And provide a sense of reassurance. If they chime with our own beliefs, then they become certainties.

05/04/2023

I’ve had several people contact me in recent weeks. People scared of losses. It’s understandable. It’s part of the human psyche, embedded into our neurobiology over millions of years.

Our survival depended on our ability to keep what we had toiled to achieve as hunters and gatherers.

The Nobel prize winning economist Daniel Kahneman (in conjunction with his colleague Amos Tversky) first identified it in 1979.

They gave it a name: Loss Aversion.

People are scared of losses. It’s understandable. “Humans are feeling machines that think.” Risk, the potential for losses, is inherent in any investment. Even cash at the bank is losing money at the moment because of inflation. Investment returns are the reward for risk.

21/03/2023

It’s simpler when you are working. Money is coming in and though you have the usual financial juggles, there is also the reassurance of the next paycheck.

Not when you retire. And no matter how much you prepare there is always an emotional thud when no longer working becomes real.

It’s also a time when people’s money anxieties can dial up to 11.
The most important thing is to be aware and prepared.

1. The retirement risk zone
The final few years of your working life and the first years of retirement are crucial. You no longer have the luxury of time to ride out any market volatility. A 20% drop in the value of your super is permanent. You also have to adjust your lifestyle spending.

2. People are living longer
(Click below to read on.)

It’s simpler when you are working. Money is coming in and though you have the usual financial juggles, there is also the reassurance of the next paycheck. Not when you retire. It’s a time when people’s money anxieties can dial up to 11.

23/02/2023

Predicting interest rates is fraught. The illusion of stability distracts us, and then woompa. When the RBA, with the battalion of PhD analysts, get it wrong what chance do we have?

And then there is the classic joke about economists: “They’ve successfully predicted eight of the last two recessions”.However, we do believe that we are approaching peak interest rates.

There will be just one or two 0.25% increases and then a sloping plateau of rate cuts.

Though how quickly the banks pass that on will be the million-dollar question. They are making record profits right now because of the interest rate increases. And senior management love their performance bonuses.

But here are the reasons why we believe the peak is near:

Predicting interest rates is fraught. The illusion of stability distracts us, and then woompa. When the RBA, with the battalion of PhD analysts, get it wrong what chance do we have? However, we do believe that we are approaching peak interest rates.

19/01/2023

Welcome to 2023. People are wending their way back to work. The Newcastle roads are filling up, and car parks are once again becoming scarce.

But it is also a precious time.

The Christmas & New Year holidays are a time to step back, unwind and just be.

Inevitably people’s thoughts drift – “what happened in 2022?” and “what do I want to do in 2023?” – and towards how they want to make their lives better.

So before those hopes and dreams fade like a mirage under the oncoming busyness of life, take action.

Document them, write them down, and create simple plans about how to achieve them.

One of the most common observations my clients make: “why didn’t I do this earlier?”...

Welcome to 2023. People are wending their way back to work. The Newcastle roads are filling up, and car parks are once again becoming scarce. Inevitably people’s thoughts drift – “what happened in 2022?” and “what do I want to do in 2023?”

09/12/2022

Alternative assets are catching on:

An astute way to balance the benefits of both index and active managers is to combine them in a core satellite portfolio. Index funds at the core and selected active managers, including alternative asset funds, as satellites.

The core delivers market performance at a lower cost. Active funds look to deliver a counter cyclical diversification and outsized performance.

Together your portfolio can enjoy the best of both worlds.

I will be hosting Vanguard in the next of our popular live Investment Manager Briefings on 8 February 2023 at 6.00pm.