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2019 December Quarter Review
Read more: 2019 December Quarter ReviewEconomic Overview The geopolitical risks that dominated for much of 2019 faded in Q4, supporting global share markets. Trade uncertainty faded with the US and China’s phase one trade deal announcement, while economic data remained stable. The trade deal, signed on January 15 means planned new tariffs will not be imposed, while US tariffs imposed in September on $120 billion Chinese goods will be reduced by half. The 25% tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods will remain. China also agreed to increase purchases of US goods, with agricultural produce highlighted. The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates once in…
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Rebalancing and Self-Control
Read more: Rebalancing and Self-ControlBalance, and finding balance. It evokes pictures of rocks stacked upon each other at the beach. It’s something of an ongoing search for time crunched people. How they can bring balance to various aspects of their lives? There are endless self-help books and articles to read about it, but plenty are still aggrieved about their lack of balance. But surely balance is a choice? If you had the extra drink or the extra bowl of ice cream. If you signed up for the new car or bigger mortgage. They’re all commitments that might result in feelings you don’t want later.…
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Diversification a Great Luxury
Read more: Diversification a Great LuxuryFarming is a tough business. One that almost seems in perpetual crisis. While we’re well aware of the drought disaster that has plagued Australian farmers, it’s seemingly no better in the world’s largest economy. Almost a decade of economic expansion hasn’t benefited America’s small farmers. A recent article in Time magazine highlighted how poor things are for America’s farms. “It is the worst crisis in decades. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies were up 12 percent in the Midwest from July of 2018 to June of 2019; they’re up 50 percent in the Northwest. Tens of thousands have simply stopped farming, knowing that reorganization…
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It’s the decade ahead
Read more: It’s the decade aheadIt’s that time of year. When everyone starts talking about what will happen next year. Banks. Brokers. Economists. Lunatic gold newsletter salesmen on Youtube. They’ve all got an opinion. The media goes on holidays while those left manning the fort get extra lazy. We’re all subjected to unfiltered astrology calls on financial markets. It’s termed businessman’s pornography with good reason. The turn of this year into next is more heightened than most. It’s also a new decade. If you think forecasting a year ahead is an unreliable and impossible task, imagine extending such brazenness out to ten years. Then imagine…
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What ‘Work Longer Please’ Means
Read more: What ‘Work Longer Please’ MeansIt may only be over 100 years ago, but life in the 1900’s would be considered brutal by today’s standards. The bubonic plague was killing people in major Australian cities. Lights in your home might be candle or gas. Fridge, well that didn’t exist. Indoor plumbing? If you were lucky. If you examined the list of what we might consider horrors, it would be akin to the famous Monty Python sketch where the four Yorkshiremen attempted to one up each other with tales of how hard their childhoods were. “…you try telling that to the young people today, they won’t believe you!”…
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