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2018 September Quarter Review
Read more: 2018 September Quarter ReviewEconomic Overview Economic growth and earnings data remained robust during Q3, and this ultimately overshadowed simmering concerns around the escalating US-China trade war. The US initially targeted $34 billion of Chinese products with a 25% tariff in early July, while monetary policy tightened in the US. Markets were mostly positive in developed countries, but there was significant volatility in some emerging markets. Commodities struggled against a strengthening US dollar, while energy continued to rise with the prospect of sanctions on Iran. In the US, ongoing growth and strong employment figures allowed the Federal Reserve to increase the federal funds rate…
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The Self-Driving Portfolio
Read more: The Self-Driving PortfolioRight now, there’s a rush on. It’s all about removing your hands from the steering wheel of your car. Maybe removing the steering wheel completely and letting the car do the work. Driving to work, to your holiday destination, visiting family a few hours away or just down to the supermarket. What will you do? Read a book? Watch a movie? Sleep? Stare out the window, confused that your car is driving itself? How long is this going to take? First it needs to be fully perfected. Then governments will need to be persuaded. Then the mass market of drivers…
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We All Need to Know Financial Control
Read more: We All Need to Know Financial ControlIn many aspects of our lives we’ll find ourselves either pursuing areas of expertise or delegating to those who can better utilise their skills for an improved outcome. Alternatively, you can watch DIY Youtube videos for guidance. Setting aside internet expertise, these are often what forms our jobs or careers. A specific skill that we’ve honed, or a set of skills we’ve specialised in, so we can perform a role and contribute in a way that’s valuable to a team. There’s no need to know everything because if your workplace is focused on a goal, you may find people around…
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FIRE Burns A Path to Freedom
Read more: FIRE Burns A Path to FreedomThe FIRE phenomenon has recently resurfaced in the media. FIRE stands for financial independence/retire early. The concept seems to spin the heads of those in the media and 90% of readers who respond in the comment sections below articles. For the refresher, it’s figuring out what you can live on, knocking down the expenses to that level, then saving the appropriate amount that will generate enough to cover said expenses. If you can live on $30,000, you’ll probably need $700,000 returning 4.5% per annum to cover your needs. Getting to the $700,000 (or more) is the hard part. Many of…
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The Financial (& Emotional) Crisis 10 years On
Read more: The Financial (& Emotional) Crisis 10 years OnIt’s been a few weeks of recollection. A decade on since the anniversary of Lehman Brothers collapsing and one of the touchstone moments of the ordeal is being not so fondly remembered. No one really knew if it was the beginning of the end, an ongoing crisis or not far from a recovery. History shows the market bottom took another six months and if you could stand the uncertainty you got the recovery. Today the media seems to be asking all the wrong questions and specifically canvassing for when the next crisis may hit. Usually, it’s just the kooks who…
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