Investing Compass

We explore investment bonds - what they are, their tax advantages and the investors they may suit. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use these ratios to understand risk in your portfolio when you're conducting reviews. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look at what you pay for for your ETF, how not-for-profit (such as Industry Super) should not be taken at face value as 'cheapest', and what higher fees actually cost you. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With new tax changes getting investors interested in income investments and ETFs for tax efficiency, we combine both and talk about income ETFs. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you following the old playbook to changing wealth? The environment has changed, so your assumptions should too. You can find the full article here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gearing has been in the headlines after the latest tax changes. Mark and Shani run through gearing for equity investments - what it is, the ways it is done, how it works and who it is for. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you got a plan if your income stopped tomorrow? Shani runs through hers. You can find the full article here . You can find the article for the order to liquidate assets here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Given the new tax changes with capital gains, hurdle rates have changed and the attractiveness of investing vs paying off your mortgage has shifted. We run through how to work out what your hurdle rate is depending on your tax rate and mortgage circumstances. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most popular international equity ETFs in Australia are all starkly different. Which one is right for you and your goals? You can view the full article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia does not have an inheritance tax, but you can optimise your situation through your will to minimise overall tax paid. We lean on insights from estate planning expert Abbey John on how to structure efficiently. You can find the full article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We run through the company, what our analysts think of it, and our valuation. Our coverage on Space X can be found in the 'News & Analysis' section here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a closer look at the exposure you’re getting with some of the most popular ETFs in Australia. You can find the full article here. Shani's article on concentration is here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debt recycling at its core, is making your part of your mortgage tax deductible. Debt recycling can be an attractive strategy for those on higher marginal tax rates. Mark and Shani run through how to know whether it is right for you. You can find the full article here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Higher taxes on capital gains have shifted the relative attractiveness of investments, structures and strategies. We run through how investors should approach this. You can find Mark's article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may be forgetting conditions that meaningfully change how much you need in retirement. Mark and Shani run through some of these conditions that may be applicable to you. You can find the article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We go through lessons for ASX stocks, ETFs and LICs that have delivered over the past decade. You can find Marks stock article here , and ETF and LIC article here . Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professional investors operate in a very different environment from individuals. Their careers, compensation, and business objectives are often tied to performance relative to a benchmark. They manage large pools of capital and are supported by teams of analysts, access to sophisticated data, and significant research resources. But those advantages also come with constraints that shape how they invest. We run through why these constraints might mean a mismatch between their opportunities and top picks, and yours. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation or Flourish plans here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 like industrials and consumer staples, companies often considered ‘boring’ began to outperform the high-flying tech names that had captured investors’ attention for years. We revisit the work of Bob Haugen, a pioneering quantitative investor and academic who spent much of his career challenging a core assumption in finance: that higher risk should lead to higher returns. Haugen argued the opposite - that lower-volatility stocks often outperform higher-volatility stocks over time. You can find the full article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investors are often told that success comes from optimisation: lower fees, better tax outcomes, and the highest possible expected returns. In this episode we explore why the most efficient financial decision isn’t always the one that leads to the best life. You can find the full article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helping family members financially is common. Parents may contribute to a house deposit, grandparents might support education costs, or relatives may step in during difficult times. But financial gifts can have far reaching consequences that are easy to overlook. In this episode, we explore the key issues investors should consider before transferring money or assets to loved ones. You can find the full article here. Would you like more free insights from Mark, Shani and the rest of the Morningstar team? You can find them here. 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’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications. The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers. Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here. Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.