Graham Rich opened Symposium 2014 in his usual thought-provoking (and entertaining) way, highlighting key issues to consider over the jam-packed, marathon program.

The US is undeniably the critical market within the global economy - and there are real sign-posts that clearly suggest it is ready to surprise the world on the upside.

If you were lending somebody money, would you lend them more money just because they had more debt? If you are investing according to a debt-weighted benchmark, that is exactly what you are doing.

While it is well established that equity valuations impact medium-term equity returns. It is less well known that starting period equity valuations also impact medium-term equity volatility and bond-equity correlations.

Understanding what is going on under the bonnet at central banks is key to understanding what will drive markets – and therefore how to best position portfolios.

Faced with the prospect of rising yields, some investors are cutting bond allocations. But the bond market can offer compensation against rising rates.

Our Forum Fodder NZ e-newsletter alerts Members to what's new on PortfolioConstruction.com.au and live progams.

Our Forum Fodder e-newsletter alerts Members to what's new on PortfolioConstruction.com.au and live progams. Disruption is an unplanned theme in this week's Fodder with Mohamed El-Erian & Dominic McCormick

There is huge variety in retirement income strategies. This paper introduces "longevity risk aversion" and its impact on safe withdrawal rates.

Our Forum Fodder e-newsletter alerts Members to what's new on PortfolioConstruction.com.au and live progams. In Fodder this week - Nouriel Roubini, Tim Farrelly, Michael Furey & Stephen Anness

It is time to start looking at alternative assets. Not because there is any pressing need to invest today, but because thorough analysis takes time and mistakes can be expensive.

Our Forum Fodder NZ e-newsletter alerts Members to what's new on PortfolioConstruction.com.au and live progams. In Fodder this week - Nouriel Roubini, Tim Farrelly, Michael Furey & Stephen Anness

Older adults are crossing the most challenging and complex frontier of their lives. To earn a role with them, financial advisers have to learn more about how older clients think and communicate.

As Glen Whitman argues, "What distinguishes good economic thinking from bad is recognition of the subtle, creative, and often unforeseen ways that people respond to incentives."

Studying economics these days, it is quite possible to get a degree without ever having come across the name of a single economist. This is a pity and it is not really appropriate to a social science.

Towers Watson's compendium of insights into global equity investing contains useful insights about issues many portfolio construction practitioners face every day.

An empirical study found that in advanced economies, the greatest factor that has increased the growth of government is the welfare state. Economists are highly sceptical about such transfers.

Stein's law, a rule of thumb for politics, economics and business, is that "If something can't continue, it will stop." Here are four inevitable changes in the investing environment.

Fortunately, New Zealand consistently ranks near the top of international indices measuring economic freedom. But this also means that we might take it too much for granted.

Our Forum Fodder e-newsletter alerts Members to what's new on PortfolioConstruction.com.au and live progams. In Fodder this week - SAA vs DAA, passive vs active, quant vs qual - each a major debate of investing