Nearly all recent initiatives of the Trump administration will prove to be macroeconomic blunders. The time has come to upgrade the credit quality of investment portfolios and to focus on the currencies of creditor countries.

As we consider the life expectancy of many clients, we should not be using any number in the 80s. A figure closer to 95 is both more realistic and provides a little buffer in case the individual lives longer than the average.

This week in Forum Fodder: El-Erian - global trade wars; Rebecca Sherlock – ESG and infrastructure; Bianca Ogden - disruptive tech in healthcare; Aaron Minney - retirement spending; Prof Ron Bird - performance, fees, active managers

Recent research examines the performance of active bond managers, and the impact of performance fees on returns of active equity funds and private equity funds.

The annual Investment Management Research Workshop showcases early stage research in the area of investments to a practitioner and academic audience. It is an initiative of the Investment Management Research Program which is presented by Portfolio Construction Forum, in collaboration with faculty of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School. The IMR Program succeeds the UTS Paul Woolley Centre.

This week in Forum Fodder: Robert Shiller - GPD-linked bonds; Chris Watling - new economic paradigm; Joanne Earl - effects of downsizing; David Knox – does 10/30/60 still apply; Ed Rosenfeld - upbeat outlook for small caps

Around the world, smaller companies are benefitting from robust economic growth, low base rates and balance sheet flexibility. Investors should focus on opportunities in Japan and Europe.

The CIMA Society Seminar 2 2018 (21 March 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

About 30 years ago, Canadian researcher Don Ezra identified the ‘10/30/60’ rule - in retirement, 10% of income comes from contributions, 30% from earnings on investments before retirement, and 60% from investment earnings accrued after retirement. Does this rule still apply in Australia, given our current economic conditions?

This week in Fodder: Prof Terry Odean on behavioural biases and investment risk; Prof Ken Rogoff on AI and productivity growth; Michael Furey on diversification; Nick Griffin on why now is the time to invest in growth stocks; and, Brett Gillespie on sharper interest rate rises ahead.

The concept of diversification may seem to be second nature. However, some of its fundamentals are often misused and sometimes misrepresented.

In Fodder this week - El_Erian on the next economic paradigm; Velasco on “rational irrational exuberance”; Bird on impact of passive investing on markets; Brodie on trust & what matters to investors; and Farrelly – we can all do better communicating with investors.

In nine pages, this paper says all that needs to be said on the ability of any of us to estimate the true value of financial assets. The next two papers produce conflicting findings on the impact of index investing on markets.

The Conexus Real Estate and Private Markets Conference (27-28 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Was the recent market volatility predictable? Was the volatility exogenous or endogenous in nature? What lies ahead as regards inflation and interest rates?

The CIMA Society Seminar 1 2018 (21/22 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

The Conexus Financial Investment Operations Conference (20 February 2018) has been assessed and accredited by Portfolio Construction Forum for Forum CE hours. Delegates must confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Let's be absolutely clear - the recent plunge in equity markets has almost nothing to do with inflation or a changing of the guard at the Fed.

Finology Summit 2018 (14 Feb 2018) has been assessed and accredited for CE hours. Delegates can confirm their attendance in order to receive CE acceditation.

Managed accounts have become increasingly popular with approximately A$40bn in assets. Prepare to ride the managed accounts tsunami or be left in its wake.