IPOs of LICs continue. But LICs have unique challenges and complexities that make them a complicated investment decision - which is certainly not the way they are marketed.

We've come to accept a world where the US drives what happens in the global economy and markets. But that's changing - with significant implications for portfolios.

Do geopolitical events involving potential or actual military conflict really matter in the constructing of investment portfolios?

Investing differently gives no certainty of great results (increasing the odds of being wrong as well as right). But it is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient for great performance.

Often, the true dangers reside where investors are most comfortable going and the best opportunities are where investors fear to tread.

The active versus passive debate was recently given a boost when Warren Buffet suggested in his annual letter that most investors are better off investing passively.

Australians are waking up to the fact that they have not had enough global (mainly equity) exposure. Why the case for more global exposure now?

As we entered 2014, the consensus on the best and worst areas to invest could be described very simply: momentum investing ruled, contrarian investing was dead.

There has been much talk about bubbles in recent months. But to work out whether an asset class is in a bubble, you first need to identify the talk you should ignore.

Contrarian investment ideas are hard to find. After a 20-year bear market and with the Nikkei still 60% below its 1989 high, Japanese equities are an attractive contrarian investment.

This is one of those times when investors should not expect to complacently buy what has worked well recently and achieve good returns.

Are low volatility equity funds something investors should be including in their portfolios? There are a range of issues to consider.

Is the bull market over for gold? I doubt it. The next phase could be quite explosive, particularly for the gold mining stocks.

Now seems to be one of those times when investors and financial advisers have learned the wrong lessons from recent history, and may be putting themselves in more, not less, danger going forward...