Patrick Poke

Nov 11, 2024 | livewiremarkets.com | Patrick Poke

Alternatives have long been the domain of high net worth and institutional investors, with everyday investors effectively ‘locked out’ of these assets due to regulatory restrictions, high minimum investment amounts, and long lock-up periods for capital. But that’s been changing in recent years, as the advent of listed alternative products have made access to these products easier than ever. Alternatives are an incredibly broad class though, often fuzzily defined and at times, complex or opaque.

Jul 11, 2024 | livewiremarkets.com | Patrick Poke

Historically, a small but significant percentage of active managers have outperformed the reference asset class category benchmark each year. According to S&P’s ‘SPIVA Scorecard’, for equity funds, that number was 23% in Australia in 2023(1), while in the US it was 40%(2). But as we look out over longer periods and across all asset classes and categories, a clear trend begins to emerge – the longer the period, the lower the percentage of outperforming active managers.

May 23, 2024 | livewiremarkets.com | Patrick Poke

Australian shares have long been a staple for income investors, thanks to their historically high dividend yields, which typically range between 4-5.50% before franking. However, there has been a recent shift in the landscape. While market downturns like the COVID-19 decline caused a temporary dip in dividends as companies were forced to conserve payouts, they have historically rebounded quickly.

Apr 25, 2024 | yourlifechoices.com.au | Patrick Poke

SPONSORED CONTENTPeriodically, the world of finance throws up enticing investment trends capable of seducing even the most disciplined investors. The beginning of this year exemplified this phenomenon, as much attention was centred around the unfolding excitement in the US, particularly with Nvidia and the ‘Magnificent Seven’ of leading AI companies leading the charge.

Apr 17, 2024 | yourlifechoices.com.au | Patrick Poke

The past two years have been a bright spot for savers, with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) cash rate hitting its highest level in 12 years1. With the benchmark rate having peaked at 4.35 per cent p.a. in November 2023, it has been easy to find relatively generous rates – often 5 per cent and above2 – on bank deposits, making savings accounts and term deposits enticing for conservative and cashed-up investors. However, economic indicators suggest that rates this high are unlikely to persist.