Sim’s monthly insights for March
One year closer to thirty.
Mentioned: WiseTech Global Ltd (WTC)
Time escapes us as each passing year represents a smaller percentage of the total life we’ve lived. This month I came across a rather depressing study on time perception, which suggested that we’ve already lived most of memorable life by 25.
Coincidentally, the last day of this month marks me turning 26 – something I intend to forget as soon as the day ends. Somehow that number just doesn’t have the same allure that 25 does.
The one consolation is that my day will be spent on the West Coast in 35 degree weather – a welcome change to Sydney’s recent gloom and doom.
Barring the existential quarter-life crisis, this month was one of my favourites for content so far. Below are some of my best picks from this month.
Stocks
Small caps were back in the spotlight after Director of Manager Research, Eva Cook, suggested that the asset class may be set to shine bright in 2025. This comes after the trajectory of national interest rates finally shifted with the RBA dropping the rate by 0.25%. I shared our favourite ASX small cap ETFs.
Notably March also saw former ASX tech darling WiseTech, pummelled by investors after CEO Richard White regained control amidst internal disputes among the board. It’s been a tough few months as allegations of inappropriate behaviour have derailed the status quo. With industry behemoth AustralianSuper, disposing of their holdings, I ask: what next for embattled WiseTech?
Young & Invested continues
For decades, Aussies have been sold the dream of property ownership, but with mounting pressure on young people to enter the market at sky-high prices, are there alternatives to building wealth? In perhaps my favourite edition of Young & Invested yet, I explore whether young people should invest in shares or save for a house deposit.
In my day to day, I often get asked for investment advice when I least expect. I get asked about shares at the dinner table. I find myself being enthusiastically questioned on the merits of bitcoin at my doctor’s appointment. Find out what I did when faced with a unique request from my sister to invest her life savings – this ishow I just invested $10,000.
Admittedly, I never bothered to review my super until I began working full time last year- and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. The reality is, failing to review your super is like cutting a hole in your wallet and walking around as the money falls out. The Superannuation Guarantee requires employers to pay mandatory contributions, but do they go far enough? Not really. But it’s easy to get swept up in enjoying your youth and forget about building a retirement nest egg. In this edition I explain why young people should care about their superannuation.
The word ‘mortgage’ originates from an old French word translating to ‘dead pledge’—a discovery that I hope people find as amusing as I did. It’s no secret that first home buyers are struggling to enter the market for a multitude of reasons. But is buying a home and living in it the best way to build wealth? Maybe not. It appears that amongst the shares vs housing debate, there emerges a third, enigmatic wildcard that is ‘rent-vesting’.
Pic of the month
Don’t knock it till you try it.
