This month rang in our annual Morningstar Investment Conference. We hosted two days of presentations and panels, where industry leaders shared how they are navigating today’s market challenges and positioning for what’s next.

Below are my favourite articles from this month:

Young & Invested

Should beginners invest in small caps?

Small caps have historically traded at a premium given conviction behind long term outperformance. Market narratives surrounding their sizeable growth prospects can sway younger investors who performance chase. As a follow up on a previous article The Beginner ETF Portfolio I looked at the risks and merits of small cap exposure.

How to pick the right super fund

Superannuation is the hot topic of the month after Labor’s re-election introduced significant implications for the retirement system in Australia. Whilst it is a basic concept to grasp, there is an overarching apathy amongst young people towards their super funds. Given the relationship between you and your super fund might end up being one of the longest relationships you’ll ever have, I run through some of the considerations of picking between funds.

The best Aussie ETFs – VAS and A200

With most Aussies now holding at least one ETF in their portfolio, it’s a hard proposition to ignore for beginner investors. In a previous edition of my column, I went through the beginner ETF portfolio and discussed what that may look like in practice. In this article I look at the Australian equity ETF market and compare two investor favourites in this category.

Do young people need a financial adviser?

It’s no secret that formal financial advice in Australia has increasingly become a luxury for the wealthy. Furthermore, with easy access to an abundance of information (that AI now makes easier to understand), it can be difficult to see the value proposition of seeking paid financial advice. I explore the value proposition of a financial adviser for younger people and in what circumstances they may be of benefit.

Other insights

Our top rated ESG ETFs

The first quarter of 2025 saw sustainable funds experience record-high outflows amidst new geopolitical challenges and an intensifying environmental, social, and governance backlash. Notably, Aussie investors continue to show optimism with a third consecutive quarter of positive flow. I ran an ETF screen to reveal some of our analyst’s top rated ESG funds.

2 cheap ASX tech shares

The Australian tech sector fell sharply in the first quarter of 2025, as investors were overly optimistic about the potential of generative artificial intelligence, as well as the re-election of President Trump. We believe this overoptimism set the stage for the abrupt fall, triggered by uncertainty from Trump’s tariffs and other policies. I share our top moated stock picks that currently screen as significantly undervalued.

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