August was a strong month for Aussie markets with a fairly positive reporting season pushing the ASX 200 to record highs.

Below are some of my favourite articles from this month:

Young & Invested

Can young people still build wealth in Australia?

There appears to be a general despondence amongst young people regarding their future. Amid geopolitical tension, a prolonged cost of living crisis and general economic uncertainty, they are probably justified in their pessimism. I looked at whether young people can still build wealth in Australia through the lens of William Bernstein’s book If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly.

Are thematic ETFs worth it?

Financial markets are becoming increasingly narrative driven. Whether it’s AI, crypto or global defence – everyone wants in on the next big thing. So, it’s no surprise that thematic ETFs are enjoying their extended time in the spotlight. But do they deserve a place in the portfolios of young investors?

Are these the smartest ETFs?

New products are multiplying faster than we can keep up. Investors are being inundated and suffering from the paradox of choice. In this Young & Invested edition I explore multifactor ETFs. Whilst the strategy isn’t new by any means, the product has been gaining traction amongst investors seeking more than just broad market exposure. Such products ring the novelty-seeking bell in our brain, promising a smarter way to invest with better returns and a more scientific approach to portfolio allocation. But is this just another shiny product in a sea of tickers?

Read this before you invest

I started investing when I was 19. I had no plan, few savings and was purely in it to win it. A bit like how you approach a Blackjack table at Crown Casino the day you turn 18 – although maybe that’s a Perth thing. Beginners often get wrapped up in market noise, the excitement of investing your first dollar and a new world of BlackRock, Buffett and Bitcoin. But there are several things you need to do before diving in. In this edition I went through some of my non-negotiable steps before starting to invest.

More insights

How to use your tax refund to build wealth

With almost four million Aussies already having lodged their tax return, ATO estimates the average refund received to be around $2,500. If you’re lucky enough to receive something back from the ATO this tax season, you might be wondering where best to direct the payout. Between ongoing cost of living pressure, debt repayments, changes to HECS and superannuation, there are multiple things competing for our attention. So, what are the priorities?

Why we’re neutral on popular ETF NDQ

ETFs wrapped up FY25 in dominating fashion, claiming 12 of the top 20 trades among Sharesight users. Popular global picks like Vanguard’s VGS and iShares’ IVV led the chargewhile tech-focused Betashares NDQ remained a crowd favourite. Despite wide-spread popularity and strong historical performance, Morningstar has long held a Neutral Medalist Rating for the fund. This article explores the disconnect between investor enthusiasm and our analyst assessment.

How Warren Buffett thinks you can be a better investor

Regarded as one of the best investors of all time, Warren Buffett, dubbed the Oracle of Omaha, saw Berkshire Hathaway through compounded returns of almost 20% per year from 1965 to 2024. In the same period, the S&P 500 returned a modest 10% per year. Luckily, Buffett spent his entire 60-year career at Berkshire generously sharing his perspective on how to achieve investing success.

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