1 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to The Australian's Money Puzzle podcast. I'm 2 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: James Kirby, the editor at the Australian. Welcome aboard everybody 3 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: you know. For a long time on this show, we 4 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: have supported big industry super funds and we have said 5 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: regularly that they perform well, and they do over a 6 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: ten year period, and that they are cheap. That is, 7 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: the expenses that they have and what they charge you 8 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: the investor is quite reasonable. Part of that is because 9 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: they don't have to make a profit they are not 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: for profit industry funds. But always added the caveat that 11 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: they are alone to themselves. They're very big fish in 12 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: a small pond. They're not particularly answerable to any regulator. 13 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: In particular, they're not particularly answerable to their own investors. 14 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: And sooner or later this was going to be trouble 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: and Sebus, the big industry super fund, really has spoils 16 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: party here. They have about nine hundred and thirty thousand members, 17 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: about ninety four billion under assets, big operation and behave 18 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: so badly basically behind the scenes in terms of not 19 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: delivering due payments to death benefits and disability payments the 20 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: most basically it's the most vulnerable people and investors in 21 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: their group. That ACID had to go as far as 22 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: taking them to court and suing them for allegations of 23 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: problems in this area. So this sort of bursts the bubble, 24 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: I think to would agree on big super and there 25 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: has been in and around the same time a whole 26 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: string of incidents. Cebus isn't the only one unisuper. Their 27 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: site was out for days some months ago where people 28 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: couldn't see their super couldn't see what they have. Art 29 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: Australian Retirement which is the second largest super fund in 30 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: the market, they had delays for days of pensioner payments 31 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: and in common with these issues I just mentioned at 32 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: the other funds, they don't advertise this, they don't tell 33 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: you about this, they tell you if you're affected. But basically, 34 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: onto the current system they're able to quietly try and 35 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: put out these spotfires as they occur. The issue now, 36 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: of course, is that ASEK has really put this on 37 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: the table and the ACIC Deputy chair Sarah Court, is 38 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: saying that there's going to be more action on this, 39 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: and even as I speak to you today this morning, 40 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: literally an hour or so before we started to sit 41 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: down and record this show. Hesta big fund that's traditionally 42 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: associated with hospital workers and nurses, is also in trouble, 43 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: can you believe for an entirely different issue. But it's 44 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: got to do with their unlisted assets and the greet 45 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: which they mark them down and didn't mark them down 46 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: in a coordinated fashion back at the time of the 47 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: COVID crisis. So it's really all starting to turn and 48 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: I want to look at this, and I want to 49 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: also look at property unlisted assets on the investment side. 50 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: Unlisted assets are the big mystery at industry funds. They 51 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: have been useful to them, but they also are very 52 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: opaque and it's very hard to get steer on how 53 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: much they have, how much they're worth, except to say 54 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: that in commercial property, certainly there's a lot of problems 55 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: starting to form and SeaBus has had big losses there 56 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: and so have other funds. We'll put it all together, 57 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: I guess today is James Girard of Financial Advisor dot 58 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: com dot au. Hi, James, how are you hy? 59 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: James good? Thanks for having me on. 60 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: Good to have you on. I can't recall if we 61 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: spoke on air about industry funds before, but one of 62 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: the things we've talked about them, but we haven't talked 63 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: about what could go wrong. One of the things I 64 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: noticed that it's very clear in these scandals that are 65 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: breaking almost weekly on the big super funds is that 66 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:11,119 Speaker 1: they used outsourced services. In the case of Cebus, they've 67 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: tried to turn the blowhort should you like, on link 68 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: market services which they had used. And I think in 69 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: some of the more recent scandals there's been other service 70 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: companies like Mercer has been mentioned in passing here. I 71 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but I never take I have 72 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: no time for a company who blames the outsourced service 73 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 1: because they outsourced, right. I don't want to know. I 74 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: don't care. I don't even want to hear that they 75 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: outsourced it. It's their problem. I don't know if that's 76 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: a reasonable response. Do I sound reasonable? It is? 77 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: I agree with you. I don't think it really matters 78 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: how you get to the outcome. That's not that the 79 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 2: super members concern, whether it's done in house or it's outsourced. 80 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: It should be the timeframe and what happens at the 81 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: end of it, and there should be management there sort 82 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: of ensuring these timeframesmit whether they're in house or they're outsourced, 83 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 2: and it's funny that link has popped up and said, hey, 84 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: you know we outsource. Well, we do the outsourcing for 85 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: quite a few super funds on the insurance side, and 86 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: there's plenty of other customers that we have. They're all 87 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: meeting their KPIs with regards to processing times. We're just 88 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: following the instructions that you gave us, and so don't 89 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: blame us, go blame yourself. 90 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, that's right. So one of the things that 91 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: for listeners, I'm sure many of our listeners have their savings. 92 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: Probably the most important financial dimension of their lives beyond 93 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: their homes if they own their homes, is their super 94 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: and we're seeing in each of these cases that there 95 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: are weaknesses being revealed as super funds, serious weaknesses. Now 96 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,119 Speaker 1: in the case to see Bus in case you've missed it, folks, 97 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: it's worth actually just going through what on earth's going 98 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: on there. They are facing regulatory inquiry by both OPRA, 99 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: the prudential regulator unquestionable expense, questionable expenses. They're also basing 100 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: an acquiry from APRAA on the links and suitability of 101 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 1: personnel related to their union appointments through CFMU and then 102 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: they're facing a core case from ACIC about delays to payments, 103 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: And as a sort of rational financial person, I will say, okay, 104 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: I don't like any of that, but I look at 105 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: the ten year returns for c BUS and they're fine. 106 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: They're absolutely passable. They're about eight percent, and that's about 107 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: what you'd expect at most of those big funds. So 108 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: the investment formats to date, James hasn't been hit. But 109 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: as an advisor, like, do you are you concerned if 110 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: there's an organization and there's all sorts of problems at 111 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: the back office, are you concerned that could in some 112 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: way or could it interfere with their performance at the 113 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: front office where they're investing? You know, otherwords, could one 114 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: spoil the other? Could one poison the other? 115 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: Look, it's a flag or an indicator. You would suspect 116 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: that the teams are very separate in terms of the 117 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: investment committee and the investment team versus the back office function. 118 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: But they're all governed by the same upper management. And 119 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: so it's a logical conclusion to go, all right, well, 120 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: if this part's not working, is that a systemic issue 121 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: with the superfund overall? Do they not have the right 122 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: management in the board to be able to make these 123 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: decisions across all different departments. And I think it's a 124 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 2: shame overall, because I like the competition that the industry 125 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: super funds bring, that they hold the retail accounts super 126 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: funds accountable and drive competition in the market, and it's 127 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: a shame to see that these things have come out 128 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: and that their conduct has been that that way, because 129 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: if anything, we want more super funds out there, driving 130 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 2: down costs and more competition for investors, rather than less 131 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: super funds. But one point I'd make is that industry 132 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 2: super funds are still a little bit in the bed 133 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: with the union. So when you look at the investment 134 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: committee and the board composition, I'm sort of painting a 135 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: broad brush here, but for several of the major industry 136 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: super funds, their management end directors are comprised of something 137 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: like half of independent directors and half linked to unions, 138 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: and so I sometimes question the I guess the governance 139 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: and the investment expertise that these super funds have given 140 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: that And probably this is too strong to say, but 141 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: it's not like a union junket, but there's definitely union 142 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: influence there and a lot of the major industry super funds, 143 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:34,719 Speaker 2: which I don't particularly like. 144 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: So what you're bringing up is the credentials, if you like, 145 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: of these people at the top of the funds. And 146 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: I seel what you're saying, because once upon a time 147 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: when there were small funds, when there was a few 148 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: million in them, then maybe perhaps that was to be expected. 149 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: But now we're talking about gigantic organizations like Cebus as 150 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: ninety two billion dollars. Is everyone on the board across 151 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: all aspects of that money? Are they capable of sitting 152 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: on a board? Would they be put on another board 153 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: of another company that was valued at ninety two billion? 154 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: There's a question. I think it does. Puts it on 155 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: the line or right now, I want to What I 156 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: want to do is take short break and we're going 157 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: to come back and we're going to look at what 158 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: if you are facing this situation, if you are in 159 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: these funds, what you should be doing. Hello and welcome 160 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 1: back to The Australian's Money Puzzled podcast. I'm James Kirby 161 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: talking to James Gerard. Look, I suppose for most people, James, 162 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: they see these stories and they say, gosh, I don't 163 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: like that I see Unisuper. There was a problem with Unisuper. 164 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: If I was in Unisuper, I couldn't actually see my 165 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: super for a while, or at art my payments were 166 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: delayed for one reason or another. At Cebus, I can 167 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: hardly keep up with the number of investigations that's going 168 00:09:56,360 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: on in this fund. So what does someone do if 169 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: they're in one of those funds? And is it a 170 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: big trouble? Should they switch? And is it a big 171 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: trouble to switch? 172 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: I think it's a case of not overreacting in the 173 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: first instance, and not throwing out the baby with the 174 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: bath water. I think understanding what the issue is with 175 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 2: your particular super fun So I'd encourage people to read 176 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 2: James Kirby's articles in the WORL section of The Australian, 177 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: which covers all of these industry super fund issues. 178 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to just jump in there about one think, 179 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: which is which I should mention, just to finish off 180 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,839 Speaker 1: on SeaBus, because I didn't quite I didn't quite finish 181 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: off there. One of the things I didn't make that 182 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: point in the weekend was that morning Star, the International 183 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 1: Rating Agency, was not able to separate the cultural weaknesses. 184 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: If you like in their assessment of SeaBus, and specifically 185 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,599 Speaker 1: when they were moving to downgrade their parent view of 186 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: SeaBus from average to below average, met the point that 187 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: they were uncomfortable with the personnel on the board, specifically 188 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: with the political links. So to that extent, that's a 189 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: financial agency not remotely interested in politics, which found that 190 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: they couldn't separate the two. So, coming full circle back 191 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:16,559 Speaker 1: to that, I think we have to take it that 192 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: there is a point at which they crossed, and there's 193 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: a point in which one cuts into the other, and 194 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: they're not actually entirely autonomous. So develop what you're saying 195 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: there about how people should assess this. Not will react 196 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: fair enough, but at what point do you act? 197 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 2: So just finish plugging news I read James in The Australian, 198 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 2: and then it's about putting it into context, understanding what's 199 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: important for you in your super account and if you 200 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: have had delayed pension payments once in a ten year period, 201 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 2: you think okay, that's okay. But if there seems to 202 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: be more systemic problems and you have the government regulator 203 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 2: coming in, you have third party independent research houses coming 204 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 2: in putting out views, then you start to build a 205 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: bit of a case for well, is it that are 206 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 2: there alternatives that don't have the same scrutiny in issues 207 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 2: that are with my current fund, and would my retirement 208 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: savings be better being put elsewhere? And then if you 209 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 2: make that decision that yes, okay, I prefer to go 210 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 2: to another fund, then the next step is to understand 211 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 2: what will that cost you financially to move from one 212 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 2: super fund to another super fund, And in answering that, 213 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 2: it really depends on what stage you're in. If you're 214 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 2: in the accumulation stage, there's potentially a capital gains tax 215 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 2: will be triggered when you sell down all of the investments. 216 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 2: But then on the other hand, it may not be 217 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,959 Speaker 2: triggered because most industry super funds are unitized, which continuously 218 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 2: calculate capital gains tax. So whatever you have as a 219 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: balot showing today, that's inclusive of any capital gains tax 220 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: that's continuously counted. And then it depends also if you 221 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 2: maybe you're in the pension phase where there's definitely no 222 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 2: tax implications. The next thing to consider is time out 223 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 2: of the market. It usually takes one to two weeks 224 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 2: for the current super fund to sell down your investment 225 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 2: you're in cash, there's a rollover request with the new 226 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 2: super account. It will usually take three to five days 227 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 2: to set up your new super account, so under normal 228 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 2: commercial timeframes, you might be out of the market from 229 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: one to three weeks, and if that the markets move 230 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 2: upwards over that period, you've lost out because you're sitting 231 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: in cash. But conversely, it can work out in your 232 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 2: favor if there's a downturn in the market. So that's 233 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: just a risk which could go for you or against you. 234 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: And there is one other issue, which is you're probably 235 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: insured by your super fund and if you switch, what happens? 236 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: Do you know? 237 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, now that it's a great question. And some people 238 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 2: are unable to get new insurances, so it's of critical 239 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: importance that we keep their current insurances in play. So 240 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 2: some super funds will have takeover clauses where you can 241 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: port your current insurances over to the new one. But 242 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 2: if that doesn't work, it's not offered too difficult. You've 243 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 2: got options. You either look to take out insurance with 244 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 2: the new super fund. You can take out independent insurance 245 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 2: where with a retail standalone company and they'll link it 246 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 2: to super fun then request a payment once a year. 247 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 2: Or alternatively, you can keep a small residual balance in 248 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: your old super account and you need to contact the 249 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: super fund because every superfund is different, but it's usually 250 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 2: between five to ten thousand dollars that you need to 251 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 2: keep as a minimum balance, and you need to keep 252 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 2: the account active by either signing the form every year 253 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: and a half or putting a contribution in to keep 254 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 2: the insurance cover active in the old superfund. 255 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: Well, that's interesting. So if you keep the minimum a mountain, 256 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: so you could let's say a person has one hundred thousand, 257 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: they could take out eighty five and leave ten or 258 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: fifteen in there and then that could just tick along, 259 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: but in doing so, the insurance arranginess would tick along. 260 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: And if they switch funds, and can they choose not 261 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: to have insurance with the new. 262 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: Fund again, Yeah, it's part of the application form whether 263 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: you want to opt in or out of the automatic insurances. 264 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: Right. Okay, that's really interesting, so folks, that's really what 265 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: thinking about that issue, and very interesting what James said 266 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: that you can switch. Okay, if you're an accumulation that's 267 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: pre retirement, right, you can switch and most of the 268 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: funds unitize as they go, so actually, for once, capital 269 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: gains isn't an issue. You just slide across from fund 270 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: number one to fund number two. So the issue might 271 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: be the older you are, particularly the more the issue 272 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: of insurance will come up, because as you know, as 273 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: you get older, it costs more to be insured. And 274 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: if you walk in cold off the street, you're going 275 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: to pay a lot more than someone who was in 276 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: an arrangement and industrial relate arrangement if you like, for 277 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: a decade or two decades. So keep that in mind, 278 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: and it's it for everyone. We are not going to 279 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: we are not going to stand here actually and say 280 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: roll over from one fund to another. That's not how 281 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: we operate. But we would ask everyone to consider their 282 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: own situation and whether they think the fund that they're 283 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: in is good enough and it's the same fund that 284 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: they that they considered when they joined. And there are 285 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: people out there already suggesting that people roll over. I 286 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: would always say there's two sides to that. You know, 287 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: there's leaving and then that's where do you go. And 288 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: one of the things that's occurring with these incidents with 289 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: the super funds is that it's like any of these 290 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: stories when the damn bursts, they all come flying through. 291 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: So if you ask me who's in trouble last week, 292 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: I would have said art, Uni, Super and SEEBUS. This 293 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: week I have to add hest to that gang. So 294 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: it's not over yet. We are not quite clear as 295 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: to who the good guys are and who the bad 296 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: guys are. And that's only in terms of their management ability. 297 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: I would call it their non investment management ability. This 298 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: is where the issues are. The performance of the funds 299 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: have run broadly as you would expect them to so far. 300 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: So we haven't seen any fund infectedly beliked by these 301 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: incompetence in other parts of the organization. But there's time 302 00:16:48,760 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: for that. Okay, we'll take short break back in a minute. Hello, 303 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: welcome back to the Australian's Money Puzzle. I'm James Kirby 304 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: talking to James Gerard. We're talking to our surprise really 305 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 1: about a lot of the issues that have emerged in 306 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: recent days on the big super funds, and I thought, 307 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: folks that we really should cover that. It would be 308 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: remiss of us not to do so. Part of the 309 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: trouble at the funds, I said that their performance to 310 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: a large degree is are acting as one by that 311 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: I mean, there isn't an awful lot of difference in 312 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: the ten year timeframe if you look at how the 313 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: different big funds are performing. And I'm talking here all 314 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: the time about the industry funds, and they dominate Australian Super, 315 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: c Bus Host Plus, Unisuper. You know that you know them. 316 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: They never stop advertising. I'm sure you're familiar with them. 317 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: One of the things that has occurred though, is that 318 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: on the investment side, the big funds, also the industry funds. 319 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: One of their merits, or certainly one of their advantages, 320 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: had been that they have unlisted assets. That is, they 321 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: have a large way on listed assets, very simply their 322 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: assets that aren't on the share market that you can't 323 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: go and look up and find out about. And part 324 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: of that had been in commercial property. The property that 325 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: operator for the big funds is called ISPT and it 326 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: acts for It acts as an umbrella group for them. 327 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: It acts for Australian Super and SeaBus and UNI Super, 328 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: all those names I've just mentioned. They pooh their money 329 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:31,479 Speaker 1: and ISPT is their operator in commercial property and they 330 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,479 Speaker 1: released they had a two hundred million dollar loss last year. 331 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: They had a one point five billion dollar loss this year, 332 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: which tells you that the big super funds are exposed 333 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: quite heavily to commercial property and separately SeaBus, who are 334 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: so far the worst of the funds in relation to 335 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: their management issues just now. They have also had a 336 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: negative return in the last financial year. They did twelve 337 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: percent over a decade. That's really dropped and it's top 338 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: twenty two percent you see in the last three years, 339 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 1: so you can see that they're starting. The unlisted asset 340 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: side of the business for the big super funds are 341 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: starting to become a problem at the worst possible time, 342 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: you might say, James, What. 343 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: I observe over time with these unlisted assets is that 344 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 2: they're good for a smoothing effect because share markets can. 345 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 2: Listed share markets sometimes very volatile. They go up a lot, 346 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: they fall a lot, where these unlisted assets just tend 347 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 2: to chug along. And also the funds who own them 348 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 2: have the advantage of I guess a bit of valuation 349 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 2: bias or treatment that it's a little bit difficult to 350 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 2: value these investments on a daily basis, so sometimes they 351 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: might only be valued half yearly or yearly, which means 352 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: that if you have a short shock to share markets 353 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 2: like what we saw when COVID hit, and that recovers 354 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 2: a few months later that whole market downturn has been 355 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 2: in between saluation cycle of the unlisted asset, and so 356 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 2: its value has been flat throughout that whole period. 357 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: What stabilizes the ship because it doesn't look as bad 358 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: because they don't have shares that are falling through the floor. 359 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: That's part of what happened that HESTER, really, isn't it. 360 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: That's part of the issue that they had to sooner 361 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: or later sort of adjust their evaluations. But their problem 362 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 1: was that they did it in stages. This hasn't been 363 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: good enough, and this is the problem they've been hit with. 364 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 2: That's right. Yeah, it's unfortunate for those HESTER members because 365 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: my understanding from what I saw today was that they 366 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 2: HESTER had to revalue down and unlisted investment, and they 367 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 2: did so for part of the investment options that they had, 368 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 2: and then I think some members saw it and go, oh, 369 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: that went down a lot. I'm going to move over 370 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 2: to a different investment option, maybe one that hasn't fallen 371 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: by as much. So they switched out of the one 372 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 2: that had been readjusted to another one which they thought 373 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 2: was more stable. But it was just turned out that 374 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 2: one hadn't been adjusted yet, so then that one got 375 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,959 Speaker 2: readjusted a week later, so they've got a double kit. 376 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: Gosh. Yeah, and there is always that thing of arbitrage. 377 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: But that's the problem, isn't it. Because they're unlisted, the customer, 378 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: the investor can't possibly know how much their own portfolio 379 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: is worth. Yeah, and there's a point which they'll never 380 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: know because they're unlisted and they won't know to the 381 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 1: day they put them for sale. Really, isn't that the 382 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: ultimate test? 383 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 2: That's the thing. Like these some of these assets are 384 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 2: very expensive for talking hundreds of millions of dollars type assets. 385 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 2: There could be toll roads, there could be airports, and yeah, 386 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 2: these type of assets they don't sell every day, so 387 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 2: you can have investment specialists and value as give opinions 388 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 2: as to what they're worth. But as you say, you 389 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 2: don't really know until you actually sell the assets. So 390 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 2: you might be creating this false sense of security by 391 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 2: thinking you have these assets, but when you go to 392 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 2: liquidate it, there's no one around wanting to pay the 393 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 2: price that you thought it was worth. 394 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: Yes, So I think maybe to be fair to the funds, 395 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 1: the big funds and to listeners. The thing about the 396 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: industry funds is they are more dependent on on listed assets. 397 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: I know unlisted assets have their advantages in many ways, 398 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: but beyond a doubt, part of the problem is that 399 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: you can't fully or as easily understand exactly how much 400 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: your portfolio in that fund is worth because they can't 401 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 1: understand it, or they certainly won't reveal it unless they must. 402 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: And that's an ongoing problem because of their dependency on 403 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: these on disted aseids, much more so than for profit funds. Traditionally, 404 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: that is a big difference between the two funds. Okay, 405 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: really interesting. We want to stay with this issue now 406 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: and segue for once usefully into a question that relates 407 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 1: to the show that we've just been doing. Quite a 408 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: detailed question. It's from Direct dr e K. I'll try 409 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: to synopsize it as much as I can. We invest 410 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: it in a privately helpbsidially fund of a sex listed 411 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: century capital called Censurre Health, and direct boat big time 412 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: basically into this fund, and the units were to generate 413 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: six percent yield, and they used jointly held self managed 414 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: super funds. And of course the point I should have 415 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: made the earlier part of the show is the obvious 416 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: alternative if you are unhappy altogether with your industry fund 417 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: or your big super fund of any description, is self 418 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: managed super We will leave that another day as to 419 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: how suitable you might be to it and how much 420 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: you should have in it, but it is the obvious 421 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: ultimate sort of alternative to big super is self managed 422 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: super funds that anyone can have if they're prepared to 423 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: put in the time Now, Derek says, because the initial 424 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 1: return of our investment was in line with the company brochure, 425 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 1: we increased the investment with two additional payments. Soon after 426 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: the final payment, the unit prices started declining. Then we 427 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: started losing some money in our investment. Initially, we trusted 428 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 1: the fund they would overcome this weakness, and we kept 429 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: our full support in it. Anfortunately, our judgment was wrong 430 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: and the unit prices continued to decline. In twenty twenty four, 431 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: that's a few months ago, March twenty twenty four, we 432 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: asked for a complete withdrawal of our investment. At that 433 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: time we held over and he gives a large number here, 434 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: a dollar number. As soon as the redemption process started, 435 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: the price per units started plummeting. Down to seventy six 436 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: cents at the third redemption. Also, the number of units 437 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: in each redemption was ridiculously low. That is, they were 438 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: letting them only redeem a small amount. I expect at 439 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: the time, summarizing the amount of cash received and the 440 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: current value of the remaining units, we've lost twenty five 441 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: percent of our initial investment. That's a terrible hit on 442 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: what should have been a steady property. Just to finish. 443 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,479 Speaker 1: Direk says. We thought multi billion dollar companies such as 444 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: a Tourer Capital was to be reputable and trust worth 445 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: the ASX company and couldn't get it wrong. My question 446 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: is there anything that I can do to stop this? Okay, 447 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 1: first things first, there's nothing obviously inappropriate in this issue 448 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 1: with this property truster or a reta as they call 449 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: them now at Centura. Commercial property has been in the 450 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: doghouse for some time now, and if a fund said 451 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: that they expected things to improve, that could have been 452 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: a genuine expectation. They all want things to improve, they 453 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: don't want things to get worse. But the issue is 454 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: obviously with a fund when people start selling at the 455 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: same time and they have redemptions, then that they have 456 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 1: to manage that very slowly because the money is not there. 457 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,400 Speaker 1: It's as simple as that, and that happens at most 458 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: big funds. And though we tell people on the show 459 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: a million times this is the issue, it always surprises 460 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: people that they can't get all their money out of 461 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: a big property fund. When things go the wrong way, 462 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 1: they can't get it out on the day they wish 463 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,959 Speaker 1: You've read that fairly close to James. This is never advice. 464 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: It's only information, as everyone knows. But if I was 465 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: sitting opposite you and I said to you, Hey, James, 466 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: I've been in censura and I can't believe how badly 467 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: it's gone. I've lost twenty five percent. Is there anything 468 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: you would say to me that I haven't thought of? There? 469 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 2: Probably would have started by saying that you should have 470 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: seen me in twenty twenty when you first invested, and 471 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 2: we would have discussed. 472 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: Yes, I'm sure it would have been wonderful. But I've 473 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: talked to you in late twenty twenty four and I'm 474 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: really pissed off because I've lost twenty five percent of 475 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: on my investment. Is there anything At first glance, as 476 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: I said, that seems to me very bad luck, bad timing, 477 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: particularly bad timing. 478 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 2: I guess it's important for people to have the right 479 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 2: time frame for these type of investments because even though 480 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 2: it's property, it's healthcare related, it's still classified as a 481 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: growth investment. And so i'd start by saying that you 482 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 2: should go into something like this if you have at 483 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 2: least a five year timeframe, and it hasn't been five 484 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 2: years yet, and appreciate you. They're still behind the initial 485 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: investment amount by quite a bit, but they should be 486 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 2: having at least a five to ten year timeframe on 487 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: this type of thing. And then that's because the fortunes 488 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 2: of this type of investment really swings from year to 489 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 2: year quite dramatically. And so if I use the index, 490 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 2: for example, there's a Vanguard ETFVAP which covers the whole 491 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 2: listed property and reach sector, so it'll have Goodman Group 492 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,880 Speaker 2: and at Move, Ecdexus, all these type of companies over 493 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 2: the past twelve months. If you put money in at 494 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 2: this time a year ago, you'd be up forty percent. 495 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,119 Speaker 2: But then if you go back twelve months before that 496 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 2: and you put money into it, you would have been 497 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: down thirty percent. So even though it's property, you think 498 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 2: it's all commercial buildings and hospitals. It does swing quite 499 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 2: wildly because there's these external factors which impact the value 500 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 2: of these investments. And so when it comes to property 501 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 2: and these type of property investments, one of the big 502 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 2: things that's an external factor in terms of what they're 503 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 2: worth is what's happening in the bond market. Because these 504 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,239 Speaker 2: type of property trusts are seen as what we call 505 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 2: in the finance world as a quote unquote bond proxy. 506 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 2: Investors will swing between bonds to generate yield and swing 507 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 2: to property trusts at the right time. And what we've 508 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 2: seen over the past couple of years is the cash 509 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 2: rate go up, bond rates go up, and investors have 510 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 2: sold out of these type of property and healthcare trust 511 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 2: and thus we're seeing these big drops. 512 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 1: This would partially explain the censure health yeah partly. 513 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. And I've reviewed and had to look into some 514 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 2: of the other healthcare property trust because our clients own them. 515 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 2: So one, for example, is Australian Unity. They have a 516 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 2: healthcare trust and that hasn't performed spectacularly over the past 517 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,919 Speaker 2: recent period, but over the long term it's notne absolutely fine, 518 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 2: and so it's been this bond proxy issue. But Also 519 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 2: there's industry specific issues as well that's caused some headwinds 520 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: for these type of investments, which in time, you'd expect 521 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 2: them to resolve themselves. Looking at the long time frame, 522 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: things have been fine. But it's a difficult one for 523 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 2: Derek as to what to do because I can feel 524 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: the disdain with this investment and the wanting to get 525 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 2: out of it, but on the other hand not wanting 526 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 2: to take a twenty five percent loss there. So yeah, 527 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 2: I can't give the personal advice. 528 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: Why have they had such a good the last six 529 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: months you say have been good? Yeah, for this even 530 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: though the news has been bad, like about commercial property 531 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: up until very recently. Why the change in sentiment towards 532 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: the property trusts of late. 533 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: Yes, because investors have a crystal ball and they're always 534 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 2: looking forward. They're not looking at today at their feet. 535 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 2: They're looking down the road and they see that inflation's 536 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 2: coming down. America, Europe, places around the world have reduced 537 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 2: the cash rate and so we're seeing the bond rates 538 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 2: start to come down, and so ahead of that, the 539 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,479 Speaker 2: property investments are receiving a lot of money again as 540 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 2: people reverse what they did a few years ago. They're 541 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,239 Speaker 2: now selling out of the bonds and shoveling money back 542 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 2: into the property trusts. 543 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: And they're doing that on the assumption that rates are 544 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: going to come down, correct, and they didn't. They did 545 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: or didn't allow for the election of Donald Trump in 546 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: that particular scenario. I don't know about those rates coming down, folks. Sorry, 547 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: just the thought. Okay, we've come back to that one. 548 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: All right, final question you'd like to read it. It's 549 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: from Andrew. Yeah, again, it's from Andrew. Andrew ass do 550 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: you think it's time for Combank to split stock? 551 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 2: Stock split? They seem to be very high in which 552 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 2: is a detriment compared to other banks in the broader market. 553 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: And then he also adds that when the last major 554 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 2: when was the last major stock split in the ASX 555 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: twenty and what happened? Do they have a positive or 556 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 2: negative impact on the price. And Andrew says that you 557 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 2: can't think of any stock split over the past four years. 558 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: Okay, thank you, Andrew. I question one aspect of that question, 559 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: which is whether Combank is suffering in any fashion because 560 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: there a stock is about one hundred and fifty bucks 561 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 1: or thereabouts, and I think es certainly in this market 562 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: of late, there's a wow factor being attached to Combank 563 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: and the fact that the stock is one hundred and 564 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: fifty bucks, and it almost sort of makes a point 565 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: about just how good a stock, or just how successful 566 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: a stock it's been for once worth. You might challenge 567 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 1: me on this, James. The only stock split of any 568 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: serious significance I could have find really was CSL back 569 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: in two oh seven three from one split and overseas 570 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: Tesla course, and in Nvidia. I think more recently, when 571 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: a company has the stock split, it tends to be 572 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: they are dizzyingly successful. Warren Buffett famously, of course, they 573 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: did a sort of a kind of a split which 574 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: the THEA class hairs and the big class chairs once 575 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: upon a time, which was a similar thing. So we 576 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 1: haven't had one for a long time. I think it's 577 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: a great notion, Andrew, sometimes a great notion that they 578 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: could split. There is a there is obviously people who 579 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:45,479 Speaker 1: for some reason feel better buying two stars two combat 580 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: shares for seventy five bucks each rather than one for 581 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: one fifty. But actually it makes no difference whatsoever. I think, 582 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: What do you think, James. 583 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, that's absolutely right, and I would pretty much 584 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 2: guarantee that if they did a stock split that the 585 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 2: stock split would go up in value because there'd be 586 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 2: more perceived value in having the stock at a lower price. 587 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 2: But as you say, it makes absolutely no difference. But 588 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 2: for the average mom and dad investor, they like a 589 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 2: lower price because they're used to investing into things like 590 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 2: physical property, and that's very straightforward, the higher price and 591 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: more expensive of property. But it doesn't work the same 592 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 2: on the share market. That's said, I don't think CBA 593 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: has too much of an issue. You touched on Berkshire 594 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 2: half away. Their Class A units are over seven hundred 595 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 2: thousand dollars per stock, so that's each each class Andrew, Yeah, yeah, 596 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 2: so yeah, if CBA gets the seven hundred thousand, maybe 597 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: send in another request and then yeah, that's probably more 598 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 2: valid at that stage. But I think at the current 599 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 2: price it's it would be good for perception, but it's 600 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 2: not really necessary. 601 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: It's a fascinating thing that Comebank is sitting there at 602 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty and all the brokers are saying 603 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: sell at one hundred, sell at one hundred and ten, 604 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 1: it goes to one twenty one thirty sell. I mean, 605 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: it's an embarrassment at this stage for them that all 606 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: the major brokers are saying that this stock is worth 607 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 1: roughly one hundred dollars and the market is saying it's 608 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: worth one hundred and fifty dollars. And that situation has 609 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: been going on all year. No one knows how it's 610 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: going to change. But I'll tell you one thing. If 611 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 1: I was Matt Common and it started to slide, that 612 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: might be the time to announce a split. And then 613 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: you forget the James Gerard theory that it would just 614 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: go up anyway because people would think it's cheaper, though 615 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: of course it isn't cheaper. It's the same price. It's 616 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 1: more liquid though it is more liquid. And we should 617 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: explain to everyone that the theory behind the stock sibility 618 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: is that at a certain point, stocks that are very 619 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: successful where the share price goes absolutely bananas, a liquidity 620 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: issue does arrive ultimately, and so they do split to 621 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: bolster liquidity, which is what happened at Tesla and in 622 00:33:56,440 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 1: Media and CSL once upon a time. There's no risk 623 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: of them needing to do a stock split at the 624 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: moment at CSL because they have been sliding and going nowhere. 625 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 2: I have to say. 626 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 1: For some time and now with Kennedy Junior as Health 627 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: Minister in the Trump administration, CSO has been sort of 628 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:18,040 Speaker 1: fresh because of the fears that he will be that 629 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 1: he will not be enthusiastic about vaccines, and that's very 630 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: likely since he never has been all the way till now. Okay, 631 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: but we're moving slightly off track, aren't we. We were 632 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: supposed to be talking about big funds and property. Okay, terrific, Hey, James, 633 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 1: thank you very much. That was very interesting and I 634 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 1: think it was a very pragmatic response to the issue 635 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 1: at big super and the issues that are forming. I mean, 636 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 1: as we say, the million dollar question on those big funds, folks, 637 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 1: is whether they can quarantine their successful investment performance from 638 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: the sort of hapless, inept news stories we're seeing on 639 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: their management side. How long can they keep those two 640 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: things separate? That's the issue. Okay, we'll be talking to 641 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,320 Speaker 1: you soon. Thank you, James, talk to you again, pleasure. 642 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 2: Thanks James. 643 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: Thanks very much to Leah Samuel glu who produced today's show. 644 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,879 Speaker 1: On Thursday, lookout for Will Hamilton on our annual Advisor's 645 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: List special that will be on Thursday, and keep the 646 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 1: emails rolling at the money puzzle at the Australian dot com, 647 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 1: dot au dot you soon