Australian Investors Podcast

Is Australia doomed? Plus, CSL is close to a buy

In this week’s 2 Sense, Owen and Drew tackle a bigger question than one stock or one budget line item: is Australia getting worse at creating wealth? Rask Wealth Checker: https://rask.au/wealth-checker That opens a sharp conversation about tax chatter, policy drift and why uncertainty can make it harder for founders, investors and workers to build long-term value. The episode also revisits CSL, touches on private credit noise, and asks what matters when headlines get louder than fundamentals. It is a useful reminder that great businesses can still be overhyped, and that policy settings can shape how willing people are to build, invest and take risk. The listener question is a beauty: how do you value a private business? Owen and Drew explain why valuation is part maths, part judgement. They unpack EBITDA multiples, growth, repeatability, owner dependence and why what a business is worth to you can differ from what a buyer will pay. If you want practical market commentary with a founder’s lens, this one delivers. Episode resources Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Nick Sladen on why Cogstate could be one of the ASX's best healthcare stocks

2w ago00:33:29Tap to summarize

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Mitch sits down with Nick Sladen for a deep dive into Cogstate and why it may be one of the more compelling ASX healthcare names right now. Alzheimer's and broader central nervous system diseases are becoming more important as populations age, and Nick explains why that matters for Cogstate. The company plays a small but critical role in clinical trials, helping large pharmaceutical groups run cognitive testing with higher accuracy, cleaner data and stronger regulatory confidence. With more than 20 years of accumulated testing data, Cogstate has built an edge that is hard to replicate quickly. Mitch and Nick also unpack the numbers behind the bull case. They discuss strong margins, net cash, a share buyback, dividend flexibility and why AI could improve throughput rather than undermine the business model. The conversation also goes beyond Alzheimer's into rare disease, depression, schizophrenia and sleep trials, plus the role partnerships like Medidata could play in widening the opportunity set. They finish by testing the risks, including pharma spending cycles, execution, competition and the possibility that AI changes parts of the workflow over time. If you want a practical breakdown of a high-quality small-cap healthcare business with structural tailwinds, this episode is well worth your time. Episode resources Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Is Buffett's portfolio falling behind? Plus Magellan, Bluey and the May budget

2w ago01:12:44Tap to summarize

In this episode of 2-Sense, Owen and Drew ask a big question: is Warren Buffett falling behind in 2026, or is Berkshire Hathaway just investing on a different timetable to everyone else? They unpack Buffett’s huge Apple exposure, Berkshire’s growing cash pile and the broader debate around whether AI is changing the investing playbook or simply changing what investors are paying attention to right now. The conversation then swings back to Australia, with a close look at Magellan’s decision to outsource management of its global equities funds. Owen and Drew explore what the move says about the business, why it matters when a once-dominant fund manager changes course, and what investors should watch from here. They also dive into the May budget chatter, from capital gains tax and negative gearing to new housing incentives and the knock-on effects policy changes can have on wealth creation. There’s more on Bluey’s blockbuster economics, company news from Coles, ANZ and NAB, thoughts on Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, plus a practical buy, hold or sell-style discussion to round things out. Episode resources Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Dimensional Fund Advisors: Bhanu Singh on Factor Investing

3w ago01:02:12Tap to summarize

Dimensional Fund Advisors has quietly built one of the most respected investment firms in the world on the back of Nobel Prize-winning academic research. In this episode, Mitchell Sneddon sits down with Bhanu Singh, Australian CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors and head of the world's largest active ETF manager, to unpack the philosophy, factors and discipline behind the firm. Bhanu walks through the legendary names on Dimensional's board and advisory panel — Eugene Fama, Kenneth French, Robert Merton, Myron Scholes and Merton Miller — and explains how their work on efficient markets, the Fama-French factor model, options pricing and arbitrage shaped modern finance and indexing as we know it. The Topics: - How Dimensional translates academic research into real-world portfolios - The five factors driving expected returns: market beta, size, value, profitability and investment - Why market efficiency doesn't mean passive indexing - How Dimensional trades 95% of equities in-house using its proprietary tick database - Why 80%+ of active managers underperform their benchmarks over the long run - The truth about home bias, yield obsession and concentration risk in Australian portfolios - Why thematic ETFs are often sold, not bought - The cultural reason Dimensional has never closed a fund Resources for this episode Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Help! My shares are being shorted! Plus, Tesla, Microsoft and passive income ETFs

3w ago00:48:43Tap to summarize

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith tackle a question that would spook plenty of income investors: what should you do if your shares land on the most shorted list? That opens a broader discussion about dividend traps, earnings risk and whether a big yield is actually a warning sign. The pair also dig into recent results from Tesla, Microsoft, American Express and Lululemon, and what those numbers may be saying about spending, margins, capital investment and market expectations. Topics covered - The most shorted ASX shares and dividend trap risk - Tesla, Microsoft, American Express and Lululemon results - Passive income ETF portfolios and why total return still matters - When high yield becomes a warning sign for investors - Property, CGT and shifting capital into ETFs The back half of the episode turns practical, with Owen and Drew unpacking passive income ETF portfolios, liquidity, and how investors can think about income and diversification when cash rates are no longer near zero. They also tackle the CGT trade-off many Australians face when deciding whether to keep holding property or rotate some capital into ETFs. Resources for this episode Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider if the information is appropriate for your situation before acting on it. If you’re unsure, consult a licensed financial planner. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial adviser, or tax professional. You can access The Rask Group’s Financial Services Guide (FSG) here: https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Inside Trump's pick to replace Jerome Powell

4w ago00:32:24Tap to summarize

In May 2026, Jerome Powell's tenure as chair of the US Federal Reserve comes to an end. His replacement is Kevin Warsh — a former Fed governor and Donald Trump's hand-picked choice to lead the world's most powerful central bank. The appointment has been anything but quiet, arriving against a backdrop of sustained political pressure from the Trump administration, public attacks on Powell, and a criminal investigation into cost overruns at the Fed building. But beyond the politics, what does the leadership change actually mean for US monetary policy, for inflation, and critically, for Australian investors and retirees? To break it all down, Mitchell is joined by Kris Bernie, portfolio manager at fixed income specialist Kapstream Capital. Kris is responsible for macroeconomic research, asset allocation, and interest rate and foreign exchange trading — which means he watches the Federal Reserve more closely than most. What you'll learn in this episode - Why the Fed chair matters to Australians — from equity markets and the Aussie dollar to term deposit rates - Who Kevin Warsh is and why Trump picked him - How Warsh's inflation-focused philosophy differs from Powell's dual-mandate approach - The political pressure Warsh is likely to face — and its limits - Why he's still just one vote of twelve on the FOMC - The difficult environment he's inheriting: sticky inflation, a bloated Fed balance sheet, and stagflation risk - What happens to Australia if the US consumer runs out of steam Topics covered - Why the Fed chair matters to Australian investors and retirees - Who is Kevin Warsh, and why did Trump pick him? - How Warsh's philosophy differs from Powell's - Rules-based vs discretionary monetary policy, and what the Taylor Rule actually means - How much influence can Trump realistically exert over the Fed? - The stagflation risk: tariffs, oil prices, and second-round inflation effects - The US consumer: how tapped out are they, really? - Australia's idiosyncratic inflation problem and the RBA outlook - How Kapstream is positioning across credit spread duration and rates duration - Can AI productivity gains actually move the dial on inflation? - Kapstream's listed ASX products, including XCAP Episode Resources Kapstream Website Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg KAPTREAM DISCLAIMER: This is general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the information, consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) on our website. Fidante Partners Limited ABN 94 002 835 592 AFSL 234668 is the responsible entity and issuer of interests in the Kapstream Absolute Return Income Fund and the Kapstream Absolute Return Income Active ETF. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Would Warren Buffett succeed in Australia? Plus the best ASX sectors for the next decade

Apr 2400:58:52Tap to summarize

In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith move from practical investing questions to the bigger forces shaping portfolios right now. They settle the active ETF vs managed fund debate, run through the latest from Intel, Netflix and JP Morgan, pick the sectors they reckon will shine over the next decade — and ask the big one: could Warren Buffett have pulled it off if he'd grown up in Australia? Topics covered Active ETFs vs managed funds Intel, Netflix and JP Morgan Budget tax chatter and policy risk The best ASX sectors for the next 10 years Would Buffett have succeeded in Australia? Resources for this episode Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Inside a $350bn super fund: How your money is really invested

Apr 2100:55:55Tap to summarize

This episode was originally featured on The Australian Finance Podcast. In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask is joined by Brian Parker, Chief Economist of Australian Retirement Trust (ART), to discuss how ART thinks about runway, portfolio construction, private markets and when volatility becomes opportunity. They cover: - What a chief economist actually does and how ART turns research into portfolio action. - How “super money” is different: time horizon, tax wrapper and the power of compounding. - Geopolitics, inflation and how ART assesses signals in a multipolar world. - AI — threat vs opportunity, productivity wins, and policy implications for workers. - Why private assets and inflation-linked income matter in portfolio construction. - What does a Chief Economist do? - How super funds invest differently (decades, not months) - Why market volatility = opportunity - The impact of geopolitics (Ukraine, Middle East, trade tensions) - Inflation vs deflation: what’s really happening - How AI could reshape the global economy - Why diversification is the “only free lunch” - The role of private assets (infrastructure, property, private equity) - Why super funds can access investments you can’t - Real returns: why inflation matters for your future - How to think long-term about your super Resources for this episode Learn more about Australian Retirement Trust ⁠here Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Speak with the Rask Advice team Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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4 of ASX 200's worst stocks

Apr 1700:59:25Tap to summarize

In this episode of Australian Investors Podcast, Drew Meredith and Owen Raszkiewicz name four of the worst ASX 200 stocks from the past five years, Zip Co (ASX: ZIP), Nuix (ASX: NXL), Dubber (ASX: DUB) and EML Payments (ASX: EML), and explain the warning signs investors should have spotted earlier. They also unpack the Nasdaq's 11-session winning streak, Betashares ATEC inflows, the Magellan and Barrenjoey merger, and listener questions on David Gardner, flop stocks and the long-term impact of Australia's ageing population on super. Watch on YouTube AFR: Magellan’s merger with Barrenjoey Australian Investors Podcast on Rask Media Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more DISCLAIMERThis podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider if the information is appropriate for your situation before acting on it. If you’re unsure, consult a licensed financial planner. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial adviser, or tax professional. You can access The Rask Group’s Financial Services Guide (FSG) here: https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Why the falling US dollar is igniting a massive emerging market supercycle

Apr 1400:41:44Tap to summarize

2025 was a record-breaking year for Emerging Markets, seeing the largest capital inflows in over a decade. But is this a short-term flight from the US dollar, or the beginning of a structural "EM Supercycle"? In this episode, we sit down with Malcolm Dorson (Senior PM & Head of EM Strategy) and Billy Leung (Equity Research Analyst) from Global X to dissect the two engines of global growth: India and China. We explore why the "uninvestable" tag is fading from China, how India is carving a unique path through its landmark 2026 Free Trade Agreement with Europe, and why a 1% drop in the US dollar could be the most important signal for your portfolio. In this episode we cover: The Great EM Rotation The "February Surge": Breaking down why we just saw the largest inflows into EM in 11 years. Is it "choice" or a "flight from the US"? Early Innings: Exploring Global X’s thesis on whether we are at the start of a multi-year Emerging Market cycle. The 3.1% Rule: The Dollar & EM The Inverse Relationship: Understanding the mechanics of why EM equities historically rise 3.1% for every 1% drop in the US dollar. Currency Risk: How to manage FX volatility when investing in volatile regions. China: From "Uninvestable" to Rebirth The Sentiment Shift: Looking back at the regulatory hurdles of previous years and what has changed to bring institutional capital back to Beijing. AI & Tech: How China’s push for "tech self-reliance" and the rise of local LLMs (like the DeepSeek breakthrough in early 2026) are changing the narrative. India: The World’s New Growth Engine The India-EU FTA: The implications of the "Mother of All Deals" signed in January 2026 and how it positions India as the premier "China Plus One" beneficiary. Demographics vs. Policy: Is India simply where China was 20 years ago, or is the "market-friendly" democratic framework a fundamentally different catalyst? The AI Arms Race - Tailwinds vs. Headwinds: Does India’s services-heavy economy have a natural advantage in AI implementation, or does China’s manufacturing scale give it the edge in hardware? Portfolio Construction & Strategy - Active vs. Passive: Why broad index tracking might be dangerous in EMs and where to apply "quality" filters. - The $100k Challenge: A hypothetical breakdown of how to allocate $100,000 across the EM landscape today. Resources for this episode Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds Visit TermPlus to learn more Rask Resources All services Financial Planning Invest with us Access Show Notes Ask a question We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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All episodes

Is Australia doomed? Plus, CSL is close to a buy

Nick Sladen on why Cogstate could be one of the ASX's best healthcare stocks

Is Buffett's portfolio falling behind? Plus Magellan, Bluey and the May budget

Dimensional Fund Advisors: Bhanu Singh on Factor Investing

Help! My shares are being shorted! Plus, Tesla, Microsoft and passive income ETFs

Inside Trump's pick to replace Jerome Powell

Would Warren Buffett succeed in Australia? Plus the best ASX sectors for the next decade

Inside a $350bn super fund: How your money is really invested

4 of ASX 200's worst stocks

Why the falling US dollar is igniting a massive emerging market supercycle