Opinion

China needs its 1.4 billion citizens to start spending. But its ageing population is reluctant to loosen the purse strings, especially while the social security net remains inadequate.

Forget the bucket list. Far better to find a pursuit, whether it be a sport or hobby, which you can derive pleasure day in, day out.

For golf addicts, retirement finally offers the opportunity to hit the course more often. But there can be drawbacks, as this article explains.

Many retirees are attracted to the notion of self-managing their nest eggs – a bid to find self-worth in retirement. It can be a poor choice.

BlackRock’s Larry Fink spells out some timely words of advice on the challenges of retirement.

The last few years have been challenging for markets, but they’ve also reset the playing field for fixed interest. For those seeking income and capital protection in the event of an equities downturn, particularly retirees, it’s time to revisit credit, says Bentham Asset Management’s Richard Quin.

For anyone seeking professional growth, exposure to new skillsets and the chance to help an organisation make its mark, serving on a board is an ideal learning experience, Loane Avenell writes in a look back at her “remarkable” first year with the Australian Investors Association.

As investors seek greater portfolio exposure and diversification at lower cost, two increasingly popular options – thematic ETFs and managed-account solutions – show how wealth management practices are adapting to clients’ evolving needs.

The Swiss bank’s $3.5 billion issue of contingent convertible bank capital drew 10 times as many investors as it needed, showing the market has already forgotten how holders of these bonds fared in the case of the collapsed Credit Suisse.

The “financial independence, retire early” approach, which trades spartan frugality now for an early retirement later, can work in the right conditions, but its benefits may be eclipsed by the sacrifice required along the way, writes Alteris Financial Group’s Jaxon King.

Primary and secondary homes make up about a third of the total global wealth of the ultra-rich, new research shows. Commercial property and equities are also big components, with a small but increasingly valuable share going to “investments of passion”.

The unique benefits of a gold allocation are clear, but investors, particularly retirement savers, are missing out on much of the market according to World Gold Council market strategist Joe Cavatoni, who says the metal’s dual role as a consumer good and an investment asset is key to its bright outlook.