Australian Investors Podcast

In this week’s 2 Sense episode, Owen and Mitchell lean into the chaos of the current market. From the geopolitical ripples of the Iran conflict to the surprisingly high cost of plastic piping, they trace the butterfly effect of oil through the ASX. Plus, Owen returns from Vietnam with some eerie travel tales, and the team checks in on the ever-evolving saga of Richard White and WiseTech. Topics covered – The Global Oil Squeeze: With the war in Iran showing no signs of de-escalating, they unpack the unintended consequences. It is not just at the bowser — they look at Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) and how the rising cost of oil-derived materials is forcing a price hike on PVC piping. – EV smugness: While the rest of the country groans at $2.50+ fuel prices, Owen takes a literal victory lap in his Tesla. – SpaceX IPO and to the moon: A rare glimmer of optimism. They discuss what SpaceX actually does, how it makes money, and why its listing could provide investors with the world’s most unique monopoly. – The Falling Knife ETF: The crusade continues. They are still trying to get Drew’s Falling Knife ETF into production, and Marc Jocum from Global X takes them through what needs to happen to get it made. – WiseTech and the $40 floor: Richard White is back in the headlines. With WiseTech (ASX: WTC) shares dipping below the $40 mark, they ask the hard question: will shareholders remain loyal to the founder now that the capital gains have evaporated? – Postcards from Vietnam: Owen shares his recent trip to Vietnam and his observations of the ghost resorts. – Listener questions: Keep them coming! 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

The market is obsessed with AI as the sole driver of energy demand, but the "Saaspocalypse" of February taught us that picking AI winners is a volatile game. In this episode, Mark Jones from Resolution Capital explains why the real opportunity lies in the "picks and shovels" that power the modern world: Electricity Utilities. We dive into why Resolution Capital has doubled down on utilities (60% of the portfolio), the reality of the US re-shoring trend, and why this is a multi-decade structural shift that remains underappreciated by the broader market. In this episode, we discuss: - Defining a great investment: What separates a "good" asset from a truly "great" infrastructure investment in the current macro environment? - Post-Saaspocalypse lessons: How the February crash in AI-adjacent software reshaped the way Resolution Capital views "AI beneficiaries." - The utility overweight: Why electricity utilities are now more than double the size of the next largest position in the fund. - The energy thesis (beyond AI): AI consumes a massive amount of power, but is that the only reason to own these stocks? We look at the intersection of decarbonisation and digitisation. - The "Re-Shoring" factor: How much of the US energy demand relies on the return of manufacturing, and would a change in the White House administration kill this trend? - Spotting the obvious: When an investment theme looks "too easy," the returns are usually gone. Mark explains what the market is still missing about the demand side. - Managing risk: From regulatory hurdles to the "build-out" risk—can we actually build too much infrastructure? - The Australian angle: Does Mark hold any local names in that 60% power allocation? - Stock in focus: A deep dive into a "great utility" currently held in the portfolio and why it fits the Resolution Capital framework. Resources for this episode Resolution Capital Website Resolution Capital Infrastructure Fund 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

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, with Owen on holiday in Vietnam, Mitchell Sneddon joins Drew Meredith to discuss: – US–Iran conflict and what it means for oil prices, inflation and markets – L1 Capital’s new gold listed investment company – Hansen Corporation in the news and a look at the billing software providers prospects – What has had a worse effect on markets to date, the Iran war or the SaaSpocalypse? – How is Mitchell almost last in the Stock Genius game? Drew reviews his portfolio or AD8, TAH, EDV, DTEC and more. – Would you invest in defence stocks? We look at the inflows for the major defence ETFs: DTEC, ARMR and DFND – Are you keen to invest in Drew’s falling knife ETF? Expressions of interest open now! If you love learning about investing, markets and portfolio strategy, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more investing insights. Resources for this episode Mitchell’s episode with Navigator Global Investments Mitchell’s episode with Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) 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

Private credit is growing rapidly in Australia. Understanding how managers actually operate may matter more than the yield itself. In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Mitchell sits down with Nicole Kidd, CEO of Corval Avenue, to unpack how investors should evaluate real estate private credit managers. As private credit continues to attract capital with double-digit yields, Nicole explains why the manager is effectively part of the asset — and how weak governance, conflicted incentives, or poor reporting can turn an attractive investment into a multi-year workout. The conversation provides a practical framework investors can use to separate disciplined credit operators from opportunistic deal shops. Together they discuss - The idea that in private credit the manager is part of the asset, with vastly different outcomes possible on identical deals - Weak credit governance as the first major red flag and the role of independent credit committees in serious firms - Short track records and perfect returns as potential signs of cherry-picked performance or untested managers - Misaligned incentives and fee structures that quietly shift returns away from investors - Conflicts across the capital stack when managers operate as lenders, brokers or equity participants - Transparent reporting and honest default disclosure as signals of a disciplined credit operation - Green flags of strong managers, including co-investment, institutional processes and operational depth Resources for this episode Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset” Ask a question (select the Finance podcast) Show partner resources Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith View Betashares range of funds 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

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your hosts Owen Rask and Drew Meredith discuss: – Why Drew invested in a Melbourne bar – Rising distrust in superannuation – Div 296 and SMSF strategy questions – Retirement bucket strategies and FIRE investing If you love learning about retirement planning and investing strategy, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more investing insights. Why Drew invested in a bar - Beneath Driver Lane Drew explains: – When the opportunity emerged (2018) – The due diligence process – Why having the operator with skin in the game mattered – Surviving COVID – Lessons from inflation and margin pressure – Expansion to Baby Driver Big takeaway: Keep costs low. Avoid debt. Align incentives. Bootstrapping works. Super distrust: what’s going on? A recent survey showed: – 58% of pre-retirees plan to withdraw super in lump sum – One third considering high-risk assets (including crypto) We discuss why disengagement with super leads to poor decisions and why understanding the structure matters more than fear. Listener Question: $4m SMSF and Div 296 A listener who achieved FIRE at 39 asks: – Should they sell down to avoid Div 296 impacts? – Should growth sit outside super and income inside? We explain: – What Div 296 actually does – Why average tax rate matters – Why panic selling rarely helps Bucket Strategy Explained Yoda Best asks about bucket strategies. We break down: 1. Short-term cash bucket (2 years expenses) 2. Medium-term income assets 3. Long-term growth bucket Purpose: Reduce emotional decision-making in retirement. Hypotheticals – If franking credits were abolished overnight – If passive investing was banned – If you could have lunch with any investor (living or dead) Plus: Japanese ETF discussion and CGT property rules. Topics Covered – Private business investing lessons – Super strategy and Div 296 – Retirement income planning – Behavioural investing mistakes Resources for This Episode Super resources: Super Checker Tool Div 296 Webinar Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) 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

Alan Pullen, co-portfolio manager at Magellan with deep investing experience, walks through Booking Holdings’ rise from Priceline to a global travel powerhouse. He discusses the agency-to-merchant shift, the Connected Trip strategy, network effects from acquisitions like Agoda and OpenTable, and whether Google or AI are real threats to its moat.

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your hosts Owen Rask and Drew Meredith discuss: – US–Iran conflict and what it means for oil prices, inflation and markets – Magellan’s merger with Barrenjoey and what it means for investors – Netflix stepping away from the Warner Bros deal – Reporting season highlights: Block, Woolworths, Apple, NAB and more If you love learning about investing, markets and portfolio strategy, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more investing insights. Resources for this episode Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) 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

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask is joined by Luke Winchester, founder of Merewether Capital, to discuss: – How Luke filters 2,000+ ASX stocks down to a high-conviction watchlist – What makes a quality micro cap in today’s market cycle – Five ASX micro caps Luke is watching (and in some cases owning) – Why process, patience and position sizing matter in small caps If you love learning about micro cap investing, ASX small caps and long-term compounding, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on Apple , Spotify, or YouTube ! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more investing insights. Topics Covered Luke explains how he narrows 2,300+ ASX stocks to a focused universe of ~100, then to a concentrated portfolio. He discusses avoiding mining explorers, pre-revenue biotechs and heavily loss-making businesses, and why genuine cash flow and scalability matter. – What part of the market cycle are we in? The conversation covers interest rates, volatility and why micro caps can offer opportunity when information is scarce and sentiment is weak. Luke’s 5 ASX micro cap stocks to watch: LaserBond (ASX: LBL) – Industrial laser cladding technology extending machinery life. – High-margin IP and ESG tailwinds – Recent margin recovery after a capex investment phase – Key metric: gross margin recovery and utilisation XRF Scientific (ASX: XRF) – Analytical lab equipment and consumables for mining. – High-margin consumables business (strong profit-before-tax margins) – Exposure to mining activity without being purely exploration-driven – Key metric: consumables profit growth, not just revenue Austco Healthcare (ASX: AHC) – Nurse call and healthcare workflow technology. – Transition from low-tier products to higher-value integrated systems – Turnaround story driven by management execution – Key metric: backlog conversion and recurring revenue growth Change Financial (ASX: CCA) – Payments infrastructure and card issuing platform. – Platform-style economics with operating leverage – Inflection point in profitability – Key metric: revenue growth and scale across its fixed cost base Kip McGrath Education (ASX: KME) – Tutoring franchise with education tech upgrades. – Turnaround after US expansion missteps – Strong free cash flow as capex moderates – Key metric: franchise network growth and cash generation – Which stock is most misunderstood? – Luke highlights LaserBond as a business where short-term margin pressure obscured long-term value. – Final reflections on process and discipline – Why separating business performance from share price volatility is essential in micro cap investing. Resources for This Episode – Merewether Capital website – Episode 1/2 with Luke Winchester – Subscribe to Luke’s free monthly updates via Merewether Capital Rask Resources - Explore all Rask services - Get Financial Planning - Start investing with Rask - Access Show Notes - Ask a question – just select the Investors Podcast 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 is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial adviser, or tax professional. You can access The Rask Group’s Financial Services Guide (FSG) here. #Investing #Finance #AustralianInvestorsPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NVIDIA’s massive revenue jump and the geopolitics around AI chips. WiseTech’s big job cuts, acquisition moves and the shift away from manual coding. Woolworths’ standout trading day and e-commerce strength. A narrow ASX rally with few stocks driving gains. Retail and industrial updates from Domino’s, ARB and Accent Group.

Andrew Lockhart, Founder of Metrics Credit Partners, joins us to walk through three ASX-listed income opportunities within the Metrics stable. We’ll trace the firm's history from the very beginning and unpack their core investment approach through the lens of these three specific funds. Talking points - Who is Andrew Lockhart? - Why start a business in the private credit space - What do you look for in an analyst when you’re hiring - Is there more competition today for origination? - A walk through of ASX listed funds, MRE, MOT and MXT - What does inflation mean for the return profile of private credit and real estate funds - What are the present risks to returns in these funds - What if your portfolio is already full of property exposure? - How can I see the pipeline of developments in the Metrics funds - Where does Andrew lunch among the Metrics hospitality venues Links to the listed funds mentioned in this episode: Metrics Real Estate Multi-Strategy Fund (ASX: MRE) https://metrics.com.au/listed-funds/metrics-real-estate-multi-strategy-fund/ Metrics Income Opportunities Trust (ASX: MOT) https://metrics.com.au/listed-funds/metrics-income-opportunities-trust/ Metrics Master Income Trust (ASX: MXT) https://metrics.com.au/listed-funds/metrics-master-income-trust/ 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