The Updated Investor

14/10/2026

Money. Ageing. Death.

They’re uncomfortable topics of conversation. They can feel confronting. And it’s easy to convince ourselves there will be a better time to talk about them later.

But avoiding the conversation doesn’t make the decision disappear.

How will we know when Mum or Dad can no longer live independently?
What happens if one of us needs aged care?
Do our children know what we would want if something happened to us?
Is there a current will?
Who has enduring power of attorney?
And perhaps most simply: does everyone who needs to know actually know?

After more than 30 years as a financial planner, David has seen families who have had these conversations early - and families who have been forced to have them for the first time in the middle of a crisis.

The difference isn’t always wealth.
Often, it’s preparation.
Because uncertainty thrives in silence.
And sometimes the greatest thing you can leave your family isn’t a larger inheritance.

It’s certainty.

12/10/2026

The highest return isn’t always the best outcome. 📉

A portfolio should aim to meet the needs of your financial plan, while taking account of the risks you’re comfortable living with and what you want your money to support.

A useful question to ask is "What return does my plan actually need?"

We explore this in our latest article: The Return You Need Matters More Than the Return You Want ⬇ https://www.theupdated.com.au/single-post/the-return-you-need-matters-more-than-the-return-you-want

General information only; this isn’t personal financial advice.

Ask an investor what return they would like and the answer is usually simple - as much as possible.That is perfectly natural. If 7 per cent is good, surely 9 per cent is better. And if 9 per cent is achievable, why settle for less?The problem is that return does not exist in isolation. Higher expect...

06/10/2026

Investments matter, but they shouldn’t be the starting point. 👪

Before talking about investments, there are some more important questions to ask:
What are you actually trying to make possible?
What worries you?
What feels disorganised?
Who relies on you?
And what would greater Financial Certainty allow you to do differently?

Investment returns, tax, superannuation and portfolio decisions all matter. But on their own, they don’t tell you whether you can retire when you want to, whether your family will be okay, whether your money will last, or whether you’ve overlooked something important.

Good financial advice should start with the bigger picture.

Your life first. Your money second. The investments come after that.

Swipe through the five questions we think are worth asking before the investment conversation begins.

05/10/2026

You can own your home, have a healthy super balance, earn a good income, hold investments and have money in the bank and still feel uncertain about your financial future.

Because financial success on paper doesn’t always answer the questions that actually matter.

So, if everything looks reasonably good on paper, but there’s still one question sitting in the back of your mind: What is it?

03/10/2026

What will be the best-performing investment next year?

The honest answer is: we don’t know.

Markets have a habit of changing leadership. Australian shares might lead one year, international markets the next. Growth can outperform value for a period, before the cycle turns again.

That uncertainty isn’t a flaw in investing — it’s exactly why diversification matters.

In our latest investment article series, David explores why chasing yesterday’s winners can be dangerous, why good investing can sometimes feel uncomfortable, and how diversification and rebalancing can help keep a portfolio focused on the bigger picture.

Read our latest article 👉 https://www.theupdated.com.au/single-post/we-don-t-know-what-will-win-next-that-s-the-point

: Morningstar, Annual Asset Class Returns – Financial Year, 2007–2026. Graphic adapted by The Updated Investor to illustrate how leadership between asset classes changes over time.

30/09/2026

There’s nothing better than hearing from the people we work with.

We’re incredibly grateful for this kind feedback from one of our clients. Building long-term relationships, understanding what matters to each client, and helping them feel informed about their financial future is at the heart of what we do at The Updated Investor.

28/09/2026

At The Updated Investor, we ask new clients to complete the Financial Certainty Review before we have a conversation.

Not because it’s a test - but because it helps identify where you already feel confident, where uncertainty still exists, and where the conversation should begin.

Good financial advice should start with the bigger picture. Before talking about investments, it’s important to understand your goals, concerns, lifestyle, and the areas of your financial life that may need attention.

If you’re ready to take a more considered look at your financial position, start with the Financial Certainty Review.

Start here 👉🏼 https://www.theupdated.com.au/services-4

25/09/2026

What are your investments actually for? ⛱🔏🎓

It’s easy to focus on returns, performance and which investment is doing best. But that may be starting the conversation in the wrong place.

Your investments should have a job - whether that’s funding retirement, providing income, creating liquidity, building long-term wealth or simply giving you confidence that money will be there when you need it.

In our latest article, David explores why a good investment strategy should start with your life and financial plan - not the portfolio.

Because the portfolio isn’t the objective. Your life is.

Read the article here 👉 https://www.theupdated.com.au/single-post/what-is-an-investment-actually-fo

Ask most people what they want from their investments and the answer usually comes back quickly.A good return.That is understandable. Returns are easy to measure, easy to compare and endlessly discussed.But I think it starts the investment conversation in the wrong place.The more important question....

18/09/2026

Our September newsletter updated clients on:

• What changing interest rates and Sydney property prices could mean depending on your circumstances
• The latest Age Pension and Centrelink deeming rate changes
• Why the highest investment return isn’t always the best financial outcome
• A change being made to some client portfolios
• Our new Financial Certainty Review
• And a first look at something new we’re working on - a podcast about money, life and the questions people actually want to talk about

Because financial planning isn’t just about returns.

It’s about knowing whether you can retire when you want to, whether your money will last, and whether your finances are helping you live the life you want.

Interested in receiving our newsletter? Head to our website to subscribe 👇🏼
https://www.theupdated.com.au/blog

16/09/2026

Financial advice should start with your life, not a product list.

These are the ten things we believe you should be able to expect from us: how we work, what we will and won't do, and what you should always be able to see.

The last one matters most. Everything else exists so you have a clearer answer to one question: "Are we going to be okay?"

If that question is on your mind, it's worth a conversation.