"Franking credits on dividends on Australian shares can add more than 1% per year to returns for Australian shareholders," says Ashley Owen, "but many professionals don’t include the value of franking credits in their clients’ returns – either historical, or forecast".

Diversification of assets, style and strategies are essential when constructing portfolios in today’s challenging environment, explains Veronica Klaus (Lonsec).

William Morgan (Atrium Investment Management) and Matt Swieconek (Findex) share their thoughts on using illiquid assets, such as property and infrastructure, as part of an allocation within a portfolio.

"Central banks have delivered the most aggressive rate hikes in a generation, but cash rates in Australia, US and elsewhere are still below pre-GFC levels. How high will interest rates need to go? " says Ashley Owen

"Aussie retirement funds have the highest ‘growth/defensive’ asset mix in the world – does this mean they are highest risk?  What is the best or ideal asset allocation for long term investment funds, including retirement/pension funds?" asks Ashley Owen

"The RBA is lagging has more work to do! In Sept 23 quarterly inflation rose from 0.8% to 1.2%, but cash rate's been sitting at 4.1% since June 23, after 12 rate hikes. Is the RBA doing enough? " asks Ashley Owen,

"Commodities matter! Raw commodities exports made, and continue to make, Australia the richest country per capita on earth. More than half of the 2,200+ companies listed on the ASX are miners." says Ashley Owen

The outlook for Australian equities is looking positive. David Wanis (Longwave Capital), Peter Bell (Bellmont Securities), Hamish Tadgell (SG Hiscock), & Andrew Garrett (Perpetual) provide their thoughts on the key themes and opportunities at the 2023 IMAP Independent Thought Conference

What are the advantages of using boutique managers when running an Australian equities portfolio in a managed accounts structure? Callum Burns (ICE Investors), Kyle Lidbury (Perpetual Private), and Marcus Bogdan (Blackmore Capital) explain their approach to constructing portfolios with an Australian equities exposure.

Three Australian-based global equities boutique managers - Hugh MacNally (Private Portfolio Managers), Monik Kotecha (Insync Funds Management), and Stephen Arnold (Aoris Investment Management) - discuss the advantages of a boutique and their approach to portfolio construction when using a managed accounts structure.

Alternatives' is a catchall for a huge range of investment opportunities designed to improve returns or reduce risk in portfolios. Daniel Stojanovski (Centrepoint Alliance) talks to three research house experts - Deanne Baker (Lonsec), Steven Tang CFA (Zenith Investment Partners) and Tim Murphy CFA (Morningstar) - about their views on using alternatives in portfolios

Is there value in private markets and how do you incorporate them into portfolios? Jonathan Ramsay (InvestSense), Steven Tang (Zenith Investment Partners), and Jason Horn (BlackRock) provide their perspectives on the role of alternatives in portfolios

Chris West (Context Capital), Michael Frearson (Real Asset Management), Chris Lioutas (Insight Investment Consultants), and Tim Hext (Pendal Group) provide their outlook for fixed interest over the next 12 months.

To better navigate the complexities of geopolitics, investors need to anchor themselves in the big trends taking place globally. Matt Gertken (BCA Research) explains how to apply geopolitical thinking to the macro environment

How necessary are real assets and private equity as a component of portfolios for retail investors, and how can they access these assets? This was one of the questions considered by Dale Holmes (Spire Capital), Robert Talevski (Activus Investment Advisors), and Tom Schubert (Drummond Capital Partners)

Mega themes – such as decarbonisation, digitalisation and transport mobility – all require heavy investment into new and existing infrastructure. Justin Lannen (Maple-Brown Abbott) discusses which investments are poised to benefit from these trends

In a macro environment of rising risk and uncertainty, Amy Xie Patrick - Pendal Groupbelieves that by being defensive, patient, but active, advisers can provide investors with the type of protection and growth they are seeking in their portfolios.

Inflation underpins every asset class. But have we seen the peak of inflation? Jay Sivapalan (Janus Henderson), Hugh Dive (Atlas Funds Management), Kieran Rooney (Evergreen Consultants), and Chamath De Silva (BetaShares) discuss the implications of inflation on portfolio construction and asset allocation.t.

"Higher inflation in future means lower nominal (headline) returns on asset classes & portfolios, and lower real (inflation-adjusted) returns. A big change from the past 30 years", says Ashley Owen

"Australia and Australians loaded up on debt in the GFC and again in Covid, but how do we stack up against other countries? The answer is probably very different to what you thought. " says Ashley Owen