In 2008, as the global economy was sent into disarray, the alternatives market was largely unheard of or otherwise inaccessible to the global investor community. Representing a modest (by comparison to today’s market size) valuation of USD $3.1trn, …

Benjamin Franklin Stropro is strongly aligned with the sentiment of B. Franklin. So much so, that we have just launched the Spark Finance ‘Student Loan Fund’ on our platform. Spark is an impact investment opportunity that provides talented students with affordable and flexible funding to further their education overseas. We…

When bitcoin emerged as the first digital currency in 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator was dubbed a “prophet” of the new quasi-religion, with investors as his “disciples” and his White Paper a “sacred text”. In the early years, opposition was fierce, conversion rates slow, and many snubbed the ideological…

If you have been following the key financial news in 2022, we hope you drank your morning coffee first. There has been no shortage of unnerving headlines that could have you spilling your (now) $7, extra hot macadamia nut latte before your first sip. The headlines: Surging inflation, falling real…

As an investor who has been investing in Structured Investments for the better part of 10 years, I have come to learn a thing or two about this powerful, highly versatile, but often misunderstood investment product. Structured Investments are a powerful way for investors to access defined risk and return…

Yield Curve 101: While my colleagues both past and present know I love detail. I’m going to try to keep this one simple/educational. Those looking for a detailed analysis should check out this Bloomberg opinion piece from John Authers. Now excuse me while I attempt to oversimplify the dynamics of one of the…

Risk, volatility and inflation have thrown a spanner in the works for income investors. Some retail investors are using ETFs to ‘bubble wrap’ their portfolios, according to a recent article published by the AFR and quoting various luminaries from the ETF sector. …

What does fine art have in common with the stock market? The answer: Not much! That is why investors are leaping into the art scene with deep pockets. While COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the creative industries with empty stadiums, galleries, cinemas, and the pockets of many artists around…

Also included in this article: me flexing my newly acquired Australian slang. “Real wages are falling, and we expect this to continue for much of 2022, reducing household purchasing power.” That caught my attention. Headlines and social media were telling me that wages were going up, fueled by the ‘great…