MA Financial Group

Unemployment in Australia rose 0.2% in April to 4.1%, reducing speculation Australia could see further interest rate rises. In the latest episode of our What Matters podcast our Vice Chairman Andrew Pridham AO provided real-time insight on the Australian economy, suggesting we won’t see a further rate hike this cycle. To hear more from Andrew and special guests including Moelis & Company’s Ken Moelis and Eric Cantor as well as AFL legends Adam Goodes and Tom Harley, be sure to download and subscribe to What Matters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The art of the deal: “Leaving with a win-win situation is a positive…if everybody wins, you’re going to do well in life.” Corporate Advisory legends Ken Moelis (Founder, Chairman and CEO of Moelis & Company) and Andrew Pridham AO share their secrets to negotiating in the latest episode of our What Matters podcast. To hear more from their fascinating discussion, be sure to subscribe and download What Matters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dDDZR3iE Spotify: https://lnkd.in/djTwTGuS

In a recent article with Money Magazine Australia, portfolio manager and private credit expert John Sheffield offered an explainer on one of the fastest growing asset classes in the world today – private credit.   John explains how private credit offers an opportunity to invest in high-quality assets with equity-like returns, low correlation to other assets, and a floating rate structure aligned with base cash rates.   He also outlines some of the key questions investors should ask when considering investing in the asset class.

After expanding our footprint in Asia and opening an office in Singapore last year, we are delighted to recently have been welcomed as a member of the Association of Independent Wealth Managers Singapore (AIWM).  

Private credit and secured real estate credit has an historical track record of delivering investors strong returns of up to 9%+ p.a. while simultaneously focusing on capital preservation.   In her latest interview with ausbiz’s Andrew Geoghegan, Managing Director and real estate credit expert Cathy Houston explains the key questions investors need to ask themselves when choosing a real estate credit manager:   ▪ Do I understand what I am investing in? First mortgages? Mezzanine debt? ▪ Is the asset manager transparent and are they able to explain what they are investing in? ▪ How is governance embedded in the asset manager’s platform? Strong governance is important to protect the lending portfolio and minimise as many risks and unknowns as possible ▪ What is the experience of the lending team? Do they have in-house professionals with expertise in assessing construction risk, undertaking robust property valuations and stress testing across a range of possible conditions?  ▪ Does the asset manager have a track-record of investing and managing through multiple cycles? This is critically important. https://lnkd.in/gUN5-nrS

In his Tech Topic of the Week video, Executive Director and our resident AI expert Will Liang discusses the passing of legendary mathematician and investor Jim Simons, Apple’s apology over their latest iPad Pro advertisement, ChatGPT's secret announcement and how Google’s AlphaFold 3 will transform biology.   #finance #investing #ainews #technews

After recently settling on our purchase of the Vibe Hotel Melbourne Docklands, we were so excited to see it featured on Channel 9 Now’s ‘Postcards’ show on Sunday.   Shane Delia gave a guided tour of the hotel, showcasing its prime location near Marvel Stadium and its proximity to a wide-ranging mix of entertainment, cultural sites, dining, and world-class shopping along the waterfront Docklands precinct.   In previous LinkedIn posts, Managing Director and our resident accommodation hotels expert Anthony O'Hea has explained the key drivers making hotels a compelling investment, including the return of international tourists and cyclically low asset pricing.   Additionally, even outside of the recent ‘Taylor Swift Effect’ which saw a 70% uptick in accommodation spending, Anthony has offered insight into why two of Australia’s capitals stand out for us in particular.   “While other markets have their appeal, Sydney and Melbourne in particular have proven to be really strong...and have a really great mix of corporate and leisure demand drivers, and they’ve shown over time that they have ability to absorb supply.”   Planning a visit? For a limited time, take advantage of an exclusive family escape offer through Postcards https://lnkd.in/g8RVTdWk

On our What Matters podcast, legendary bankers Ken Moelis and Andrew Pridham AO share their views on what investors should consider in this higher for longer interest rate environment. The Moelis & Company Founder, Chairman and CEO discusses the role of private credit, debunking a common misconception that equity is contractually safer than debt. Be sure to listen to the full podcast by subscribing to What Matters on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This week we were delighted to host a developer lunch with The Urban Developer.   Our robust roundtable discussion focused on the key challenges facing NSW developers, and we heard some consistent themes: - labour supply and costs - planning issues - the ability to deliver affordably priced residential housing.   Interestingly the concerns were not purely economically focused, with a genuine desire to be able to meet community needs in terms of quality and affordability. Latent defects insurance was widely acknowledged as becoming a key feature in NSW developments.   There was also an acceptance of the increasing importance of non-bank lenders in the market and their ability to work with developers throughout the process.   Thank you to Adam Di Marco, David Di Marco and the team at The Urban Developer.

Just dropped. On our What Matters podcast, Andrew Pridham AO sits down for an in-depth interview with fellow MA Financial Group co-founder, Ken Moelis. The Wall Street icon discusses his predictions for the US election and the state of the economy. The Founder, Chairman and CEO of Moelis & Company shares his insights and experience on: secrets to long term success, negotiations, winning business in competitive markets, and how he prioritises tasks. Moelis also talks about tech disruption, explaining how influencers are challenging the status quo of global brands and rapidly grabbing their own market share. Additionally, he explores the impact of new weight loss drugs on consumer behaviour, comparing it to the significance of the development of the iPhone. Advanced quotes from the interview featured in today’s Australian Financial Review. You can access the pair’s intriguing and wide-ranging discussion, by subscribing to What Matters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.