array(1) { [0]=> &object(stdClass)#5354 (52) { ["id"]=> string(5) "15670" ["title"]=> string(37) "Capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic" ["alias"]=> string(37) "capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["introtext"]=> string(208) "

More time at home means many Australians now have the opportunity to re-assess their lifestyle and spending habits and set some serious saving goals. So how can you actually go about it?

" ["fulltext"]=> string(1236) "

In this episode of The nestegg Podcast, host Grace Ormsby is joined by Melbourne-based Reventon’s Billie Christofi to talk all things finance and the impact of isolation on our hip pockets.

In stage 4 lockdown, Billie shares the importance of going back to basics when it comes to budgeting, methods to re-assess spending habits, and some of the less conventional ways people can boost their wealth at this time.

Thanks Billie, for sharing your insights with the nestegg podcast team!

Have an investment story to share? Get in touch at [email protected] and you might get featured on an upcoming episode!

" ["checked_out"]=> string(1) "0" ["checked_out_time"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["catid"]=> string(3) "302" ["created"]=> string(19) "2020-09-01 07:00:26" ["created_by"]=> string(4) "2386" ["created_by_alias"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> string(1) "1" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["modified_by"]=> string(4) "2386" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(12) "Grace Ormsby" ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["publish_down"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["images"]=> string(218) "{"image_intro":"images\/podcasts\/Billie_Christofi_WEB_ne.jpg","float_intro":"","image_intro_alt":"","image_intro_caption":"","image_fulltext":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(121) "{"urla":false,"urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":false,"urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":false,"urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(782) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_associations":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_icons":"","show_print_icon":"","show_email_icon":"","show_vote":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","video_url":"","channel_id":"UCLBR-2LtTtui_WiRuEfW3qA","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","send":"0","test":"0","readingDiff":"3","canonical_link":""}" ["metadata"]=> string(68) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","xreference":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(105) "podcast, savings, financial goals, financial freedom, lockdown, pandemic, wealth, wealth creation, saving" ["metadesc"]=> string(186) "More time at home means many Australians now have the opportunity to re-assess their lifestyle and spending habits and set some serious saving goals. So how can you actually go about it?" ["access"]=> string(1) "1" ["hits"]=> string(4) "1916" ["xreference"]=> string(0) "" ["featured"]=> string(1) "0" ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> string(4) "1236" ["ordering"]=> string(1) "0" ["category_title"]=> string(7) "Podcast" ["category_route"]=> string(17) "resources/podcast" ["category_access"]=> string(1) "1" ["category_alias"]=> string(7) "podcast" ["published"]=> string(1) "1" ["parents_published"]=> string(1) "1" ["lft"]=> string(2) "82" ["author"]=> string(12) "Grace Ormsby" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["parent_title"]=> string(9) "Resources" ["parent_id"]=> string(3) "300" ["parent_route"]=> string(9) "resources" ["parent_alias"]=> string(9) "resources" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#5351 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#5353 (95) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(180) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, property and stock market." ["secure"]=> int(0) ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["page_heading"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator"]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["slug"]=> string(43) "15670:capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["catslug"]=> string(11) "302:podcast" ["link"]=> string(56) "/resources/podcast/capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["image"]=> string(43) "images/podcasts/Billie_Christofi_WEB_ne.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(0) "" } }

Latest Podcast

Capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic...

Resources

There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...

Invest

How to access the unlisted infra opportunity

By Reporter

June 01 2018
Share

Invest

How to access the unlisted infra opportunity

By Reporter
June 01 2018

The federal budget’s allocation of $24.5 billion to national infrastructure projects has re-ignited the interest of investors in this ‘real’ asset.

nicole connolly access unlisted infra opportunity

How to access the unlisted infra opportunity

By Reporter

June 01 2018
Share

The federal budget’s allocation of $24.5 billion to national infrastructure projects has re-ignited the interest of investors in this ‘real’ asset.

These projects include several big road and rail projects in NSW and Victoria along with a further allocation for the Building Better Regions Fund.

Interestingly, the government has increased its reliance on off-balance-sheet finance, with taxpayers taking on an equity stake, rather than providing grants to the states and territories. This move enables the federal government to increase its infrastructure spend without impacting the budget bottom line. At some stage, these equity stakes will be on-sold.

Which infrastructure projects and assets should investors look at?

Infrastructure is renowned for its ability to provide consistent, reliable long-term income and capital gains through the stable and predictable cash flows from diversified assets such as airports, seaports, telecoms, power generation utilities and more.

These returns can be 9 per cent-plus. This is more than the yields from Australia’s top dividend stocks of the big four banks and well above the rates of term deposits.

Couple this with the recent uncertainty over the future of franking credits and dividends and it is little wonder that more investors are turning to the predictable and consistent returns of infrastructure. All without the associated market volatility of listed investments.

nSiKG2iaNwJ2IgOYzuxNLXedZI6AR0AjcZgj8P65aY7aYaUVyAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC

In the past, the problem has been that while there is high demand for infrastructure investments, unlisted infrastructure has been notoriously difficult to access for smaller investors.

For investors such as HNWIs, SMSF and smaller asset managers, it has been hard for them to access the benefits and diversification of these real and reliable income generating assets.

Access has traditionally only been accessible to large institutional investors such as industry funds, for example. Infrastructure accounts for between 7-12 per cent of major institutional investor portfolios, with the Future Fund having some 7 per cent allocated to infrastructure and Australian Super 12 per cent as at the end of 2017. Even industry funds created IFM Investors as a way for them to collectively invest in unlisted infrastructure.

The local Australian infrastructure market, including those projects just funded under the federal budget, presents significant opportunities for private investment – and will continue to do so.

Australia’s governments are facing increasing fiscal gaps as the population ages. In addition, our capital cities are expected to grow by 11.8 million people in the next 30 years[1].

Private sector investment in infrastructure will therefore be a key contributor to economic growth in Australia, easing the pressure on our larger cities and on the public purse. Accordingly, expect to see more infrastructure assets and funds being offered to local investors.

The key, going forward, is to determine which assets and projects will provide the greatest, and most consistent, returns.

This was why IPIF was established. For example, IPIF Core was created in early 2015 in response to the demand from smaller investors, opening an opportunity for smaller investors to benefit from the attractive mix of income, capital growth and stability that infrastructure assets can provide, in a low-cost structure.

IPIF Core’s current portfolio provides exposure to transport assets including Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane airports and Interlink Roads, and a number of energy and utilities assets including South East Water, Phoenix Natural Gas and TransGrid. The privatisation of TransGrid in 2014 resulted from the then NSW Baird government’s asset recycling program, which saw proceeds from the sale used to fund new road and rail projects.

Nicole Connolly is executive director, investments, at independent funds management group Infrastructure Partners Investment Fund (IPIF).

[1] Infrastructure Australia: Future cities, planning for our growing population, Feb 2018

Forward this article to a friend. Follow us on Linkedin. Join us on Facebook. Find us on Twitter for the latest updates

Rate the article

Investment insights

Retailers report strong HY21, with Super Retail set to refund JobKeeper

Certain Australian retailers are flourishing despite the government-mandated temporary store closures in 2020, with JB Hi-Fi reporting good sales growth and Super Retail Group pledging to hand back $1...Read more

Investment insights

Yes, working from home is risky. Here’s how to counter that

Before COVID, 26 million Americans worked from home part-time or full-time, and now that number has tripled. ...Read more

Investment insights

ESG is becoming popular but ‘greenwashing’ is a problem

Sustainable investing is back on the radar as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts warn that better standards around ESG products are needed to mitigate “greenwashing”. ...Read more

Investment insights

Federal Court case lodged to stop Qantas from outsourcing 2,000 jobs

Qantas is being dragged to court over its decision to outsource 2,000 jobs across 10 airports in Australia as part of a company-wide restructure. ...Read more

Investment insights

Where should you invest when interest rates are so low?

With the cash rate close to zero, this will have big implications for how you should invest your money to generate the best return. So, what are the options and which asset classes will best enable yo...Read more

Investment insights

Dividends in Australian shares – is the COVID lockdown lifting?

What happened during reporting season? Andrew Zenonos asks. ...Read more

Investment insights

How will falling Chinese foreign investment affect the Australian property market?

Foreign investment from China in Australian real estate has been quietly on the decline for several years. It peaked in 2015-16 at $31.9 billion and dropped significantly to $6.1 billion in 2018-19, ...Read more