The Rules of Investing

While the market obsesses over volatile AI software and tech start-ups, global private equity giant EQT says the real money is being made in the physical layer. In this episode of The Rules of Investing, Ken Wong, Partner and Head of Asia Pacific Infrastructure at EQT Partners, breaks down why the massive, structural build-out of data centres and renewable energy grid connectivity is the market’s most misunderstood, and overlooked, growth opportunity.

Markets delivered another strong year in 2025, extending an exceptional run for equities. The S&P 500 returned around 22.8% per annum over the past three years, roughly double the long-term average, while the ASX 200 delivered closer to 9.7% excluding dividends. After a run like this, the key issue isn’t just where markets go next, but how investors set expectations. In this episode, James Marlay speaks Ben Clark from TMS Private Wealth and Charlie Viola from Viola Private Wealth to discuss realistic return expectations, the factors shaping asset allocation for 2026, and where they’re directing new capital.

Property experts Nerida Conisbee and Kiril Ruvinsky unpack what is driving the market and share their bold predictions for 2026.

The ASX’s headline yield has slipped, but dividend income is still on offer if investors know where to look. In this episode of The Rules of Investing, IML’s Dr Michael O’Neill explains the dividend outlook, shares five ASX income picks, and outlines the mistake investors are making on rates and valuation risk.*Correction - in the podcast Michael mistakenly said the yield on CSL is 4% when it is actually closer to 3% based on 1-year forward estimates from brokers.

QVG Capital’s Chris Prunty joins the Rules of Investing to unpack what makes the great companies great. He shares the three traits found in Australia’s “Hall of Fame” stocks, reveals four small caps he believes could follow in their footsteps, and explains why QVG is backing Hub24 over Netwealth in the battle of the investment platforms.

It’s hard to know what markets will do next week, let alone next year. But what if you could identify companies that will be in a stronger position five years from now? That’s the approach taken by Lev Margolin, founder of System Capital, a Melbourne-based long/short strategy that’s delivered more than 22% per annum since inception. In this episode of The Rules of Investing, we unpack the four-step framework that guides his process, where he’s finding opportunities in a hot market, and the businesses he believes are quietly building long-term strength. ________________________ Thanks to our Sponsor AlphaSenseThis latest episode is brought to you by AlphaSense.See what AlphaSense can do for your investment research—visit alpha-sense.com/livewire to get started.