Small Cap Playbook 4: 8 investing lessons from Ben Richards

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Michael Bell, CIO at Solaris Investment Management, for a practical conversation about how professional investors think when they are putting real capital to work. From the outside, fund management can sound like hot tips and big macro calls. Michael explains why the reality is usually much more disciplined: process, patience, risk management and the ability to stay focused on business quality when markets are noisy. The conversation unpacks what active investing is meant to achieve, how portfolio decisions are weighed, and why good investors spend as much time avoiding mistakes as they do chasing upside. For everyday investors, this episode is a useful look inside the mindset of a seasoned CIO. It explores how professionals assess opportunity, separate signal from noise and keep conviction anchored to a repeatable framework instead of headlines. If you want a sharper understanding of portfolio thinking, active management and what experienced fund managers do differently, this is a strong episode to add to your queue. It is also a reminder that great investing is rarely about making the loudest prediction. More often, it is about building a repeatable process, staying selective and giving good decisions time to work. Whether you are reviewing your own portfolio or simply trying to become a more thoughtful investor, there is plenty here to sharpen how you think about downside, selectivity and long-term compounding. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit – Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 – 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith tackle one of the biggest questions in markets right now: if Micron and Sandisk are wobbling, has the AI trade gone too far, or is the market simply shifting where the real profits sit? They break down the latest sell-off in AI hardware names, why memory chips and data-centre narratives can look unstoppable right up until margins crack, and why the software layer may still capture more long-term value than the hardware beneath it. Closer to home, they unpack why the ASX has looked stronger if you own resources and far less exciting if you own almost anything else. That leads into a practical discussion on copper, BHP and whether the next leg of the AI build-out could keep rewarding real assets rather than the names investors have been crowding into. Along the way, Owen and Drew also answer listener questions on global diversification, whether investors should still want UK exposure inside broad ETFs, how LICs stack up against ETFs in a tougher tax environment, and what EOFY is revealing about super, rebalancing and portfolio construction. If you want a grounded take on AI hype, copper demand, BHP and where the next investing edge might come from, this episode is a smart place to start. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit – Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 – 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Jaki Virtue, Chief Operating Officer of Washington H. Soul Pattinson, for a rare look inside one of Australia’s most closely watched investment companies. Jaki explains how a business with only about 55 staff can still oversee a large and growing portfolio, and why culture, systems and clarity matter just as much as capital allocation. The conversation starts with Jaki’s backstory, from an adventurous family and an unconventional schooling experience through to investment banking, business management and eventually becoming the inaugural COO of an ASX 50 company. She shares the story of “manifesting” that role in her twenties, why she deliberately chose stretch opportunities, and how risk, courage and curiosity shaped her career. Owen and Jaki also dig into what makes Soul Patts distinctive today: its long dividend record, the Milton and Brickworks transactions, the balance between public and private markets, founder partnerships, governance, AI adoption and the importance of protecting shareholder capital without creating bureaucracy. If you want to understand how a long-term investment company actually operates behind the scenes, this episode offers a practical window into leadership, team design and compounding over time. It is a useful listen for anyone curious about how great businesses stay agile without losing discipline. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 – 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask is joined by Ben Richards and Luke Laretive from Seneca Financial Solutions for the final instalment of the Small Cap Playbook series. Instead of another stock-pick list, the conversation turns to Ben’s development as an investor and the lessons he has learned working alongside Luke. They unpack eight ideas that matter in small-cap investing: offer value first, learn who to listen to, question the prevailing narrative, accept that you are wrong until the market proves you right, understand the plumbing of markets, focus on what matters, find more than one way to make money from a good idea, and build a process that suits your own edge. Along the way, Owen, Ben and Luke discuss how Seneca generates ideas, why original research matters, what management quality really looks like, and how portfolio managers think about catalysts, position sizing and patience when the market disagrees. They also revisit examples including Vulcan, Arcadium Lithium, HMC Capital and MinRes to show why process, incentives and temperament often matter more than a neat spreadsheet. If you want a practical look at how a small-cap investor improves over time and how professionals pressure-test ideas, this episode is a strong finish to the series. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) - ⁠Subscribe to Seneca's newsletter⁠ - ⁠Find out more about Good Research here ⁠ Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith test a deliberately provocative question: is the ASX now the worst developed share market in the world? Starting with fresh global market performance data, they compare Australia with Japan, Europe and the United States, then unpack why weak local growth, a bank-heavy index and a lack of global technology winners can leave the ASX looking sluggish even when some local companies are still doing well. From there, the conversation moves into the AI trade. Owen and Drew explore whether the market is really in irrational exuberance, why Micron’s blowout numbers matter, and how the AI value chain is moving from semiconductors into memory, energy, infrastructure and even local office-scale computing. They also riff on SpaceX pricing, local AI infrastructure and why headlines can miss what the underlying businesses are actually earning. The episode stays practical too, with fresh takes on WiseTech, REA Group, ETF portfolio transitions, private-market access and the difference between chasing yield and building a portfolio that can survive a changing market. If you want an episode that mixes ASX debate, AI investing, ETF questions and real portfolio decision-making without disappearing into jargon, this one is worth your time. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 – $200 bonus for opening your first TermPlus account with $20k or more with code “EOFY26” – 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Alan Pullen from Magellan to unpack Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s investing legacy and why the business may still deserve a fresh look even as Buffett steps back from day-to-day leadership. They trace Berkshire’s path from a struggling textile mill to one of the most remarkable capital allocation machines ever built. Alan explains how insurance float, patient cash management, disciplined capital allocation and a culture shaped by Buffett and Charlie Munger helped turn Berkshire into something far bigger than a stock portfolio or a simple holding company. The conversation also digs into what many investors still miss today: why Berkshire’s huge cash pile can be a feature rather than a flaw, how the insurance engine and deferred tax base strengthen the business, and why management succession may not break the long-term thesis. Alan shares why Magellan still sees Berkshire as a high-quality compounder with meaningful downside protection, then finishes with timeless lessons on valuation, temperament and thinking like a true business owner. If you want a sharper framework for analysing world-class businesses, this is a practical deep dive into moats, compounding and capital allocation from one of investing’s most studied companies. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask is joined by Ben Richards and Luke Laretive from Seneca Financial Solutions to break down what actually moves small-cap share prices and why being “cheap” is rarely enough on its own. They explain why catalysts matter so much in small-cap investing, how management incentives shape outcomes, and why takeover potential can be one of the clearest ways for value to be realised. Using real ASX case studies, the conversation explores the clues Seneca looks for when assessing whether a company can rerate, attract a bid or simply stay stuck while the market disagrees with the thesis. Ben and Luke also walk through how they think about timing, sector cycles and position sizing when the opportunity looks compelling but the catalyst may still be early. Along the way, they discuss examples including Pro Medicus, Venus Metals, Greatland Gold, ReadyTech and RPMGlobal, showing how different catalysts play out across software, resources and strategic M&A situations. If you want a more practical framework for researching ASX small caps, spotting takeover setups and understanding what can unlock value, this episode offers a clear playbook from two investors who spend their days hunting for rerates. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) - ⁠Subscribe to Seneca's newsletter⁠ - ⁠Find out more about Good Research here ⁠ Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith move from the market headlines into the real forces shaping investor behaviour right now. They start with Wesfarmers pushing higher, BHP printing fresh highs and Macquarie continuing to attract attention, then ask the question behind the moves: are these quality businesses still buys, or are investors paying up for comfort in an uncertain market? The discussion widens quickly into small-business CGT concessions, SpaceX euphoria, and the squeeze households are still feeling as wages struggle to keep pace with living costs. Owen and Drew also unpack why underemployment matters more than the headline jobs number, what the market is getting wrong about media noise, and how retail investors should think about leverage, ETF portfolios and stock selection when the rules keep shifting. There is also a practical discussion on GHHF, Megaport versus WiseTech, and whether younger investors should be chasing property, businesses or listed assets first. If you want one episode that blends ASX ideas, portfolio thinking and macro frustration without losing the practical angle, this is a sharp listen. There is plenty here for investors trying to separate temporary hype from durable business quality while still making sensible decisions with real money. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Justin Lin from Global X to unpack why commodities may be moving from ignored to essential again. Rather than treating gold, copper or lithium as short-term geopolitical trades, Justin explains why the bigger story is a mix of underinvestment, supply-chain fragility and a fresh wave of demand from AI, electrification and energy security. They break down why investors have mostly ignored commodities for the past decade, what changed after years of weak demand and excess supply, and why today’s backdrop looks different. Owen and Justin also tackle the question many investors are asking right now: is this just about war headlines, or are commodities becoming structurally more important as countries chase domestic supply, power reliability and strategic independence? The conversation explores gold’s resilience, the role copper could play as grids and data centres expand, and why lithium and battery technology may still matter even after the sector’s rough patch. Justin also shares practical ETF ideas for researching the theme, including WIRE for copper, ACDC for battery tech and lithium, and BCOM for broad commodities exposure. If you want a clearer framework for commodities, inflation protection and AI-driven energy demand, this is a timely listen. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was originally featured on The Australian Finance Podcast. In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask is joined by Navarre Trousselot, founder of Navexa, to unpack why the proposed 2026 Federal Budget tax changes could make ETF record-keeping and capital gains reporting much messier for everyday investors. Instead of glossing over the hard bits, they walk through how capital gains tax works in Australia, why parcel selection matters, and why ATO pre-fill can give ETF investors a false sense of security. Navarre explains the trap most ETF investors miss: annual cost base adjustments. If you have been dollar-cost averaging into ETFs for years, every member statement can change the cost base of earlier parcels, which means your future CGT calculation is probably more complicated than you think. Owen and Navarre also explore how tools like Navexa can model rebalancing decisions, compare FIFO with lower-gain methods, and estimate the tax impact before you sell. They also discuss what the mooted post-July 2027 rules could mean in practice, why better records may become non-negotiable, and how investors can avoid handing extra money to the ATO just because their admin is a mess. If you own ETFs, buy shares regularly, or expect to rebalance in the years ahead, this is a practical episode worth hearing before tax time gets even trickier. Episode resources – Speak with the Rask Advice team – Ask a question (select the Investors podcast) Show partner resources – ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds – Visit TermPlus to learn more – Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit Rask resources – All services – Financial Planning – Invest with us – Access Show Notes – Ask a question – We love feedback! Follow us on social media – Instagram: @rask.invest – TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices