Seneca’s small-cap playbook: catalysts, conviction and when to sell

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Mitchell Sneddon sits down with veteran investor John Abernethy to unpack what market crashes really teach you when you have lived through several of them. Rather than chasing clever forecasts, John explains why liquidity, incentives and investor behaviour usually matter far more when markets get ugly. John reflects on the 1987 crash, the dot-com unwind, the GFC and COVID, sharing how he thought about protecting capital, raising cash early when risks were building, and moving when panic created better prices in listed debt, hybrids and quality businesses. It is a grounded look at how experienced investors respond when fear takes over and headlines get louder than fundamentals. The conversation also traces John’s path from banking and NRMA to helping back online broking in Australia, with practical lessons on credit, balance sheets and why understanding incentives still gives investors an edge. He also returns to a simple idea that feels especially timely in today’s market: read widely, think independently and do not let euphoria do your thinking for you. Buffett’s letters, common sense and patience still matter. If you want a clearer framework for market crashes, bubbles and long-term investing, this episode is a sharp reminder that the best lessons are usually the ones investors keep forgetting. 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 second Small Cap Playbook episode on the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask is joined by Luke Laretive and Ben Richards from Seneca Financial Solutions to unpack how professional small-cap investors actually generate ideas — and why selling discipline matters just as much as finding a winner. The conversation starts with where Seneca’s best ideas come from: deep company coverage, long-held watchlists, industry networks and the ability to spot optionality when the market is giving away upside for free. From there, Luke and Ben explain why cheap stocks are not enough on their own. What matters is the catalyst, the time frame, and whether the market can realistically re-rate the business before capital gets trapped. They also break down the structure of a good stock thesis: what the company does, why it is cheap, the catalyst, the risks, and the signals that would force an exit. Along the way, they explain how they test management quality through meetings, site visits and conversations with suppliers, customers and competitors, plus why portfolio construction is what protects you when not every idea works. If you want a sharper framework for researching ASX small caps in 2026, this episode is a practical lesson in catalysts, conviction, management assessment and knowing when to sell. DISCLAIMER This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider if the information is appropriate for your situation before acting on it. If you’re unsure, consult a licensed financial planner. The Rask Group Pty Ltd is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial adviser, or tax professional. You can access The Rask Group’s Financial Services Guide (FSG) here: https://www.rask.com.au/fsg 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

We're revisiting one of our favourite conversations this week — with the Motley Fool's own David Gardner. In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask sits down with David Gardner (co-founder of The Motley Fool and author of Rule Breaker Investing) to discuss: – Beating the market vs indexing – The “lose to win” philosophy and position sizing – The six traits of rule-breaker companies – Conscious capitalism, purpose and culture If you love learning about growth investing and finding outliers, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on ⁠Apple⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠YouTube⁠! Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ for more investing insights. Topics Covered – Beating the market: why David still believes individuals can outperform and why most don’t try – Lose to win: accepting frequent small losses to capture rare, massive winners (Babe Ruth analogy) – Six rule-breaker traits: top dog & first mover, sustainable edge, strong price action, leadership/backers, brand love, and “overvalued” narratives – Final thoughts & how to learn more: AI’s role in research (not a reason to quit stock picking) and making portfolios reflect our best vision for our future Chapters (approximate) (00:00) Introduction (03:55) The Optimistic Investor: David Gardner's Journey (07:42) The Power of Stock Picking: A Historical Perspective (11:41) The Art of Writing: Crafting a Book on Investing (27:06) Embracing Loss: Lessons from Babe Ruth and Investing (37:00) The Six Traits of Rule Breaker Stocks (42:27) Traits of Rule Breaker Companies: A Deep Dive (46:40) The Importance of Overvaluation in Stock Selection (47:51) Learning from Past Mistakes: The Yahoo Experience (49:46) Identifying Top Dogs: The Case of Tesla (58:46) The Role of Consumer Experience in Investing (1:03:58) Conscious Capitalism: Merging Profit with Purpose (1:09:38) The Future of AI in Investing (1:17:59) Long-Term Thinking in Investing 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

Passive income sounds easy in theory: buy a few ETFs, collect the distributions, and let the portfolio do the heavy lifting. In practice, the details matter. In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Global X's Marc Jocum to explain how ETF income is actually generated, what investors should look for, and where people can go wrong when they chase yield without understanding the trade-offs. Marc walks through five ETFs worth researching for income-focused investors, including Australian dividend exposure, bank credit, covered calls, and US fixed income. Along the way, he explains why franking credits still matter, why a total-return mindset can be more useful than staring at the biggest yield on the screen, and why diversification across income sources matters more in a higher-rate environment. The conversation also zeroes in on three common mistakes: chasing headline yield, concentrating too heavily in one part of the market, and forgetting that so-called passive income still needs an active portfolio decision upfront. If you want a better framework for building passive income with ETFs in 2026, this episode is a strong 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 – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) 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 first Small Cap Playbook episode, Owen Rask sits down with Luke Laretive and Ben Richards from Seneca Financial Solutions to unpack how professional investors think about ASX small caps when the market is noisy, ETF flows dominate and AI tools promise easy answers. The pair argue that volatility is not the same as business risk, that so-called blue chips are not automatically safer, and that smaller companies can offer genuine opportunities when pricing is inefficient and research is thin. The bigger lesson is process. Luke and Ben explain why there is no money in consensus, why AI can help with synthesis but not conviction, and why a repeatable edge still comes from hard work: reading announcements, tracking management behaviour, weighing probabilities and building a portfolio one decision at a time. They also unpack why good small-cap managers can persistently outperform, how they separate speculation from real business quality, and what listeners should watch for when a stock looks cheap for the wrong reasons. If you want a grounded framework for researching ASX small caps without falling for hype, false precision or shortcut thinking, this episode is a sharp place to start. It is the first of a four-part series with Seneca and Good Research, and it also offers a rare look at what professional investors actually do each day, from scanning overnight moves and broker notes to reading ASX announcements line by line before a capital raise ever lands in the inbox. 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 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 Senator Andrew Bragg for a wide-ranging conversation about the Federal Budget, housing supply, tax, productivity and why so many Australians feel the country has become harder to get ahead in. Rather than getting stuck in party talking points, they focus on the practical questions investors, business owners and workers are asking right now: what happens when policy makes it harder to build homes, why does productivity matter so much for living standards, and how do taxes, regulation and incentives shape whether Australia creates more wealth or simply fights over what already exists? Andrew explains why he believes cutting housing supply is one of the worst policy choices Australia can make, how rising rents, higher rates and broader cost-of-living pressure are changing the national mood, and why small business, private investment and simpler rules still matter if Australia wants to stay competitive. The conversation also touches on super, the role of large institutions, and why clearer economic thinking matters more when confidence is low. Owen pushes on the bigger picture too: whether Australia has lost ambition, why the policy debate feels less honest than it should, and what needs to change if Australians want better opportunities over the next decade. If you want a plain-English discussion about housing, tax, productivity, competitiveness and the long-run direction of Australia, this is a timely episode to queue next. 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 – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) 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, Mitchell Sneddon sits down with Mark Ambrose from Global Value Fund to unpack one of the more unusual deep value trades of the COVID era: buying into airplane leases when the aviation market looked uninvestable. Mark explains why GVF was drawn to the setup. The fund was not trying to make a heroic prediction about airlines bouncing back overnight. Instead, the team focused on asymmetry, cash on the balance sheet, the behaviour of forced sellers and the gap between a panic price and a conservative base case. It is a practical look at how deep value investing works when uncertainty is extreme. Mitch and Mark walk through Amadeo Air 4 Plus, how listed aircraft leasing funds were structured, why certain A380 sales mattered so much, and how bespoke valuation work helped frame the risk. They also discuss downside protection, why edge matters more than simply sounding smart, and how shareholder engagement and later takeover interest helped unlock value over time. If you like contrarian investing, fund-manager process and real examples of asymmetric opportunities, this conversation is well 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 – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) 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 week’s 2 Sense episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith unpack the messy collision of budget politics, company results and AI hype shaping markets right now. They look at the latest tax chatter, the debate over whether Australia is getting better at redistributing wealth than creating it, and why policy headlines can shift investor behaviour long before the real-world outcomes are clear. They also run through a broad batch of company updates, including Temple & Webster, Brambles, Commonwealth Bank and BHP, asking what actually matters and what is just noise during another busy stretch of reporting season. Along the way, they test the limits of tools like Claude and ChatGPT, debate whether AI can genuinely help investors think better, and explore where these tools still risk encouraging lazy decision-making or false confidence. The episode finishes with practical listener questions on investment bonds, how to invest in your 20s versus your 60s, and how to balance growth, income and simplicity when markets feel messy. If you want a grounded Australian take on the budget, ASX results, AI and the real questions investors are asking in 2026, this is a strong episode to queue next, especially if you want a clearer framework for handling uncertainty. 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 – Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) 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

AI can now generate prototypes, content and product ideas at speed — but Figma’s Andrew Hogan says the real edge is still human judgment. In this episode, Owen Rask chats with Andrew about what AI is changing inside teams, why design is becoming more valuable, and how leaders are using better tools to communicate ideas with more clarity. They explore why senior designers may be worth more than ever, how non-designers are increasingly doing design work, and why businesses are taking on bigger projects because AI expands what feels possible. If you want to understand where AI is creating value, how creativity is changing, and what this means for product teams, founders and investors, this is a sharp and practical conversation. Resources for this episode ⁠Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”⁠ ⁠Speak with the Rask Advice team⁠ ⁠Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)⁠ Show partner resources ⁠Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit⁠ ⁠Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith⁠ ⁠View Betashares range of funds⁠ 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 week’s 2 Sense, Owen and Drew tackle a bigger question than one stock or one budget line item: is Australia getting worse at creating wealth? Rask Wealth Checker: https://rask.au/wealth-checker That opens a sharp conversation about tax chatter, policy drift and why uncertainty can make it harder for founders, investors and workers to build long-term value. The episode also revisits CSL, touches on private credit noise, and asks what matters when headlines get louder than fundamentals. It is a useful reminder that great businesses can still be overhyped, and that policy settings can shape how willing people are to build, invest and take risk. The listener question is a beauty: how do you value a private business? Owen and Drew explain why valuation is part maths, part judgement. They unpack EBITDA multiples, growth, repeatability, owner dependence and why what a business is worth to you can differ from what a buyer will pay. If you want practical market commentary with a founder’s lens, this one delivers. 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 Have the chance to win a 5k travel voucher. Take the TermPlus survey here (last entry 31st of May) 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