Super Fund Me

After spending a good part of my day writing some advice which touched on Superannuation, I thought I'd give my thoughts on the topic in general.

Superannuation is a huge area and we don't know it. 9% of our salary is contributed by our employers on our behalf. You might not realise it, but your sitting on a huge nest egg. And its only going to grow. One ex-investment banker who owns a super fund, salivated as he told me, "its an area of legislated growth". It just has to keep growing because the government forces employers to contribute.

As the workforce grows and more people enter the workforce, superannuation fund are only going to grow. Due to people wishing to maintain their standard of living, they will voluntary sacrifice a proportion of their wages into superannuation. With an aging population, there will be increasing pressure on retirees to fund their own retirement and to rely less on government pensions.

The current status

The influx of money into Super means that these fund managers are sitting on millions if not billions of dollars. It just crazy the amount of money in Super at the moment. Funds under management are at all time high and will only exponentially increase. The entire Australian Super industry is estimated to be $700 AUD billion. That's a pretty big piggy bank.

And that's not even counting American, European, Asian Superfunds (well i dont think they have super in places like China). The famous Californian State Super Fund for government employees called CalPERS is phenemonal in size. At time of writing, it holds $210 US billion worth of stocks, bonds, and private equity. Even Australia has The Future Fund, for Australian government employee which currently has an accumulation of $90 billion in funds.

Bling Bling Baby $$$

The thing is, these Super fund managers have to stash their money somewhere.
You can't sit on $90 billion dollars - ask David Murray, head of the Future Fund. As I've stated in the past, to make money you have to make it work. Many Super Funds are run by professional fund managers and have benchmarks to beat, usually set to the overrall stock market movement. As a friend of mine who helps to construct superfund portfolios states, 'We just have to beat the stockmarket - by 2% or whatever".

At the end of the day, do we really know where our Super money goes? Of course not. You know which fund you put it in, but that money usually is invested into other funds. Which probably end up in a fund of funds (a much bigger fund), and then eventually is re-invested into stocks, bonds, property, etc...

The amount of money involved presents many opportunties. For fund managers, there is more money to play with. More money, means more transactions. More work for the investment professionals, for the lawyers that advise on the deals. For the tax and accounting people to provide their opinions. This vast accumulation of capital means some funds will try to grow even bigger in size (i.e. gain economies of scale) by merging, acquiring, perhaps even divesting.

Overall, this means that markets will be flush with money moving from once place to another, resulting in greater investment and transactional activity , and in turn cause greater risks to be taken by Superfunds as they venture outside their traditional investment boundaries.

The Rise of the Super Fund

Because of the amount of money involved, super funds are probably no longer going to be passive investors. They are big enough to directly invest - to buy and hold large chunks of public company shareholdings, buy significant stakes in property, be more involved in sophisticated investment deals. They are already big players in the marketplace, but only just got bigger.

We've seen the rise of the hedge fund in the 90's.

Are we now witnessing the rise of the Super fund?

I'm out like your 9%,

DJ Ho.

Sometimes I feel
Like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel
Like my only friend
Is the city I live in
The city of angels
Lonely as I am
Together we cry

- Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

This is one of my favourite songs. It has a great feel to it, and until I read Humanity Critic's take on it, I never realised that it was about loneliness. Right now, it kinda encapsulates how I feel at the moment.

Relax, I'm good. No need to call me or email me.

But its occured to me that I don't hang around my friends anymore. In a way I am a loner. Where the hell have they gone? I still keep in contact and hang out with my ex, but obviously that is a combustible and complex situation. One of my best friends is in Canada, the other I haven't seen since March, the guys in the group I used to hang out with I email occassionally and the same goes with my uni friends.

What have I resorted to lately? Hanging out with work people. This has its limits since you see them every day and though their great people, you just don't want to see them more than you have to.

Admittely, a large part of it is due to my own doing. I just haven't made the effort to meet up with people or even organise anything. Working all day, studying furiously at the end of each semester, playing basketball/gym, there doesn't seem to be much time to see my friends anymore.

There were times like when I would hit up 5 or 6 bars/nightclubs on a Friday night and end up at a salsa nightclub at 2 in the morning. And then I'd go out again the next night. Or I'd be constantly going to concerts with Tim and co. I'm still going but with different people now. There'd be the Thursday nights where I'd watch the boys play basketball, and just be a regular bystander. The days when I would meet up with Dawen after work and go shopping or just walk around the city.

Now? It seems like I've got nothing to do or can't be stuffed. You can find me playing basketball at my old high school on a Sunday afternoon. No one seems to be playing at Blakehurst anymore. What happened to the competition with the Croatians, Yousef, Willie and co. When we would battle weekly in those 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 games.

I guess its my choice. I could easily pick up the phone and call my friends. Drop them an email and ask how they are going. These days, I'm just pretty quiet, boring and laidback.

It's hard to believe
That there's nobody out there
It's hard to believe
That I'm all alone
At least I have her love
The city she loves me
Lonely as I am
Together we cry

Peace,

DJ Ho.

Mr Wendell

"Mr.Wendal, that's his name" - Arrested Development on "Mr Wendal"

How the mighty have fallen. An act of stupidity that ended one of the greatest rugby league and the beginning of a great rugby union career. I think people forget how good Wendell Sailor used to be when he played rugby league. A unique combination of size, strength and explosiveness. A devasting ball runner and the king of broken field play. And now it's all gone, over a line of cocaine.

I only did it once!

I'm out like Wendell's career.

Fightnight: Mundine v Green

Prefight

Driving into Hurstville, you could feel the tension cutting through the cold night air. Groups of young men were sprawled all over Forest Road. The Ritz Hotel already had patrons spilling onto the sidewalk.

At the Meridian Hotel it was packed to the brim. All available seats were taken, with people standing up, leaning against the walls, crouching on the ground. There were so many people there that they didn’t even have enough Schooner glasses to serve all the dry mouths. The full house sign had already gone up two hours ago, but the patrons kept pouring in. Slipping into every crack and crevice they could find, they wanted to catch a glimpse of the greatest fight in Australian history.

Dubbed as “The Man versus The Machine”, it could have easily have been the “Sizzler in Sydney”, “Assault at Aussie”, “The Brawl in Blues town” or more appropriately, “Mundine’s Million Dollar Baby”.

At about 10pm, both contestants came out. Green to the tune of “Land Down Under” to Alvin’s “that’s a disgrace” and Mundine’s hiphop track (which no one knew).

Then it was on!

Let's get ready to rumble!

In the first 30 seconds, Green showed his colours. Rushing at Mundine, he landed several good body shots as Mundine retreated to the ropes. Was this a sign of things to come? Green fans cheered as the “Machine” continued to process “The Man”. This was all part of his strategy to punish Mundine’s body and slow him down. Green, the stalker and Mundine, the prey. First round went to Green.

In the next two rounds, the tide began to turn. Mundine’s evasive skills came to the fore, as Green’s bombs missed their mark. Ducking and weaving like a buoy in heavy seas, Green could not leave a mark on the man. Conversely, Mundine landed clean scoring shots when the slightest crack opened, including one flush on Green’s nose leaving a trickle of blood. His stiff left jab would continue to sting Green all night.

It was in the third round, you could see Mundine’s confidence visibly rise. The footwork, the body movement, the shimmy all hinted it was the man’s night. He had weathered the initial storm, and wasn’t fazed by Green’s thunderstrikes to his ribs and abs. As he would say in response to the Chief’s question on the Footy Show: “Did that hurt?” with a cocky “I’m in TREMENDOUS SHAPE (emphasis)!”

By the fourth and fifth round, Mundine had clearly edged ahead on points. He was continually frustrating Green. Green’s continued to miss and this took a toll on the fighter. In contrast, Mundine stayed crisp and sharp, landing some good shots as well a nasty uppercut. A lesser man would have been felled by now but Green was undeterred and soldiered on. The Machine’s mettle (and chin) would be put to the test tonite.

It was an interesting contrast of fighting styles. Green with the traditional fighter’s stance with both fists raised. He was crouched down to reduce his 5cm height advantage to bring the fight to Mundine’s level. Meanwhile, Mundine was in the unorthodox style of left hand raised, and right hand low waiting to pounce – almost taunting him in a way. It was only because of his superior speed he could get away with this.

Mundine dominates

In the 8th, 9th and 10th round, Mundine was clearly in control and dominant in the exchanges. When both fighters locked horns and one managed to connect, the hurt fighter would quickly respond with a flurry of punches. But something different happened. With Green on the ropes, Mundine just mauled him. Left jabs, uppercuts, crosses, punches to the body. Green had no response as he retreated to his defensive shell. About 10 punches later, Green threw out a feeble left hook to ward off Mundine, like a wounded antelope fending off a blood thirsty lion. Mundine was now standing toe to toe with Green and forcing him back. The Machine was being put out of commission!

With the 11th and 12th round, Green had to do something as he was clearly losing on the scorer’s cards. But he just could not find that chin of Mundine. It was there for a split-second, and then somewhere else. Danny’s vision and strength were clearly sapped. His legs wobbled. Only one thing pushed him on – his pride. He went down swinging to the last bell, as Mundine continued to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Victory is mine

By unanimous verdict, Mundine had won on the judges cards. There weren’t any great knockdowns and I was kinda disappointed in that as there was only a few moments where both traded blows. It was great to see both fighters hug each other, in a display of sportsmanship and respect. Though Mundine was still his old self, climbing onto the ropes with a “big shush” to all his critics with the words “I’d told you so”. As Kosta Tsyzu said at the end of the day, its all business. Both fighters walk away with millions, with Green’s career in tatters to the comfort of $2.5m.


I'm out like the Beaconfield Miners,

DJ Ho

Man versus Machine

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! [shouts] Rumble, young man, rumble!"
- Muhammed Ali

First there was the Rumble in the Jungle. Then the Thrilla in Manilla. Tyson - Holyfield with that bite. More recently we had the epic trilogy of Arturo Gatti v Micki Ward. Now, for Australian fight fans we have the long awaited Danny Green v Anthony Mundine.

After 5 years, the bout that seemed like it was never meant to be, is going to happen 48 hours from now. Will it be one for the ages? It is a contrast of fighting styles. Green, the heavy hitter with the devasting power versus Mundine's speed, elusiveness and counter punching style.

I must admit that I was a Mundine hater in the past. His cockiness, and bragging really annoyed me. But I must admit that he was at least interesting to watch and read about. He made Australian boxing interesting. Say what you may about Kosta Tzyzu, but if it wasn't Mundine, many people including myself wouldn't even bother actually watching a full fight.

Mundine's a great fighter. His handspeed and footwork are amazing. Flurries of combinations, excellent left jab, and a killer right hand. I watched a couple of his fights, most recently his first loss to Manny Siaca. He actually struggled in that fight, to get a decent punch in due to Siaca's range. Siaca kept coming forward, while Mundine kept retreating. At the end of the day, Choc didn't throw enough punches in and wasn't aggressive enough. It was a tough fight, because he wanted to hit him but Siaca's defense and reach was just too good.

Green's no slouch either. From what I hear, he was in absolutely devasting form two years ago in his controversial loss to Markus Beyer but he may have a lost a step or two. Still, you know that Danny wants this bad. He's been calling out Mundine for ages. I reckon Green's going to come out guns blazing, and try to rock Mundine with some body punches to test his toughness. He'll probably want to corner Mundine, and try to turn it into a slug fest.

I can't wait. Wednesday night is going to be amazing. Come to Meridan Hotel @ Hurstville around 8-9pm for some pho and some fight night action.

For you anti-boxers out there, I'll admit that boxing is dangerous. Men's lives are at risk. A person's brain gets rattled and damaged every time someone takes a blow to the head. There is a demand for fighting/boxing/blood in the marketplace, and they are fulfilling that need. The boxers are willing to fight because we are willing to watch. No one is forcing their hand, and they understand the risks as well.

One of the most famous pictures in boxing, taken from the roof of the stadium. It shows a young Muhammed Ali standing over Joe Frazier, from their first encounter dubbed "The Fight of the Century".

Is it sadistic? Because we cheer everytime a combatant gets smashed in the head. We cringe when the one we are supporting hits the canvas. We scream for blood and we aren't satisfied unless someone is in a world of pain. It's not a good fight unless they punish each other for 10 rounds.

But hey, its all entertainment right?

I'm back baby (To my 2 point average)

It's been an interesting week. Just got home (1am now) from a party, and although its late here's a rundown of my latest basketball game.

Maintaining

Starting with the more important things, I managed to maintain my scoring average of 2 points in the KGV comp. Hey at least I'm consistent. To cut a long story short or to make a short story interesting, I've been working on a transaction for a partner at work all week. At about 12pm, I tell him that I want to catch up with him after lunch but I left out a key point that I had a basketball game against APRA at 12.15pm.

ROOKIE MISTAKE.

Because unfortuntately for me, he wants to talk NOW. Looks at his computer. Tells me to take a seat. Starts clicking away at his computer. Pulls up multiple emails and powerpoint slides. It was supposed to be simple - I tell him to talk after lunch, he says yes, I play basketball and speak to him afterwards.

I'm sitting there thinking "i've got a basketball game in 10mins, this better be quick". I know its career suicide if I tell him I've got a basketball game that I have to go to. The term "career limiting move" aka the infamous "CLM" starts popping into my head. The 15 minute meeting feels like an eternity. How could my work team survive without my two points, 3 fouls and 5 turnovers a game average?

After I walk out of the office, I immeidately sprint all the way from work to the KGV stadium, check the remaining time on the scoreboard, put on my jersey in record time. "Where have you been?" ponders my teammates who had to put in a ring in to replace me. "So you decided to come?" says another.

CHECK-IN

At halftime I check into the game. Our first posession down the court, I get the ball 18 feet from the basket. I'm wideopen, there's no one around me. No prewarmups, No stretching, No hesistation. I immediately shoot the ball to the shock of my teammates. It rims out. but that's the mode I'm in. Attack mode. Either take it to the hoop or shoot it if your wide open.

Next couple of defensive possessions, I managed to grab a couple of rebounds. And then i utilise my new tactic. As soon as we get the ball into the point guard's hands in the backcourt, i'm off to the races. In fact, as soon as anyone on our team gets the ball in our backcourt, I'm running as far away from the ball as I can get. I've just got nightmares handling the ball from a game a month ago. I don't want to touch the ball after my multiple turnover effort bringing the ball up the court.

This proves true later in the game as I am dribbling beyond the three point line, and it gets stolen from me, and the guy drives the length of the floor and scores.

ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN

I get some sort of justice later on, as someone lobs the ball over the top of the defender. I reel in that sucker like its the last coin i can put into a pinball machine. I'm about to take a shot right underneath the basket. Just as I raise my arms to shoot the ball, i realise that guy that stole the ball has run towards me.

In a splitsecond, I realise that I can't shoot it right now. So I improvise. I pretend to shoot the ball by lifting the ball up just above my neck. Well that's what I like to tell everyone. Its more like I was going to shoot. Suddenly realise I couldn't and pulled it back in. The defender skies over me like he's spiderman. Before the second defender jumps on me I release the ball with one hand.

But I've done it too quick and it bounces hard off the backboard. forunately, someone better than me grabs the ball and puts it back in. For some reason the ref blows the whistle. I look around and see the first defender lying on the floor holding his nose. The second defender had knocked out the first defender. Everyone was staring at me like I was Danny Green and had knocked out Mundine. His nose was bleeding as he lay crumpled on the ground.

Fortunately for my personal safety, I hadn't touched him though some of my teammates orginally thought I had done the damage.

Ho shoots, He Scores

As the rest of the game progressed, I started to get a bit more confident. I get the ball in the high post, near the elbow. This guy who's like 6'4 is guarding me. I take two dribbles right, immediately spin left and unleashed my patented turnaround jumper. Swish. Give a hi-five to my teammate.

Suddenly I hear a combination of cheering and jeering from the sideline. Look around, and see Howard from a much inferior team called Mallesons and give him the biggest cheesy grin.

Now I'm feeling it. As soon as we get the rebound, I'm sprint up court. That's one thing I can do well. I can beat most people up the court. Well maybe it's because I take a head start. I'm well in front of everyone like an offside in soccer. Someone throws me the ball. Although I'm wide open, I concentrate too much on the person heading towards me. The ball slips through my hands, and bounces off my knees and straight to the defender. Hearing more jeers from the sideline, I give Howard the finger as I run down the court.

The Finale

In our final posession, I unleash the true potential of DJ Ho. We are ahead by 10 points and simply killing them with our fastbreaks. Again there is another fastbreak, and it is tossed to a player on our side ahead of the pack. She misses the shot from point blank over a defender. I swoop in ala Dennis Rodman and tip the ball to the side. Running to the baseline, I grab the loose ball. Seizing up the moment i see that there are two defenders in front of me, one standing behind the other. This is no time for shooting.

I take it straight the basket, trying to go around the outside of the defender. Visions of Kobe fill my head. As I approach the basket, I put up a layup attempt. Thankfully, the defender slaps my hand as the ball again rebounds too hard off the basket. Even though it didn't go in at least I was aggressive. The ref calls the foul and gives me two free shots as time runs out.

Calmly, I brick* both shots.

*Brick = To miss badly by only hitting the backboard.

BOX SCORE
Total Points: 2
Turnovers: 1
Players knocked out accidentally: 1
Key lesson learnt: Dont speak to your boss before lunchtime

Mo Money Mo Problems......

Now that I have a job, for once in my life I have a steady income stream. The expenses are all over the place (mostly spent on food, entertainment, train tickets, music concerts). Most of the time though, I've turned a blind eye to my my bank balance. Sure I know how much is in there and how much I approximately spend a week. But I need to figure out how to maximise my money and cut back costs where possible.

This is a problem/issue facing many young people that have just entered the workforce. For once in our lives, we have money. Cold hard cash in our bank accounts. And we need to make that money work. There's so many options out there and I just need to invest some time to look into it. I feel one thing i definently need to do is open a direct savings account like an ING Direct thing or BankWest one, which offers the best deal and I can make as much interest as possible on my savings.

Next, I'm going to look into some other investment opportunities, whether it is property, managed funds, buying shares, or keeping it in a shoe box. I feel like I am somewhat knowledgable about finance and money matters in general, but I never really looked into seriously. In Chuck's words, I'd like to "dabble", however I think he is talking about something else :P

To be honest, my wish list would be to have several investment properties, some money in managed funds, shareholdings in private equity as well as public companies, and my own business. One day down the track maybe.

But Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was dj ho's fortune.

Bow down when Lebron comes to your town!

45 points in game 5 of your first play off series?

hit the game winner over three defenders while tiptoing on the baseline?

triple double in your first play off game?

Magic, Bird, Jordan rolled into one?

At 21 years of age, you got to be kidding me. When I was 21, I was still in uni, in my 3rd year. I had just entered the workforce as a part-timer. I was still learning how to play defense, still learning how to hit a jumpshot. Imagine being Lebron @ 21 and being the best in your profession. Not for your age, but being better flatout better than everyone else, despite their years of experience and rank.

Folks, Lebron James is the present, future and the past. He's in the present. Holding it down as a one man wrecking crew taking apart the washington wizards. He won the all-star MVP this year, meaning he was the best player on an evening where all the best players in the L showed up to play a game. Already the second top scorer in the league, perhaps the best player in the game today.

He's the future, because he has so much untapped potential. King James will rule the league for the next 10 seasons. And he's the link to the past because he's got glimpse of Magic's passing ability, a bit of Larry's competitive fire, and the scoring ability of Jordan.

In short, Lebron's arrived. Recognise.

Entreprenuers, The Birdman and The Mafia

Currently reading:

Great book by the CEO behind Starbucks, Howard Schultz. Starbucks is the symbol of American culture, about everything becoming Americanised, and homogenised. It's a half business book/half life story, and he's got so much drive. Who knew a kid from the Brooklyn Projects would have so much passion for expresso. This guy introduced Cafe Latte and helped expresso become famous in the Western world. A real inspiration.

I've just finished reading Good Fellas by Nicholas Pillegi, another great story - I didn't even realise that it was true. And yes, the screen play was based on this book. It is the ultimate book on hustling, of a guy that grew up wanting to be Mafioso.

Also, a month ago a book about Larry Bird called Bird Watching. Its essentially a book about him, his take on basketball, life and coaching. Again, another person with a lot of drive and unique insights into the sport of kings (basketball that is).

Going to see DJ Muggs v GZA: GrandMasters tour next week, can't wait. Liquid Swords and Cold World all the way!!!!!!!

I'm out like paperbacks,

DJ HO.

The full Nelson: He's no Mandela

"Private Kovco, 25, a member of the Australian army security detachment in Baghdad, died on April 21 from a single shot to the head from his Browning 9mm automatic pistol.

But the source said it appeared that the computer had slipped off Private Kovco's lap, landing on the pistol, which caused it to fire.

Dr Nelson initially said Private Kovco was handling and maintaining his gun when it discharged. He subsequently said he was not handling the gun at the time"

- paraphrased: Ed O'Loughlin, Kuwait, The Age Newspaper.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brendan Nelson changed his story three times. First he told us that Private Kovco was cleaning his gun and then discharged, killing him. Then he says that wasn't the case that it must have fallen or something to that effect. Now he tell us that while typing an email, his laptop fell on his gun, does a somersault and a triple backflip, and fires one single shot into his head. Or something to that effect. New information has come out that there were two soldiers in the room as well and have no idea what happened.

The whole thing sounds suss. In fact, it sounded dodgy as soon as I heard it. Here is a guy, who's a train solider. Wait, he's not just a ordinary foot soldier, he's a friggin weapons specialist who's been handling guns since he was 14 years old, AND an elite paratropper (i.e. the dudes that jump from the helicopters).

I'm sure someone of that calibre knows how to clean his gun. Heck, even I know that:
1) You don't clean a gun with bullets inside
2) You don't point it at your head while you polish the barrel
3) You dont clean the trigger while there's a bullet inside and the barrel is pointed at your head

This guy practically knows guns like the back of his hand. Accidents do happen but I don't think he accidentally shot himself. Furthermore, he had a wife and two young kids, so suicide was also unlikely. To me it suggests that there was foulplay unless they were playing Russian Roulette either.

The whole mix up in delivering the body also stinks. His family deserved better than to recieve the body of another solider. And to happen on the eve of Anzac day as well. I know that deaths that occur in war are not justified or should be glorified, but to go out this way - while cleaning your gun, I mean that is a really cruel way to die. I'm not sure if you get my point, but he wasn't killed in action i.e. fighting, he was killed in his room handling his own weapon.

Now with the conflicting reports on how he died, the whole situation is just really bad. I know Dr Nelson offered the family to fly with him to pick up the real body, but it should have been handled right from the beginning. Stop coming out with these conflicting stories and just sort it out. I understand that there may be other people at fault as well, but as the Minister of Defence, the buck stops with you. The damage you have caused the family is irreparable and you have lost my respect and of the Australian people.

Lest we forget,

DJ Ho.