Diversification debate and Alphabet and the AI boom

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode Drew asks the question is diversification overrated? Why did Berkshire buy Alphabet? Should Aussies invest 100% overseas as the ASX underperforms? Owen and Drew debate concentration vs diversification and home country bias.

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About this episode

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: The ASX has delivered mediocre returns compared to US markets over the past decade. CBA and CSL – Australia’s two biggest companies – are in freefall with a five-day market bloodbath. Banks and miners dominate our index.

Meanwhile, rumours are swirling that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has bought into Alphabet (Google). Why? Search dominance. YouTube’s advertising empire. Cloud growth. AI infrastructure leadership. Alphabet represents everything the ASX isn’t: tech-forward, globally dominant, and diversified across multiple revenue streams.

So the big questions: Is diversification overrated? Should Aussie investors just dump the ASX entirely and invest 100% overseas?

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, Owen Rask and Drew Meredith tackle the biggest portfolio construction debates. They break down the Berkshire-Alphabet purchase, explain why Google is the best of the Magnificent 7, and debate whether concentration in quality companies beats traditional diversification strategies.

They also explore home country bias, currency exposure, tax implications, and whether the S&P 500’s dominance makes holding ASX stocks pointless for long-term wealth creation.

Plus: DroneShield’s CEO has completely exited as the selloff deepens. The Sohn Investment Conference has embraced old-school value investing with picks like senior living facilities and steel manufacturers. And the Future Fund’s $261 billion portfolio is buying gold and ditching bonds amid “permacrisis” warnings.

Only 1% of Australian active funds are beating growth benchmarks. Value investing is making a comeback. Owen and Drew connect all the dots.

If you like this Australian Investors Podcast episode, you’ll love the series. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly shows on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is diversification overrated? – Concentration vs diversification in modern portfolios

Did Berkshire buy Alphabet? – Why Buffett might be betting on Google

Why Alphabet is the best Mag 7 – Search, YouTube, Cloud, AI infrastructure dominance

Should Aussies invest 100% overseas? – ASX underperformance vs S&P 500 success

DroneShield CEO exits completely – What deepening insider selling means

Sohn Conference goes value – Old-school picks replace growth darlings

ASX 5-day meltdown – Why CBA and CSL crashes show structural problems

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