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UFS Viewpoints
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Managing finances

Market insights

Investor education

Responsible investment

Newsletter  December 2025









 

Managing your finances

 
How to find and apply for finance for Church repairs By Amanda Taylor, Communications and Marketing Manager   If you have a Church or manse which is in need of repair or renovation, UFS offers financing solutions which are tailored to your needs.   Read More ᐅAustralians lose millions to spiritual scams By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support   Recent years have seen an increase in Australians being targeted by scammers purporting to be spiritual leaders or psychics. Here we provide some tips on how you can stay safe.   Read More ᐅ5 common scams and how to protect yourself By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support   From emails out of the blue to suspicious calls and text messages, scammers today are using a wide range of methods to con unsuspecting Australians. The good news is, there are a range of measures you can implement to protect yourself.    Read More ᐅAustralian funeral costs soar: how to prepare By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support In recent years the cost of living has been a hot topic around the world but did you know that high inflation has also affected the cost of dying?   Read More ᐅCould you have forgotten funds? By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support Forgotten savings and investments are more common that you might think, which is why it's important to stay in touch with your financial services providers.   Read More ᐅSpotting the signs of elder financial abuse By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support UFS   Financial abuse of older people in Australia is more common than you may think. Here we explain how to recognise the warning signs and step in to help.    Read More ᐅ4 great reasons to choose paperless statements By Shannon Kong, Head of Partner Solutions and Support   Opting in for paperless statements is not only good for the planet but can bring a raft of other benefits, from increased security to added convenience. If you have been putting it off, here are some good reasons to make the switch.   Read More ᐅ







 
 

Investor education

 
Credit spreads explained: how they affect markets By Michael Chou, Investment Manager Here we look at some of the signals bond markets provide that can help us to determine the health of markets as a whole.   Read More ᐅWhat are investment benchmarks and why do they matter? By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS Benchmarks play an important role in an investor's toolkit, so it is important to understand the options available, writes Edwin Lo.   Read More ᐅRisk and return - striking the right balance By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS Understanding your organisation's risk tolerance and regularly revisiting it is a crucial part of the investment process, writes UFS Chief Investment Officer..    Read More ᐅ3 common mistakes investors make when markets are down By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS When share markets are falling it can be difficult to ignore the headlines and stick to a long-term investment strategy. Here UFS Chief Investment Officer, Edwin Lo, discusses three common investing mistakes and ways to avoid them.    Read More ᐅThere's no place like home for non-profit investors By Ian Perry, Chief Financial Officer, UFS   With a relatively resilient economy and potential tax benefits in the form of franking credits, investing in the local market can reap rewards for non-profit investors. Here we outline some considerations for your organisation.   Read More ᐅRisk considerations for non-profit portfolios  By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS Risk is a key topic on the mind of every investor but managing risk is of particular importance to not-for-profit (NFP) investors, who often need to produce sustainable absolute returns in order to meet their operational and giving requirements and as a result, can be sensitive to downward movements in markets.    Read More ᐅ







 
 

Market insights

 
UFS funds deliver strong returns in 2025 By Michael Chou, Investment Manager, UFS In this update Michael Chou provides an update on UFS fund performance in 2025 and looks at what lies ahead for 2026.   Read More ᐅOutlook 2024: drivers and risks By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS UFS Chief Investment Officer, Edwin Lo, reflects on the year that was and outlines why quality assets and fixed income will be key areas of focus for 2024.    Read More ᐅInvestment review and outlook for FY24 By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS UFS Chief Investment Officer, Edwin Lo, looks at the past financial year and explains what's ahead for the global economy and financial markets in FY24.   Read More ᐅ







 
 

Responsible investment

 
5 ESG trends to watch in 2025 By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS As we move towards 2025, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues continue to evolve, with regulation, technology and the impact of companies on people high on the agenda. Here we outline five key trends to watch.   Read More ᐅPlanet vs plastics: solutions to end pollution By Michael Chou, Senior Investment Analyst, UFS UFS Senior Investment Analyst, Michael Chou, discusses the growth in global plastic production and the measures that are currently being taken to promote a more circular economy.   Read More ᐅSpotlight on the 'S' in ESG By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS The social aspects of investing are often misunderstood. Here we look at how your investments can benefit people and communities around the world.   Read More ᐅEarth Day and ESG: an investment manager's view By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS This Earth Day on 22 April 2023, the theme is again Invest In Our Planet. Here Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, Uniting Financial Services talks about the role of responsible investing in reducing the effects of climate change.   Read More ᐅThe UN Sustainable Development Goals – what are they and why do they matter? By Edwin Lo, Chief Investment Officer, UFS   Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has come a long way in the past 10 years and today more Australian investment managers than ever are committing to incorporating responsible investment practices into their operations.  Read More ᐅ


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  Important for you to know Financial services are provided by The Uniting Church (NSW) Trust Association Limited ACN 000 022 480, ABN 89 725 654 978, AFSL 292186 (“UCTAL”) and by The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) ABN 77 005 284 605 (“UCAPT”) (together and separately “Uniting Financial Services”), for The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT (“Synod”), under a s.911A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth.) authorisation and pursuant to APRA Banking Exemption No. 1 of 2021 and ASIC Regulatory Guide 87 and ASIC Corporations (Charitable Investment Fundraising) Instrument 2016/813 exemptions. Uniting Financial Services® is a registered trademark of UCTAL used with permission of UCAPT. None of The Uniting Church in Australia, UCAPT and UCTAL is prudentially supervised by APRA. Therefore, investments with or contributions to these Uniting Church organisations will not receive the benefit of the Financial Claims Scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth.). All financial services and products are designed for investors who wish to promote the religious and charitable purposes of Uniting Financial Services and The Uniting Church in Australia and for whom profit considerations are not of primary importance in their decision to invest. The information on this page has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should, before acting on it, consider its appropriateness to your circumstances or refer to the relevant disclosure document. Loan applications are subject to credit approval. Interest rates are subject to change. Fees and charges may apply. 

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