A wrap of the rollercoaster ride in 2018 topped this week’s coverage, which also revealed the competitive edge of Macquarie Group and A2 Milk, and weighed a topic many couples disagree on: when is a good time to retire and how much money should you have saved?

Bank shares safe as houses in 2018

Australia's money-making banks and supercharged housing market played a big part in the country's recent economic good times, so it only made sense they would be at the fore when things started to look less rosy in 2018.

2 undervalued narrow-moat ASX stocks

Financial powerhouse Macquarie Group and infant formula brand A2 Milk marked a stellar 2018 by changing key personnel and bolstering their competitive advantage.

How couples can take the work out of retirement

Couples increasingly disagree on when they're going to retire and how much they'll need to have saved, but there are ways to avoid the shock, writes Mark Miller.

Franking fright: Labor plan sparks investment switch

Labor's plan to abolish cash refunds for excess dividend imputation credits has sparked warnings that self-managed super funds will dump local stocks in favour of overseas equities.

Volatile markets: how to manage your portfolio

When markets swing wildly conventional wisdom suggests doing nothing may be best, but for people closer to retirement that's not always the best strategy, says Christine Benz.

How to invest in the face of risk in 2019

Trade wars, Brexit, recession risk and rising interest rates - Morningstar Investment Management has identified four key concerns and how investors should tackle them.

Australian housing slump well beyond city limits

The big two markets of Sydney and Melbourne continue to drive a housing downturn but fresh property data shows the slump went well beyond city limits in 2018.

Most popular investments of 2018

Telstra, the big four banks and global-equity active funds were among the most researched investments among Morningstar.com.au members in 2018.

Measuring investment success: avoiding bad comparisons

Investors often review performance against a designated benchmark, but this can result in a biased comparison - so how should you determine investment success?

3 top-rated ETFs for your portfolio

iShares, Magellan and Vanguard offer ETF options that carry enviable ratings and offer access to lucrative markets and a buffer against market downturns.