Stock Pick – Page 62 – Curated Stock Market News

ASX 200 mining shares lead the market for a second week

ASX 200 materials shares outperformed the other 10 market sectors last week, lifting 2.75%.

Many ASX mining shares hit new 52-week highs last week amid stronger commodity prices.

They included the ASX 200 iron ore majors, led by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), and gold shares like Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

While the mining sector celebrated, the broader market had a sluggish week.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell each day for the first three days before rallying on Thursday and Friday.

The ASX 200 closed out the week 0.73% higher at 8,697.3 points.

However, only three sectors increased in value.

Let’s review.

Interest rate decisions impact market momentum

ASX 200 shares fell after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) confirmed what we all expected — a hold call on interest rates.

Worse, though, the RBA indicated a rate hike may be necessary next year.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock said:

I don’t think there are interest rate cuts in the horizon for the foreseeable future.

The question is, is it just an extended hold from here or is it possibility of a rate rise?

I couldn’t put a probability on those but I think they’re the two things that the Board will be looking closely at coming into the new year.

The market is now pricing in a 27% chance of a rate hike at the next RBA meeting in February.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% last week.

That was the third cut in four months, designed to support the weakening US economy.

US interest rates are now at their lowest level since 2022.

The Australian cash rate is 3.6% while the US interest rate range is now 3.5% to 3.75%.

What happened with ASX 200 mining shares last week?

The BHP share price rose 1.67% to close at $45.59 after resetting its 52-week high at $45.98 on Friday.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares lifted 3.93% to $22.98 after cracking a new 52-week high of $23.38 during the week.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) closed 3.56% higher at $143.40 after resetting its 52-week high at $143.53 on Friday.

Pure-play ASX 200 copper share, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) rose 1.36% to $17.11 on Friday.

The largest ASX 200 gold mining stock, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), rose 3.8% to $27.33 per share.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares ripped 8.58% to $150.06.

The Evolution Mining share price closed at $12.76, up 6.33%, after resetting its 52-week high at $12.81 on Friday.

Gold and copper producer Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) rose 12.65% to close at a 52-week high of $9.44 per share.

Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) shares lifted 6.14% to finish at $70.53 after hitting a 52-week high of $70.86 on Friday.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

S&P/ASX 200 market sector	Change last week
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	2.75%
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	1.69%
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	0.85%
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	(0.43%)
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	(0.82%)
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	(0.97%)
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	(1.15%)
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	(1.17%)
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	(1.27%)
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	(1.33%)
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	(4.69%)

The post ASX 200 mining shares lead the market for a second week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right nowâ¦

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Alcoa and BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

14 December 2025

I’d buy this ASX dividend stock in any market
There are not many ASX dividend stocks that I’d be willing to buy in virtually any economic environment, whether the stock market is booming or crashing.

I firmly believe that investors should only invest in a share/fund they’d be excited to buy more of if it became cheaper.

The ASX dividend stock MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) is one name that I’ve invested in heavily this year. In terms of my regular investing, it’s the one I’ve invested in the most in 2025.

The business is best known for its listed investment company (LIC) activities, targeting high-quality share investments. It also has funds management operations after acquiring the Montaka business.

There are a few reasons why I’m excited to buy into it regularly, regardless of what happens next.

Rising dividends

For me, one of the most important elements of a pleasing ASX dividend stock is a rising dividend.

A growing dividend can indicate so many things. It can mean more cash hitting my bank account each year, stronger profit generation by the business and potentially a higher share price.

MFF’s board of directors are aiming to provide investors with a rising dividend from the large profit reserves it has built over the years.

The business has indicated it intends to grow its half-yearly dividend to 10 cents per share in FY26, implying a potential grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Excellent businesses delivering results

According to CMC Markets, MFF Capital has delivered total shareholder returns of an average of 15.9% per year over the prior five years.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but I’m optimistic the ASX dividend stock can deliver strong returns in the coming years because of its focus on quality, growing businesses.

MFF has built a global portfolio of some of the leading businesses around the world such as Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa, Meta Platforms, Amazon, Microsoft, Prosus and Home Depot.

One of the reasons I like owning this business is its investment flexibility to invest in huge companies or much smaller ones, in any market. For example, it recently invested in L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G), which is a compelling ASX business in the funds management space, but a lot smaller than the US tech giants.

Compelling discount

One of the reasons why I’m always willing to buy MFF shares is that the ASX dividend stock has a history of trading at a discount to its underlying value.

The MFF portfolio represents a basket of great stocks and that basket has an underlying value. The business regularly tells investors about its net tangible assets (NTA), which the MFF share price generally moves with (positively or negatively, as the portfolio value changes).

In recent times, the MFF share price has traded at a discount of around 10% to its pre-tax NTA, which I think is an appealing discount considering its long-term performance.

The post I’d buy this ASX dividend stock in any market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in Mff Capital Investments right now?

Before you buy Mff Capital Investments shares, consider this:

Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Mff Capital Investments wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

See the 5 Stocks

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Home Depot, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
14 December 2025
How much passive income could I earn with 1,000 BHP shares?
When it comes to passive income on the Australian share market, few shares attract as much attention as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Often referred to as the Big Australian, BHP is one of the world’s largest mining companies, with tier-one assets spanning iron ore, copper, metallurgical coal, and potash.

This includes the Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO), Olympic Dam, Escondida, and Spence operations, as well as the Jansen potash project.

Income investors tend to like BHP for a few key reasons. Its operations sit at the low end of global cost curves, it generates enormous free cash flow during normal commodity cycles, and management has a clear commitment to returning surplus capital to shareholders.

While its dividends can fluctuate with commodity prices, BHP has built a reputation as one of the market’s most generous large-cap dividend payers over the long term. In fact, over the last few years it has returned tens of billions of dollars to its shareholders.

That makes it a popular choice for investors looking to combine blue-chip stability with meaningful passive income.

What would 1,000 BHP shares cost?

BHP shares ended last week at $45.59. At that price, buying 1,000 shares would require an upfront investment of approximately $45,590. That’s clearly a sizeable outlay.

But Morgan Stanley thinks it would be worth doing. The broker currently has an overweight rating on the mining giant and a $48.00 price target, suggesting further upside from current levels, alongside potential passive income.

So, how much passive income could they generate?

According to Morgan Stanley’s forecasts, BHP is expected to pay fully franked dividends of approximately $1.90 per share in FY 2026, followed by around $1.70 per share in FY 2027.

Based on those estimates, an investor holding 1,000 BHP shares could expect:
- FY 2026 dividend income: approximately $1,900
- FY 2027 dividend income: approximately $1,700
That equates to a forward cash yield of roughly 4.2% in FY 2026 and 3.7% in FY 2027, based on the current BHP share price. Importantly for Australian investors, these dividends are forecast to be fully franked, which can significantly boost after-tax returns for those able to use franking credits.

The bigger picture

Of course, BHP’s dividends are not fixed. As a mining company, its payouts rise and fall with commodity prices, demand from China, and broader global economic conditions. In strong markets, its dividends can be exceptionally large, while weaker cycles can see them pull back.

However, for investors seeking long-term passive income from a high-quality, globally significant business, BHP remains a compelling option.

The post How much passive income could I earn with 1,000 BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

Before you buy BHP Group shares, consider this:

Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and BHP Group wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
14 December 2025
Dick Van Dyke is 100 years old. Here are his 3 tips for living a long life.
Dick Van Dyke marked his 100th birthday on Saturday.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
- Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday.
- The Hollywood titan has shared his tips for living a long, healthy life.
- In his new book, Van Dyke said he "stubbornly refused to give in to the bad stuff in life."
Dick Van Dyke, the larger-than-life comedian, is now a centenarian.

Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, marking a new chapter in his already storied life and career.

He became a household name in the 1960s while starring on the CBS sitcom, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which won 15 Emmys and two Golden Globes. Van Dyke's star rose even higher when he headlined "Mary Poppins" alongside Julie Andrews in 1964 and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" with Sally Ann Howes in 1968.

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins."

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

In addition to an extensive filmography, Van Dyke also won a Tony Award in 1961 for his role as Albert Peterson in "Bye Bye Birdie."

As Van Dyke grew older, he has often shared insights and advice on living a long life. Here are three tips Van Dyke follows.

Van Dyke exercises three times a week

During an appearance on actor Ted Danson's podcast, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," in January, Van Dyke said he exercises several times a week.

"I've always exercised," Van Dyke said. "Three days a week, we go to the gym. I think that's why I'm not stove-up like my equals."

Danson recalled seeing Van Dyke at the gym and being impressed by his routine.

"I would go to the same gym you did, and if I got there early enough, I would see you, literally, work out on some weight machine," Danson said. "And then, almost like you were doing circuit training, you would not walk to the next machine, you'd dance. You literally danced to the next machine."

Danson said he later asked Van Dyke about his workout routine.

"You said you would come to the gym and work out for whatever hour, whatever it is, then you would go home. You would swim laps and then get back into bed and take a nap."

Van Dyke said these days, he's doing a lot of stretching and yoga.

Van Dyke stays mentally fit by watching "Jeopardy!"

Dick Van Dyke at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors.

CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images

In his new book, "100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life," Van Dyke wrote that his short-term memory is "shot," but he still has "his marbles."

"I used to do the crossword religiously for years (in pen), and now it's 'Jeopardy!' that keeps me sharp, though Arlene always has the answer before I do," Van Dyke wrote, referring to his wife, Arlene Silver.

Van Dyke and Silver, 54, tied the knot in 2012. In his book, Van Dyke wrote that his job as an entertainer required him to have a good memory.

"For my whole career, I had to memorize pages and pages of lines and a ton of songs, backward and forward, so I was able to say or sing them without even thinking," he wrote. "When I sing with The Vantastix, it's often songs from shows and movies I've done, and those are right at the front of my brain."

He added: "I can still pick up new material easily, too, though it might take three or four more run-throughs than it used to be before the lyrics feel like second nature."

Van Dyke also wrote that cutting alcohol out of his diet likely played a part in his good brain health.

Keeping a positive mindset is essential, Van Dyke said

In his book, Van Dyke recalled his former roles, including a series of old men, like Mr. Dawes Sr. in "Mary Poppins."

"I'm not playing super-old anymore. I am super old. Speaking now from this position of centenarian authenticity, I can look back on my old man roles and say that some stuff I got right," he wrote.

Dick Van Dyke at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Variety/Variety via Getty Images

Van Dyke wrote that it's "frustrating to feel diminished in the world, physically and socially," in addition to navigating the uncertainty of current global events.

However, Van Dyke said keeping a positive outlook on life is key.

"I've made it to one hundred, in no small part, because I have stubbornly refused to give in to the bad stuff in life: failure and defeats, personal losses, loneliness and bitterness, the physical and emotional pains of aging. Because, as I see it, to do that would be to throw in the towel on life itself."

Instead, Van Dyke said, "for the vast majority of my years, I have been in what I can only describe as a full-on bear hug with the experience of living. Being alive has been doing life — not like a job, but rather like a giant playground."

Read the original article on Business Insider
14 December 2025
3 strong ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
Warren Buffett didn’t build his fortune by constantly trading in and out of the market. Instead, he became one of the world’s most successful investors by buying high-quality stocks and holding them for long periods, letting time and compounding do the heavy lifting.

That approach isn’t reserved for billionaires. Everyday investors can follow the same philosophy, particularly by using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which offer diversification, low costs, and exposure to long-term growth themes in a single investment.

With a decade-long time horizon, the focus shifts away from short-term noise and towards owning assets that can steadily compound in value.

With that in mind, here are three ASX-listed ETFs that could suit a buy-and-hold strategy over the next 10 years.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

The Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF takes a Buffett-like approach by focusing on companies that generate strong, consistent free cash flow. Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and companies that produce it reliably tend to be more resilient, more profitable, and better positioned to invest in future growth.

This ASX ETF’s portfolio includes global heavyweights such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), ASML Holding (NASDAQL ASML), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), Visa (NYSE: V), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Costco (NASDAQ: COST). These are businesses with dominant market positions and business models that consistently convert revenue into cold hard cash.

By targeting cash flow rather than hype, this fund aims to capture long-term compounding from quality companies across multiple sectors. It is no wonder then it was recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF is inspired by Buffett’s investment philosophy. The fund invests in US stocks that have sustainable competitive advantages (aka wide moats) that protect profits from competitors over long periods.

But it doesn’t stop there. Buffett has always spoken about the importance of buying stocks at a good price. This fund offers that as well.

Current holdings include Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL), Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), Danaher Corp (NYSE: DHR), Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), and Nike (NYSE: NKE).

Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF (ASX: BEMG)

A third ASX ETF that could be a great buy and hold options is the Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF. It adds a different dimension to a long-term portfolio by targeting growth outside developed markets. Emerging economies are being shaped by powerful structural forces, including urbanisation, rising incomes, and accelerating digital adoption.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to more than 1,000 large and mid-cap stocks across 24 emerging market countries. Its largest holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Alibaba (NYSE: BABA), and SK Hynix Inc (KRX: 000660).

While emerging markets can be volatile in the short term, their long-term growth potential remains compelling. It is for that reason that Betashares recently recommended this fund to investors.

The post 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Msci Emerging Markets Complex Etf right now?

Before you buy Betashares Msci Emerging Markets Complex Etf shares, consider this:

Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares Msci Emerging Markets Complex Etf wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

See the 5 Stocks

* Returns as of 18 November 2025

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nike and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Applied Materials, Costco Wholesale, Danaher, Merck, Nike, Nvidia, Salesforce, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Nike, Nvidia, Salesforce, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
14 December 2025
Bell Potter names the best ASX retail stocks to buy
If you’re looking for some retail sector exposure in 2026, then it could be worth considering the ASX stocks named below.

That’s because Bell Potter has just named them as its top picks in the sector. Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

The beauty retailer has caught the eye of Bell Potter due to its strong rollout and private label expansion, which is supporting margin improvements. Overall, it believes this leaves the ASX retail stock well-placed in the Australian beauty category. It said:

Key drivers for business growth are its continued store-rollout targeting a network of 25+ stores, along with its private label brands and high-margin retail media arm contributing to margin expansion and thus a strong earnings trajectory. We view ABY as well positioned to take advantage of the high performing beauty category within the Australian market.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.25 price target on its shares.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

This retail giant’s shares could be a buy according to Bell Potter despite rising strongly this year. It believes Harvey Norman’s shares are undervalued based on its positive growth outlook. The broker explains:

Despite the strong re-rate in the name, HVN trades at ~2.0x market capitalisation to freehold property value as Australia’s single largest owner in large format retail with a global portfolio surpassing $4.5b and collectively owning ~40% of their stores (franchised in Australia and company operated offshore). This sees our view that of the 1-year forward ~19x P/E multiple as justified considering the multiple catalysts near/mid-term.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $8.30 price target on its shares.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Finally, at just 18x estimated FY 2026 earnings, Bell Potter thinks that youth fashion retailer Universal Store could be an ASX retail stock to buy.

It believes the company is well-placed for growth given its store expansion plans and increasing private label penetration. The broker said:

At ~18x FY26e P/E (BPe), we see UNI trading at a discount to the ASX300 peer group and see the multiple justified by the distinctive growth traits supporting consistent outperformance in a challenging broader category, longer term opportunity with three brands, organic gross margin expansion via private label product penetration (currently ~55%) and management execution. We continue to see the youth customer prioritising on-trend streetwear and expect UNI to benefit with their leading position.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.50 price target on its shares.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX retail stocks to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in Adore Beauty Group Limited right now?

Before you buy Adore Beauty Group Limited shares, consider this:

Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Adore Beauty Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

See the 5 Stocks

* Returns as of 18 November 2025

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
14 December 2025
My 3 kids all need very different parenting styles from me. Being fair doesn’t mean being the same.
The author said she learned that her three children each require unique parenting approaches to help them thrive.

Courtesy of Danielle Schlass Saliman
- Over the last 20 years, I've learned I can't have a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting.
- Fair parenting means responding to individual differences, not treating every child the same way.
- Recognizing and honoring each child's temperament helps them thrive and feel supported.
For years, the soundtrack of my household has included some version of: "But why doesn't she have to do that?" or "You never punish him!" Every time I heard it, I'd get that familiar pang of mother guilt.

Had I gotten lazy? Did I care less about what one did over the other? Was I a terrible parent for being too strict with one and not strict enough with another? Did I, in fact, have a favorite child?

Now, nearly 21 years and three kids into motherhood, I finally understand that while yes, I was slightly less anxious as each kid joined our family, it wasn't so much that my parenting style was changing. It was that each of my kids needed to be parented differently, and I had been doing it all along without even realizing it.

Parenting isn't one-size-fits-all

My oldest made this realization the easiest. He genuinely values my advice and still calls me from college to ask for my thoughts on something before he makes a decision. He shares his fears, anxieties, and illness symptoms with me on the regular. But once we talk it through, he almost always goes off and figures things out for himself. With him, parenting is often about stepping back. He wants a sounding board, not a manager, and knowing he'll take the baton and run reassures me that with him, my job is to guide, not direct.

My middle child is the opposite. Being her parent activates a very specific reflex in me — the instinct to swoop in and take care of it all. She's the kid I want to protect from anything uncomfortable, the one I have to force myself to let wobble so she can learn to balance. She is smart, capable, and resourceful, but she processes her uncertainty through emotion and anxiety, and when I sense her panic, my impulse is to jump in and fix it. The hardest thing I've had to learn is that helping my daughter means not doing things for her but offering solutions while giving her the tools to manage them for herself.

And then there's my youngest, who behaves as if he's been fiercely independent since birth. He likes to wave off my involvement and gets irritated if I so much as offer to set an alarm to wake him for school, ask if he's done his homework, or attempt to do his laundry for him. He doesn't want to be micromanaged, but likes to know that I am always close by, waiting quietly in the wings for those moments when it's all just too much, and he wants me to step in. With him, there's less heavy lifting and more just being there to catch him when he's falling.

I spent years thinking "fair" meant "the same" — I don't believe that anymore

For so long, I assumed parenting was something that should feel uniform, a philosophy you carry from one child to the next, maybe tweaking for age but not for temperament. All the while, I was unintentionally adjusting my parenting for each kid, while beating myself up for treating them differently. At some point, I internalized (or let my kids convince me) that "fair" meant "the same." But the older my kids get, the clearer it becomes that what one kid experiences as support, another might experience as pressure. What one sees as freedom, another might interpret as abandonment.

And while the soundtrack remains the same: "She's your favorite!" "Why do you let him get away with that?!" I stopped asking myself whether I was getting too lenient or too strict. I started asking a better question: What does this child need from me right now — not what did their sibling need at this age, not what I think I'm supposed to do, or how their sibling wishes I would handle it, but what actually helps this particular kid thrive. I no longer measure my consistency by how similarly I treat my kids, but by how attuned I am to each of them as individuals.

In the end, the thing my children have taught me, each in their own way, is that my job isn't to parent them the same way three times. It's to parent three different children in ways that help them become who they're meant to be based on who they are now.

Read the original article on Business Insider
14 December 2025
My dad died unexpectedly. It taught me that I needed to plan for my funeral ahead of time.
The author's dad died unexpectedly.

Courtesy of the author
- My dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
- We didn't know what arrangements to make after his passing because we hadn't talked about it.
- I didn't want the same experience for my son, so I'm planning while I'm healthy.
Sitting across from the funeral director, I held my husband's hand. I needed to feel something real while my body moved between sadness and shock. I glanced at my mom to steady her and at my husband for support. There was one person noticeably missing from our group: my dad.

The day before, I wouldn't have guessed I'd be spending my afternoon at a funeral home. I had talked to my dad that night and made plans for our weekly dinner. When I hung up the phone, I had no clue that was the last time I'd speak to him. There was no inner hunch that doom was on the horizon, and nothing that said he wasn't feeling well. So, the next morning, when the ER doctor told my mom, husband, and me that they tried to revive him and failed — I didn't know how to process the information. Dying of a heart attack made no sense. I thought we had plenty of time.

Throughout my life, we had relied on him to answer the hard questions, and we desperately needed him now. It had only been three hours since his unexpected passing, and here we were planning his funeral. I had no idea what he wanted.

He was healthy and active

I recall sitting at my parents' dinner table with my then-9-year-old son. He drank his milk while my dad gestured to the desk behind him. The white stack of papers (the size of a small novel) stood out against the stack of magazines. "Do you want to read my will?" my dad asked with a wink.

The author's dad was healthy and active before he died.

Courtesy of the author

I paused.

Not really what I'd call an uplifting dinnertime read. At 71 years young, he was active and in good shape — a recent retiree ready to travel and spend time with his grandkids. I didn't want to think about his potential decline — my dad was invincible.

He never caught the colds and stomach flus I brought home from school. He rarely missed work, and I figured I wouldn't have to deal with this anytime soon. My grandparents lived well into their 80s — my great-grandmother until 100. I did the quick math — that was at least another 10 years or more.

I politely declined the read, telling him there'd be plenty of time to cover that another day. "That's all right," he began with a smirk," I fell asleep when I tried to proofread it." And that was that. There was no talk of caskets or whether he preferred The Beatles or the Rolling Stones to be played at his funeral.

No reason to discuss his death when he was so full of life. That night, we finished our hamburgers, and his will stayed on the desk, gathering dust, for the next year. And then time ran out.

Not knowing what my father wanted made it hard to grieve

This memory ran through my mind as I tried to answer the questions the funeral director asked. It was hard to concentrate with this huge lump in my stomach. Mostly, I wanted to cry and run away. Even hiding under the covers right now sounded like a good option.

I concentrated on the warmth of my husband's hand and answered some basic questions, such as where my dad was born and his age. I failed when asked for his Social Security number. My mom tried to take over, but she was so distressed that her answers were slow and hard to access. I wanted to talk to my dad. I wish I had. This would be so much easier.

Looking at my husband, I immediately thought about my son sitting in a similar seat for us. My shoulders tensed. My tears started again, but this time because I imagined an older version of my kid stumbling through unknown answers with no space to feel his feelings. I did not want this overwhelming ordeal for him. If I could make it easier or eliminate this step completely, I would.

My husband and I made plans so my son doesn't have to

Later that night, when my husband and I had a quiet moment alone, I told him I wanted to write out our death details for our son. He looked surprised and whispered, "We have plenty of time." I'm sure that was meant to reassure me, but it was exactly what I said to my dad not that long ago. My mom heart would do anything to protect our son's space to grieve. I wanted cozy childhood memories to comfort him when one of us couldn't — not images of his mom or dad in a casket.

A few weeks later, as I processed my dad's passing, my husband and I talked about our own. We created a checklist of what we wanted, including which funeral home and cemetery to contact. My husband and I added doodles and love notes to the list and made sure our will was in order, too. Instead of freaking my 9-year-old with more morbid information, we told trusted family members where to find all the papers. Fingers crossed, it will sit in my desk drawer gathering dust for many more years to come.

Read the original article on Business Insider
14 December 2025
I wanted a big festive tree this year. I wasn’t expecting the $370 price tag at our local tree lot.
The author's son decorates the family holiday tree, and the author stands next to her childhood Christmas tree in the mid-1970s.

Courtesy of Stanislav Skočík/the author
- I experienced sticker shock when I visited a nursery to buy a holiday tree this year.
- A 10-foot tree would have cost me $370 if I'd gone ahead and bought it.
- I remembered being happy as a child in the 1970s with a 4-foot Charlie Brown-style Christmas tree.
It's traditional for our family to go Christmas tree shopping together, even though my kids are now 15 and 17 and practically leading their own lives.

This year was no exception. We found a brief window between my daughter's clock-in time for her part-time job at a gift store and my son's dentist appointment.

In previous years, we had invariably bought a tree from a Vermonter who set up camp in the parking lot of our local church.

When we lived in New York City before our children arrived, my husband and I would buy one from a friendly sidewalk vendor with a truck full of fir trees.

We decided to visit a nursery to purchase our Christmas tree

There was something magical about picking it out, throwing it over your shoulder, and bringing it up to your apartment, despite the pine needles that dropped in the elevator.

Still, as an immigrant from the UK, where people literally drag them home or transport them in the back of their vehicle, I still get a kick from seeing cars on the road with a tree strapped to the roof.

The guy from Vermont had failed to make the journey to our suburb for some reason this year. We chose to visit a nursery based on a friend's recommendation.

It was packed, but there were scores of trees remaining tethered to poles.

Since it's my daughter's last Christmas before she heads off to college, we decided to make it extra special by getting a taller tree than usual.

The price of the tree was off the charts

She got first dibs on choosing, and after browsing the 9-foot and 10-foot sections, settled on the third one she saw.

I strolled off to look at some garlands, only to see my husband frantically waving his arms at me. "Get back in the car," he mouthed, not wanting anyone to hear.

It turned out the tree that our daughter selected cost $370 — the equivalent of $37 a foot. I gasped in shock. I knew we lived in one of the most expensive counties in New York — if not the US — but the price was off the charts.

There was no way I was going to pay close to $400 for something that would grace our living room for less than a month. Even the kids acknowledged that it wasn't worth the cash.

My childhood Christmas tree was recycled each year from the garden

The experience prompted me to reflect on my childhood in northeast England during the 1970s. A distant memory stirred in my mind.

I recalled how, several Decembers in a row, my dad dug up a 4-foot fir— for some reason nicknamed George — which was growing in our front garden.

George was so small and sparse, he could have belonged to Charlie Brown. But he'd replant him in a pot, and my sister, Alison, and I would decorate him with lights, tinsel, and ornaments.

Then, at the beginning of January, Dad would put him back in the ground until the end of that year. I suppose we were a green family, long before it became a thing.

I mentioned our search for a more affordable tree to my sister

George was unearthed one year too many and then died. It was a sad day. We had always been thrilled to watch George enter and exit the house every Christmas.

After the sticker shock over the $370 tree, I considered telling my kids that we would plant another George. But we ended up buying another 10-footer for just over $200 from a roadside stand.

The author's dad would replant their Christmas tree every year.

Courtesy of the author

I mentioned our search for a more affordable tree to Ali. We reminisced about George. Two days later, she sent me a black-and-white photo from 1976 over WhatsApp.

She'd found a picture of 8-year-old me standing in our yard next to George. My mom had kept it at the bottom of a drawer all these years.

Read the original article on Business Insider
14 December 2025
3 Aussie passive income stocks delivering decades upon decades of dividends
Investors wanting dividends are spoiled for choice with numerous Aussie passive income stocks.

But there are not many businesses that have paid dividends to investors for more than two decades.

Dividends are not guaranteed, of course, but when a business has a history of paying dividends, I think it’s likely that the company will try to continue paying cash flow to investors if it can.

I’m going to talk about three businesses that have long-term dividend records, and that I consider some of the most reliable payers on the ASX.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

Sonic Healthcare is a major pathology business with a presence in a number of countries, including Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

I believe the business has defensive earnings â healthcare is typically in demand throughout the year, regardless of economic conditions. On top of that, the business has expanded its geographic presence over the years, unlocking more earnings.

I’m not expecting the business to grow as fast in the future as it has in the past, but I think there is still organic growth potential with growing and ageing populations.

In terms of the dividend, it has grown its payout in most years over the last 30 years, with only a few years in the 2010s where the Aussie passive income stock maintained its dividend.

Sonic Healthcare currently has a dividend yield of approximately 4.7%, as of the time of writing, including franking credits.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the largest energy infrastructure businesses in Australia. It owns a massive gas pipeline network in the country, transporting half of the nation’s usage. APA also has solar farms, wind farms, electricity transmission assets, gas storage, gas processing, and gas power plant.

It funds its distribution from the cash flow generated by its portfolio of assets. As the asset base has grown through organic developments (such as new pipelines) and acquisitions, its cash flow has grown.

Impressively, the Aussie passive income stock has grown its distribution every year for the past 20 years, which is the second-best record on the ASX.

It expects to grow its annual distribution to 58 cents per security in FY26. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 6.3%.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is an investment conglomerate that’s diversified across a variety of sectors.

Some of the sectors in which it has invested include resources, telecommunications, agriculture, water entitlements, swimming schools, healthcare, financial services, building products, industrial properties, and more.

The impressive Aussie passive income stock has built a highly diversified portfolio that generates a steady stream of defensive cash flow each year in the form of dividends, distributions, and interest. Soul Patts then uses a majority of that money to pay a larger dividend than last year, and then it reinvests what’s left into additional opportunities.

It has increased its ordinary annual dividend every year since 1998. The FY25 payout translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits.

The post 3 Aussie passive income stocks delivering decades upon decades of dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
14 December 2025