Geoff Wilson AO: The Retail Investor Warrior

Geoff Wilson AO is one of Australia's most outspoken advocates for retail shareholders.As the founder and Chairman of Wilson Asset Management, Geoff has spent almost five decades navigating financial markets, building one of Australia's leading investment firms and becoming a powerful voice on corporate governance, shareholder activism and public policy.James H Stewart sits down with Geoff to discuss his journey from research analyst to managing billions of dollars on behalf of more than 130,000 investors. He shares the lessons learned through multiple market cycles and discusses the defining issues that have shaped Geoff's career, including his campaigns for better corporate governance, his activism during the AMP board upheaval following the Royal Commission, and the highly publicised franking credits campaign that became one of the biggest political issues of the 2019 Federal Election.The conversation then turns to today's economic landscape, where Geoff offers his perspective on Australia's competitiveness as a destination for investment, the 2026 Federal Budget, proposed changes to capital gains tax, productivity, regulation, and what governments should be doing to encourage business growth, entrepreneurship and long-term investment.Finally, Geoff discusses the remarkable success of the Future Generation investment companies, which have directed more than $100 million to Australian charities supporting children, youth and mental health.Whether you're an investor, business owner, company director or simply interested in Australia's economic future, this is a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, markets, governance and the importance of backing your convictions.In this episode we discuss:Geoff's journey to founding Wilson Asset ManagementLessons from nearly 50 years in investment marketsShareholder activism and corporate governanceThe AMP board renewal following the Royal CommissionThe 2019 franking credits campaignAustralia's competitiveness for investment capitalCapital gains tax, productivity and the 2026 Federal BudgetFuture Generation and investing for social impactLeadership, philanthropy and building a lasting legacyIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations about business, leadership and investing.Connect with James StewartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatilearnedinbusiness/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatILearnedInBusinessDisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed by Geoff Wilson and James H Stewart in this episode are their own and are provided for general information and discussion purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as financial, investment, taxation, accounting or legal advice, or as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment or financial product. Investment markets involve risk, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Before making any investment or financial decision, you should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional who understands your individual objectives, financial circumstances and needs.The discussion in this episode may reference companies, investment strategies, taxation policy, legislation and market conditions that were current at the time of recording and may change over time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.