Hearts and Minds

When I was at Uni, one of my best mates trained to become a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor while studying medicine.

I thought it was part of his pathway to becoming a doctor but it wasn’t. And when he saw how much it piqued my interest, he suggested I look into it.

So I did.

The six-month training program was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and the most confronting.

For example, how do you handle a suicide call at 3am during the graveyard shift when you’re the only person in the building. No managers, no support staff, nothing.

Or what do you say when a young woman calls on Sunday night, shaking with fear, after being abused all weekend by her partner in an alcohol fuelled furor.

Or how do you console a young man’s anxiety who wants to come ‘out’ but is terrified of his family’s reaction…even though they probably suspect something.

Since then, not much has changed while other matters have.

For example, mental illness got very little attention back then except schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was something only Vietnam vets suffered from, supposedly.

Thankfully, depression, anxiety, bipolar and PTSD are now in the frame.

And one of the reasons is the money that’s being tipped into brain and mind research.

Like this brilliant idea…

In 2018, some of Australia’s most well-respected fund managers agreed to pool their best investment ideas together and create a high conviction fund called ‘Hearts and Minds Investments’.

Not only has it done very well, but each year the managers have donated their management fees to charities who champion brain, mind, and cardiovascular research.

Hearts and Minds currently has about $700m under management, 8,000 shareholders and have so far donated $28,500,000 to research.

Until recently, Hearts and Minds Investments has been too expensive but is beginning to look like good value again and will soon be on our short list of recommendations for clients.

There are three reasons why I like it…

1. It gives you exposure to some of Australia’s best fund managers such as Magellan and Paradice Investments.
2. It has a dividend yield of 4% (fully franked) which equates to 5.7% inside super after tax. (At Suncow, our minimum yield is 6% before we invest)
3. All management fees are donated to heart and mind research. [1]

In last weeks Moowsletter, The Russian Variant, I opined we would eventually move on from the terror of Russia and the floods, just like we did with the bushfires and COVID.

It’s harsh but true.

However, there are a lot of people who won’t move on. They’ll remain stuck in time with PTSD or some other invisible affliction.

I love the idea behind Hearts and Minds Investments as both an asset and a good cause, and if you’d like to discuss it further, drop me a line.

Either way, just remember this.

You don’t need to be a counsellor, investor or fund manager to make a difference.

Just acknowledging someone with a simple ‘hi’, instead of looking the other way can be enough.

The epitome of a healthy heart and mind.

Have a great weekend!

Adam

[1] www.heartsandminds.com Beneficiaries of the Hearts and Minds fund include – the Black Dog Institute, Charlie Teo Foundation, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Orygen, Victor Chang Cardiac Research, Sydney University Brain and Mind Centre and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Back paddock – RIP Rod Marsh and Shane Warne. What an innings!