This week Escala Partners CIO, Tracey McNaughton, discusses the high price Australians are paying to the government for managing our economy and why we should probably be asking for a refund.

(0:52) August has been a very volatile month. The start of September looks like it will be more of the same. How are you and the CIO team navigating these markets?

(4:22) Do you expect this volatility to continue?

(6:04) Another question that came up recently at a client lunch, Tracey, was around population growth. If declining population in places like China and Japan is bad, why isn't growing population in Australia good?

(9:39) The other factor weighing on Australia is China. Did you see any evidence of this impact in the last GDP report released on Wednesday?

(11:17) Earnings reporting season has just finished in Australia. Is this softer picture for Australia being reflected in company bottom lines?

(12:59) How weak is China?

(15:24) You saw Howard Marks in person last week – did you get any investment tips?