Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Register

5 November 2026

Home / 400

Welcome to Firstlinks Special Edition 400

  •   25 March 2021
  • 2
  •      
  •   

Weekend market update: A strong day in the US on Friday with the S&P 500 up 1.7% and NASDAQ a healthy 1.2%. It capped the best week for the Australian market in the last seven, with the S&P/ASX200 up 0.5% on Friday and 1.7% for the week. The market ignored the rising coronavirus cases in Europe and the prospect of up to 150,000 people losing their jobs when JobKeeper ends today (Sunday), with all-systems-go on residential property prices. 

***

Since Firstlinks (initially Cuffelinks) started publishing in February 2013, we have brought you thousands of articles from hundreds of authors. Everything we have published is in a searchable archive on our website. We have focussed on education with product and stock mentions where it is important to show how to access an investment or illustrate a point.

When we started, veteran publisher Greg Bright thought we wouldn't last three months, such is the relentless nature of the industry, but the support of our readers, contributors and sponsors has helped us to 400 editions. Thanks to all, including Greg for the friendly banter.

***

Around 2,500 people retire in Australia every week, and 1.1 million Australians are trustees of their own SMSF, with millions more in large funds. Nurturing the $3 trillion Australians hold in superannuation and trillions more outside super is a lifelong learning process, as Andy Bird, CEO of multinational Pearson Publishing, said last week:

"A growing global middle class and longer careers are driving lifelong and non-academic learning, particularly reskilling and upskilling, a trend that has been accelerated over the past year. This all adds up to a huge momentum in our industry."

This 400th Edition of Firstlinks is different, with three highlights:

1. A special ebook with 45 responses to the question:

“What is the best opportunity for investors over the next few years?”

Thanks to all the market professionals who contributed.

2. An exclusive report by renowned demographer, Bernard Salt, on the number of people that are retiring soon and the profound impact on them and Australia.

3. A special offer for Morningstar Premium and Sharesight. I have personally used Sharesight to monitor and record my investments for many years. It's the place I go for my tax and transaction records and I now use Morningstar Premium to check analyst views on funds and share before I invest.

***

For this week only, we are not publishing our normal set of articles as the 400th Special lead already includes much to digest. We asked contributors to limit their investing ideas to about 200 words to give sharp, short bite-sized pieces. Lots of interesting insights, including from our regulars plus many who have not previously written for Firstlinks.

Read the 400th Special as an article on our website or download the ebook version. Please share with anyone who may benefit from a free subscription.

Bernard Salt's article discloses a demographer's view of retirement and the wave that will hit from 2021 to 2027. There will soon be over five million Australians over the age of 65, and while not all will be retired, most will be vocal and expecting to live healthy and active lives for many decades. It was not that way when their parents were 65.

And look out for the special deal. We don't usually make offers like this in Firstlinks, so I asked Morningstar (owner of this publication) for their best price to combine full access to Morningstar Premium with the portfolio management software of Sharesight. No messing around with a trial. Better to commit to improving your record keeping, looking at the features of Morningstar Premium and taking the time to learn how to use the Sharesight.

If you don't find it useful after a year, all it's cost you is $1 a day, and perhaps half that if you are eligible for a decent tax deduction.

Experience Morningstar Premium’s independent research, data and tools for $365 for your first year. To access this offer for Firstlinks readers, please email [email protected] with the promo code DOLLARADAY and your full name. You will then be given instructions on a secure subscription.

 

Graham Hand, Managing Editor

 

PDF version of Firstlinks Newsletter

ASX Listed Bond and Hybrid rate sheet from NAB/nabtrade

Monthly market update on listed bonds and hybrids from ASX

Indicative Listed Investment Company (LIC) NTA Report from Bell Potter

LIC Monthly Report from Morningstar

Plus updates and announcements on the Sponsor Noticeboard on our website

 

  •   25 March 2021
  • 2
  •      
  •   
Firstlinks is sponsored by:
banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

It’s time for LICs to die

A high-profile dividend cut and a prominent fund manager’s apology have reignited a long-running debate. If investors can access similar exposures more cheaply and efficiently elsewhere, what exactly is keeping LICs alive?

The retirement scorecard: how many of these questions can you answer?

From the maths of retirement, estimating spending and picking the right asset allocation to survive a poor decade, here are the questions every retiree – current or future – should be able to answer for themselves.

Division 296: the initial moves to make before the windows close

What if the best superannuation strategy isn't about earning more, but acting before your options disappear? Several overlooked planning windows are narrowing, with consequences that can last for decades.

Testamentary trusts: Treasury has picked the wrong reading

A decades-old estate planning tool has survived one tax crackdown only to be caught by another. The surprise isn't who the reform is targeting, but who could end up paying the price for drafting choices made years ago.

Higher yields are creating opportunities in global bonds

Bond markets are adjusting to a new reality, but not in the ways investors expect. With markets repricing and capital competing for attention, investors may need to rethink where resilience and opportunity lie. 

Will investors be better or worse off under new housing tax changes?

Housing tax reforms have sparked warnings of market turmoil and promises of greater fairness. But after modelling nearly two decades of property data, the results suggest winners and losers may not be who many investors expect.

Latest Updates

Superannuation

Superannuation’s structural failings

Politicians are fighting over access to super, but they may be arguing about the wrong thing. The system’s three fundamental flaws have been hiding in plain sight for decades, costing Australians far more than they realise.

Planning

The great wealth transfer myth

Why do some families preserve wealth for generations while others struggle to? As the great wealth transfer unfolds, the determining factor is often not the structure of the estate, but the preparation of those who will inherit it.

Investment strategies

What comes after bank hybrids?

For years, bank hybrids have been a cornerstone of portfolio income. With tens of billions of dollars now disappearing from the market, investors face a critical question: what comes next, and are the obvious replacements enough?

Investment insights from the US

What happens when knowledge becomes a commodity? The latest themes emerging from the US tech sector suggest AI could reshape company moats, disrupt incumbents and create winners and losers in unexpected places.

Investing

Can Berkshire thrive without Buffett?

Warren Buffett's departure marks the end of an era. But the more important question for investors is whether Berkshire's culture, discipline and capital allocation framework can survive without the man who built them.

Retirement

The Bengen 4% Rule: Lost in translation

For years, retirees have been told to focus on withdrawal rates. But the real question is far simpler: how many dollars can you safely spend? The answer may be very different from what conventional retirement wisdom suggests.

Interest rates

Super low interest rates came with side effects

For more than a decade, investors lived through an era of near-zero interest rates. With bond yields now surging, it's worth asking whether cheap money solved economic problems, or introduced a much larger set of risks.

Sponsors

Alliances

  • ASA-Logo-RGB-ActiveGreen-web.png

Site Map

About Firstlinks

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.