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19 January 2026
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Each week, Firstlinks receives far more articles than we accept. We usually publish seven articles a week, with selections based on relevance of the topic for our audience, quality of the writing and expected popularity.
After almost a decade of publishing, we usually have a decent idea how popular an article will be. Sometimes, we publish an article which is fresh and smart although we know it will not attract high views. It will work well for a minority of readers and so it has a place. It's about the quality not only the metrics.
What distinguished 2021 was the number of articles that unexpectedly went 'viral'. While a typical good quality read on an investment topic might receive 5,000 views on our system, we had eight articles this year over 20,000 hits.
Often, an article hits a chord with a particular group, such as financial advisers, and it is widely circulated to their clients. Other times it is linked by other publications or social media and attracts a bigger audience. It is not easy to predict or cause these events.
The 10 most-read articles follow three themes. Based on our reader surveys, two categories - retirement planning and housing - are understandable given our relatively wealthy, self-directed and 'older' audience. The third is unexpected, the widespread interest in social security issues such as pension eligibility. Are the high views due to a desire to learn about current eligibility, the potential as a future safety net, or something else? Any feedback welcome.
(Click on the article to read it).
Title
Date
Hits
1
10 little-known pension traps prove the value of advice
15 Dec
48298
2
House prices surge but falls are common and coming
6 Oct
37272
3
10 reasons wealthy homeowners shouldn't receive welfare
15 Sep
33867
4
Check eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
22 Dec
27046
5
Unexpected results in our retirement income survey
11 Aug
21599
6
The looming excess of housing and why prices will fall
1 Sep
21395
7
Survey responses on pension eligibility for wealthy homeowners
22 Sep
20031
8
Stop treating the family home as a retirement sacred cow
27 Oct
20013
9
Three steps to planning your spending in retirement
7 Jul
19619
10
100 Aussies: five charts on who earns, pays and owns
19079
11
24 hot stocks and funds for 2021
6 Jan
18225
12
Three good comments from the pension asset test article
29 Sep
17550
13
Three all-time best tables for every adviser and investor
18 Aug
16900
14
Importance of remaining rational and why Bitcoin is worthless
4 Aug
16790
15
Invest in Australian value stocks before it is too late
24 Feb
15699
16
Turning point: the 2020s baby boom retirement surge
24 Mar
15128
17
Four simple strategies deliver long-term investing comfort
20 Jan
14813
18
Super changes, the Budget and 2021 versus 2022
12 May
14802
19
Retirement income promise relies on spending capital
28 Jul
14416
20
400th Edition Special: 45 of the best investment ideas
14258
21
Five stocks that have worked well in our portfolios
25 Aug
14017
22
Great new ways the Government helps retirees
14012
23
Finding sustainable dividend stocks on the ASX
30 Jun
13694
24
Grantham interview on the coming day of reckoning
2 Jun
13229
25
Two strong themes and companies that will benefit
20 Oct
13061
26
Five stock recoveries not hanging on COVID predictions
16 Jun
13030
27
Cut it out ... millionaires are not wealthy
12893
28
Hamish Douglass on why the movie hasn’t ended yet
12796
29
The risk-return tradeoff: What’s the right asset mix for a 5% return?
14 Apr
12518
30
How long will my retirement savings last?
7 Apr
12382
31
Noel's share winners and loser plus budget reality check
19 May
12222
32
The hazards of asset allocation in a late-stage major bubble
13 Jan
12079
33
Five timeless lessons from a life in investing
28 Apr
11955
34
$100 billion! Five reasons investors are flocking to ETFs
10 Feb
11902
35
4 key materials for batteries and 9 companies that will benefit
13 Oct
11707
36
Buffett's favourite indicator versus all-in equities
21 Apr
11658
37
Peak to peak, which LIC managers performed during COVID?
11293
38
In fact, most people have no super when they die
11158
39
Best and worst performing equity funds of 2020
11005
40
20 punches: my personal investments are not a forecast
8 Dec
11000
41
Why mega-tech growth are the best ‘value’ stocks in the market
10937
42
Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 433 with weekend update
11 Nov
10821
43
Among key trends in Australian banks, one factor stands out
14 Jul
10808
44
Four bubbly market pockets show heightened risk for investors
10 Mar
10608
45
BHP v Rio v Fortescue: it's all about the iron ore price
10408
46
The sorry saga of housing affordability and ownership
10328
47
Reducing the $5,300 upfront cost of financial advice
10184
48
Why has Australia slipped down the global super ranks?
10 Nov
10162
Many thanks to the hundreds of experts who wrote for us in 2021 and we look forward to publishing the best again in 2022. And thanks to our readers of these and the hundreds of articles published each year.
Graham Hand is Managing Editor of Firstlinks. My thanks to Christian Townsend and James Renton from Master Publisher who provide and support our Content Management System for producing this table and for their quick responses throughout 2021.
The articles should be read in the context of when they were published, and they do not consider the personal circumstances of any investor.
Well done on making it to 10 years, I've been with you since the second or third year.
I would be be interested to know in regard to lifetime income products where only 60 per cent of the sum invested counts for the assets test. What is the optimum assets test cut-off point $$ point value wise for a couple ?? So that a couple can receive the aged pension and receive a lifetime income stream at the same time Also is there a graph that would help with this from a full to a part aged pension ?? John
Two years ago, I wrote an article suggesting that the odds favoured ASX shares easily outperforming residential property over the next decade. Here’s an update on where things stand today.
The superannuation system has succeeded brilliantly at what it was designed to do: accumulate wealth during working lives. The next challenge is meeting members’ diverse needs in retirement.
At this time last year, I forecast that 2025 would likely be a positive year given strong economic prospects and disinflation. The outlook for this year is less clear cut and here is what investors should do.
Treasury has released draft legislation for a new version of the controversial $3 million super tax. It's a significant improvement on the original proposal but there are some stings in the tail.
I am a professional real estate investor who hears a lot of opinions rather than facts from so-called experts on the topic of property. Here are the largest myths when it comes to Australia’s biggest asset class.
What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? I’ve addressed this issue before but think it’s worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.
Nearly all the indicators an investor would look for suggest that this secular bull market is approaching its end. My models forecast that the US is set for 0% annual returns over the next decade.
We don’t have a housing shortage; we have housing misallocation. This explores why so many bedrooms go unused, what’s been tried before, and five things to unlock housing capacity – no new building required.
Lump sum investing usually wins, but it can hurt if markets fall. Using 50 years of Australian data, we reveal when staging your entry protects you, and when it drags on returns.
It has been years since the US stock market has been so focused on a single driving theme, and AI is unquestionably that theme. This explores what it means for US and global markets in 2026.
The US has elevated energy to a national security priority, tying cheap, reliable power to economic strength, AI leadership, and sovereignty. This analyses the new framework and its implications for Australia.
Most people know Maduro was a dictator and Venezuela has oil. Few grasp the depth of suffering or the country’s democratic history - essential context as the US ousts Maduro and charts Venezuela’s future.