Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Register

22 November 2025

Home / 7

Edition 7

  •   22 March 2013
  •      
  •   

Welcome from Chris Cuffe

This week, we have a couple of excellent primers on related issues: mortality risk and the costs of residential aged care. Unfortunately, we will all need to deal with these subjects at some time, either for ourselves or our parents, so it is worth understanding both.

When we focus on retirement and superannuation, it is impossible to avoid issues such as ageing and death. It’s probably only when our own parents appear to age visibly or have serious health problems, or we notice we are attending more funerals, that we really start to consider mortality and who will look after family members as they age. According to the United Nations Population Division, by 2040, almost 40% of the population in many developed countries will be over 60 years old, up from less than 20% in 2010.

David Bell’s article provides an understanding of mortality risk and how long we can expect to live, and while some of you may find it heavy going, the conclusions are both powerful and inevitable. You may be retired for 40 years. Then Alex Denham takes us through some of the complexities of residential aged care in the clearest way I have ever read on this specialist subject. We have also included a link to a Bloomberg article on the worrying consequences of Japan’s ageing population, which may be a pointer to events in other countries, including Australia.

Many people think fund managers are not active enough in defending the rights of investors against company management, but a lot happens behind the scenes in addition to the occasional public showdown. Gabriel Radzyminski looks at shareholder activism in Australia.

Rick Cosier explains the steps we all need to follow to set a financial plan, and Andrew Bloore highlights the need to put the ‘self’ into self-managed super, because everyone is unique and each SMSF investment strategy must meet specific needs.

Latest posts from Cuffelinks, 22 February 2013, Edition 7

  • Mortality risk could be the death of you David Bell
  • Facing the daunting prospect of residential aged care Alex Denham
  • Shareholder activism in Australia Gabriel Radzyminski
  • Everyone needs a plan Rick Cosier
  • Putting the ‘self’ into self managed super Andrew Bloore

View email | Download PDF

  •   22 March 2013
  •      
  •   

 

Leave a Comment:
Firstlinks is sponsored by:
banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

The growing debt burden of retiring Australians

More Australians are retiring with larger mortgages and less super. This paper explores how unlocking housing wealth can help ease the nation’s growing retirement cashflow crunch.

Four best-ever charts for every adviser and investor

In any year since 1875, if you'd invested in the ASX, turned away and come back eight years later, your average return would be 120% with no negative periods. It's just one of the must-have stats that all investors should know.

LICs vs ETFs – which perform best?

With investor sentiment shifting and ETFs surging ahead, we pit Australia’s biggest LICs against their ETF rivals to see which delivers better returns over the short and long term. The results are revealing.

Family trusts: Are they still worth it?

Family trusts remain a core structure for wealth management, but rising ATO scrutiny and complex compliance raise questions about their ongoing value. Are the benefits still worth the administrative burden?

13 ways to save money on your tax - legally

Thoughtful tax planning is a cornerstone of successful investing. This highlights 13 legal ways that you can reduce tax, preserve capital, and enhance long-term wealth across super, property, and shares.

Warren Buffett's final lesson

I’ve long seen Buffett as a flawed genius: a great investor though a man with shortcomings. With his final letter to Berkshire shareholders, I reflect on how my views of Buffett have changed and the legacy he leaves.

Latest Updates

Retirement

Why it’s time to ditch the retirement journey

Retirement isn’t a clean financial arc. Income shocks, health costs and family pressures hit at random, exposing the limits of age-based planning and the myth of a predictable “retirement journey".

Financial planning

How much does it really cost to raise a child?

With fertility rates at a record low, many say young people aren’t having kids because they’re too expensive. Turns out, it’s not that simple and there are likely other factors at play.

Exchange traded products

Passive ETF investors may be in for a rude shock

Passive ETFs have become wildly popular just as markets, especially the US, reach extreme valuations. For long-term investors, these ETFs make sense, though if you're investing in them to chase performance, look out below.

Shares

Bank reporting season scorecard November 2025

The Big Four banks shrugged off doomsayers with their recent results, posting low loan losses, solid margins, and rising dividends. It underscores their resilience, but lofty valuations mean it’s time to be selective. 

Investment strategies

The real winners from the AI rush

AI is booming, but like the 19th-century gold rush, the real profits may go to those supplying the tools and energy, not the companies at the centre of the rush.

Economy

Why economic forecasts are rarely right (but we still need them)

Economic experts, including the RBA, get plenty of forecasts wrong, but that doesn't make such forecasts worthless. The key isn't to predict perfectly – it's to understand the range of possibilities and plan accordingly.

Strategy

13 reflections on wealth and philanthropy

Wealth keeps growing, yet few ask “how much is enough?” or what their kids truly need. After 23 years in philanthropy, I’ve seen how unexamined wealth can limit impact, and why Australia needs a stronger giving culture.

Sponsors

Alliances

Site Map

About Firstlinks

© 2025 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.