28 March 2026

Recently trending

How cutting the CGT discount could help rebalance housing market Want your loved ones to inherit your super? You can’t afford to skip this one step Super is catching up, but ageing is a triple-threat Has Australia wasted the last 30 years?Meg on SMSFs: Last word on Div 296 for a while

Reader: "Love it, just keep doing what you are doing. It is the right length too, any longer and it might become a bit overwhelming."

Reader: "I can quickly sort the items that I am interested in, then research them more fully. It is also a regular reminder that I need to do this."

Jonathan Hoyle, CEO, Stanford Brown: "A fabulous publication. The only must-read weekly publication for the Australian wealth management industry."

Rob Henshaw: "When I open my computer each day it's the first link I click - a really great read."

Reader: "Best innovation I have seen whilst an investor for 25 years. The writers are brilliant. A great publication which I look forward to."

Reader: " Finding a truly independent and interesting read has been magical for me. Please keep it up and don't change!"

Professor Robert Deutsch: "This has got to be the best set of articles on economic and financial matters. Always something worthwhile reading in Firstlinks. Thankyou"

Reader: "It's excellent so please don't pollute the content with boring mainstream financial 'waffle' and adverts for stuff we don't want!"

John Egan, Egan Associates: "My heartiest congratulations. Your panel of contributors is very impressive and keep your readers fully informed."

David Goldschmidt, Chartered Accountant: "I find this a really excellent newsletter. The best I get. Keep up the good work!"

Ian Silk, CEO, AustralianSuper: "It has become part of my required reading: quality thinking, and (mercifully) to the point."

Reader: "Great resource. Cuffelinks is STILL the one and only weekly newsletter I regularly read."

Don Stammer, leading Australian economist: "Congratulations to all associated. It deserves the good following it has."

Reader: "Carry on as you are - well done. The average investor/SMSF trustee needs all the help they can get."

Ian Kelly, CFP, BTACS Financial Services: "Probably the best source of commentary and information I have seen over the past 20 years."

Reader: "The BEST in the game because of diversity and not aligned to financial products. Stands above all the noise."

John Pearce, Chief Investment Officer, Unisuper: "Out of the (many many) investmentrelated emails I get, Cuffelinks is one that I always open."

Reader: "An island of professionalism in an ocean of shallow self-interest. Well done!"

Reader: "I subscribe to two newsletters. This is my first read of the week. Thank you. Excellent and please keep up the good work!"

Andrew Buchan, Partner, HLB Mann Judd: "I have told you a thousand times it's the best newsletter."

Reader: "Keep it up - the independence is refreshing and is demonstrated by the variety of well credentialed commentators."

Reader: "Is one of very few places an investor can go and not have product rammed down their throat. Love your work!"

Steve: "The best that comes into our world each week. This is the only one that is never, ever canned before fully being reviewed by yours truly."

Scott Pape, author of The Barefoot Investor: "I'm an avid reader of Cuffelinks. Thanks for the wonderful resource you have here, it really is first class."

Reader: "Congratulations on a great focussed news source. Australia has a dearth of good quality unbiased financial and wealth management news."

Eleanor Dartnall, AFA Adviser of the Year, 2014: "Our clients love your newsletter. Your articles are avidly read by advisers and they learn a great deal."

Noel Whittaker, author and financial adviser: "A fabulous weekly newsletter that is packed full of independent financial advice."

Home / 142

Edition: 142

1-7 out of 7 results.

Edition 142

12 February 2016

These jittery markets remind us how difficult it is to estimate how much anyone needs in superannuation. Few people know how long they will live and what returns they will achieve, and wealth is also held outside of super. It's not surprising that recent CSIRO research shows most retirees only draw down the mandated minimums on their pensions, as they live on other resources and attempt to preserve their super.

Safe withdrawal rates for Australian retirees

Anthony Serhan
11 February 2016
20

The notion of the '4% rule' for drawing retirement income was devised in a much different economic environment than today. 'Safe' withdrawal rates may not be safe enough if certainty is required.

How to read RBA interest rate decisions

Warren Bird
11 February 2016
1

The RBA follows a fairly standard formula when drafting its interest rate announcements each month and a keen observer might detect a change in view before an actual change in interest rates.

Do 'January' results foretell the full year for equities?

Ashley Owen
11 February 2016

A final look at the 'January effect' to analyse whether the market's first month performance predicts the share market's likely year-end returns, and why Australia is different from the US.

China’s paradigm shift and why I’m (still) cautiously bullish

Brian Ingram
11 February 2016

Recent economic volatility in China could signal an important social shift - one which could actually drive China’s future growth and transform the country’s economic model.

The merits of reversionary versus non-reversionary pensions

Monica Rule
11 February 2016
4

Due to the complexity of superannuation law, it can be easy for SMSF trustees to miss out on some opportunities, including the use of reversionary pensions for tax and estate planning benefits.

Hello from the other side of Asia

Graham Hand
11 February 2016

Sri Lanka, Bali and Singapore do not receive the focus of their Asian neighbours in China, India and Japan, but they are undergoing fascinating changes which warrant a closer and more personal visit.

Firstlinks is sponsored by:

Most viewed in recent weeks

How cutting the CGT discount could help rebalance housing market

A more rational taxation system that supports home ownership but discourages asset speculation could provide greater financial support to first home buyers.

Jago Dodson, Liam Davies
18 February 2026

Want your loved ones to inherit your super? You can’t afford to skip this one step

One in five Australians die before retirement and most have not set up their super properly so their loved ones can benefit from all their hard work and savings.

Tobias Barkley
4 March 2026

Super is catching up, but ageing is a triple-threat

An ageing Australia is shifting the superannuation system’s focus from accumulation to the lifecycle of retirement. While these pressures have been anticipated for decades, they are now converging at scale and driving widespread industry change.

Aaron Minney
4 March 2026

Has Australia wasted the last 30 years?

The 20 years after Peter Costello left Treasury have been deemed wasted...by Peter Costello. The missed opportunities for Australia began long before.

John Abernethy
11 March 2026

Meg on SMSFs: Last word on Div 296 for a while

The best way to deal with the incoming Division 296 tax on superannuation is likely doing nothing. Earnings will be taxed regardless of where the money sits, so here are some important considerations.

Meg Heffron
18 February 2026

The 5% deposit scheme is bad for homeowners and Australia

An ‘affordability’ scheme making the county more vulnerable to economic shocks and contributing to the deteriorating financial situation of everyday Australians.

Mark LaMonica CFA
25 February 2026

Alliances

Site Map

About Firstlinks

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.