9 October 2025

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Are LICs licked?Retirement income expectations hit new highs Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 627 with weekend update 5 charts every retiree must see…Why super returns may be heading lower

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Edition: 175

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Edition 175

30 September 2016

‘Shorting’ securities, or selling by borrowing the stock, has a poor reputation, and is often blamed for driving down share prices. Roger Montgomery argues that with many companies facing disruption and overvalued share prices, it’s an important technique and is now so common it should be considered ‘mainstream’.

Make alternatives mainstream and don’t be sold short

Roger Montgomery
29 September 2016
1

Disruption across many industries often makes it easier to pick the losers than the winners. Short-selling can play an important and legitimate role in an investment portfolio, although it continues to attract criticism.

Four ways to avoid super death benefit taxes

Mark Ellem
29 September 2016
35

Superannuation death benefits paid to adult children can incur a heavy tax impost, but there are strategies available to avoid paying more tax than necessary. It's not always possible to know when you'll die.

Investor sentiment can be highly misleading

Don Stammer
29 September 2016

Statistics measuring investor sentiment are often flawed but the market's reaction to such statistics is even more misguided. It's likely that shares will be sold more than justified when rates rise.

Decarbonisation, energy storage and efficiency

Rebecca Sherlock
29 September 2016
1

Renewable energy production is growing due to technology driving significant cost reductions and improvements in energy efficiency. Carbon reduction targets, tax schemes and our social conscience also help.

Is it time for an SMSF rethink on deposits?

Damien Wood
29 September 2016
2

Australian bank liquidity regulations are continuing to tighten, adversely affecting access to cash and the ability of SMSFs to earn the same returns from bank deposits as individuals.

Liquid asset benefits agriculture and the environment

Rich Gilmore
29 September 2016

Impact investing is no passing fad, with an estimated $32 billion to be invested over the next decade in Australia alone. This article looks at just one example of an impact investment, the Balanced Water Fund.

The opportunities in global equities for Australian investors

Graham Hand
28 September 2016

An article written for the Australian Shareholders' Association's October 2016 edition of 'Equity' on SMSF use of global equities and the wide range of opportunities readily available.

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Most viewed in recent weeks

Are LICs licked?

LICs are continuing to struggle with large discounts and frustrated investors are wondering whether it’s worth holding onto them. This explains why the next 6-12 months will be make or break for many LICs.

James Gruber
10 September 2025

Retirement income expectations hit new highs

Younger Australians think they’ll need $100k a year in retirement - nearly double what current retirees spend. Expectations are rising fast, but are they realistic or just another case of lifestyle inflation?

Vanguard Investments Australia
24 September 2025

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 627 with weekend update

This week, I got the news that my mother has dementia. It came shortly after my father received the same diagnosis. This is a meditation on getting old and my regrets in not getting my parents’ affairs in order sooner.

4 September 2025

5 charts every retiree must see…

Retirement can be daunting for Australians facing financial uncertainty. Understand your goals, longevity challenges, inflation impacts, market risks, and components of retirement income with these crucial charts.

Aaron Minney
10 September 2025

Why super returns may be heading lower

Five mega trends point to risks of a more inflation prone and lower growth environment. This, along with rich market valuations, should constrain medium term superannuation returns to around 5% per annum.

Shane Oliver
24 September 2025

Super crosses the retirement Rubicon

Australia's superannuation system faces a 'Rubicon' moment, a turning point where the focus is shifting from accumulation phase to retirement readiness, but unfortunately, many funds are not rising to the challenge.

Harry Chemay
3 September 2025

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