4 November 2026

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It’s time for LICs to die The retirement scorecard: how many of these questions can you answer?Division 296: the initial moves to make before the windows close Testamentary trusts: Treasury has picked the wrong reading Higher yields are creating opportunities in global bonds

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Edition: 315

1-8 out of 8 results.

Welcome to the Firstlinks Edition 315

Graham Hand
18 July 2019

If you want to know what financial markets absurdity looks like, check this bond priced last week: Issued by Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany); maturing 15 August 2029 (10 years); with a coupon of 0.000000% fixed (zero, zip, zilch, nada ... any way you cut it); and an issue price of 102.64 (yes, pay 102.64 now and receive 100 in 10 years).

How to generate income without equity risk

Graham Hand
17 July 2019
20
8

In seeking additional income, some type of market risk must be taken to earn above the 2% on term deposits. The listed market now offers a vast array of alternatives not available even a couple of years ago.

It’s the large stocks driving fund misery

Rudi Filapek-Vandyck
17 July 2019
1
3

There’s a lot of talk of the WAAAX stocks causing fund underperformance, but they’re simply not big enough compared with choosing the wrong winners and losers among the large cap stocks.

Investing amid IoT-enabled disruption

Thomas P. Crowley, Bradford J. Mak, CV Rao
17 July 2019
2

Manufacturing is going through an extended ‘Internet of Things’-enabled automation refresh cycle which will change the global industrial market, with profound implications for business models.

Careful what you wish for chasing franking

Raewyn Williams
17 July 2019
5

While franking credits attached to Australian equity dividends can be a meaningful source of extra returns, a deliberate tilt towards franking can also introduce significant unwanted risks into the portfolio.

SMSF growth slower but future remains strong

Graham Hand
17 July 2019
4

Many investors in large funds plan to open their own SMSFs, while trustees of SMSFs are considering the large funds. It’s highly contestable while asset allocations are also changing.

The ‘six or out’ VC approach to portfolios

Benjamin Chong
17 July 2019
1

Venture capital investments rely on a portfolio with a few big wins, or sixes, to overcome the dot balls and wickets. How do companies survive the slogging over many innings?

5 more mistakes to avoid with SMSFs

Graeme Colley
17 July 2019
2

SMSFs are useful retirement vehicles, but there are rules to follow which can easily be overlooked in haste. Run your eyes over the next five rules in this continuing list.

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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?

David Tuckwell
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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.

Mark LaMonica CFA
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Division 296: the initial moves to make before the windows close

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Liam Shorte
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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.

Rachael Rofe
21 October 2026

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.

Eric Souders
7 October 2026

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

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Elyse Dwyer, Nick Garvin
30 September 2026

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