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1 March 2026
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Too much choice, a guide to QE, Adele Horin on retirement, SMSF borrowing strategies, member engagement, bank hybrids and income funds.
We read about Quantitative Easing and tapering every day, but what are they and do they work? Should we worry about them? One thing is for sure - both subjects will be with us for many years to come.
Retirement often receives bad press, but whether or not you enjoy this life phase usually depends on the choices created. It's a nuanced and diverse experience and many welcome the sudden freedom.
It's too simple to assume that more choice is better for consumers and investors. It can lead to indecision and inaction, and yet some platforms persist in adding dozens of funds each year to an already vast range.
It's one thing to know the super and SMSF legislation and devise an appropriate strategy, but it's quite another if it can't be implemented in practice. Especially when bank lending policies are involved.
The top priority for all superannuation funds is improving member engagement, but most need to improve their techniques. It's one way to reduce the leakage of members, especially to SMSFs.
The renowned investor says 2025’s real story wasn’t AI or US stocks but the shift away from American assets and a collapse in the value of money. And he outlines how to best position portfolios for what’s ahead.
The post-World War Two economic system is unravelling, leading to huge shifts in currency, bond and commodity markets, yet stocks seem oblivious to the chaos. This looks to history as a guide for what’s next.
Our cost-of-living pressures go beyond the RBA: surging house prices, excessive migration, and expanding government programs, including the NDIS, are fuelling inflation, demanding bold, structural solutions.
The capital gains tax discount is under review, but debate should go beyond its size. Its original purpose, design flaws and distortions suggest Australia could adopt a better, more targeted approach.
A more rational taxation system that supports home ownership but discourages asset speculation could provide greater financial support to first home buyers.
This is my last edition as Editor of Firstlinks. I’m moving onto a new role though the newsletter will remain in good hands until my permanent replacement is found.