Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 500

Our first Reader Survey for years to learn more about you

While we have run recent Reader Surveys on specific topics, it is many years since we found out more about you and what you like and don't like about Firstlinks.

To mark our 500th edition, as your present to us, we would appreciate your feedback across a range of questions that will help to improve our content. It should take only a few minutes but provide great value to our future planning. The survey can be accessed via this link, the QR code, or completed using the embedded form below.

 

 

21 Comments
Bhakta Robert
March 20, 2023

I forgot to mention in my comments, more PETER THORNHILL or similar articles please.

Stan
March 20, 2023

The method of calculating "income" for the proposed $3 million "cap" contains within it the indefensible idea of including unrealized paper gains in the market value of investments which would have the potential effect of penalizing investment in any speculative early stage exploration biotech or "tech" stocks. An example from my own experience is a biotech stock whose market price in the three years has gone from 2 cents to 60 cents and back to 12 cents. Anyone fortunately buying and selling at the the right time would have made real taxable capital gains, but anyone who simply held during this period may have huge paper gains which could now be called "income", at the same time as when the total value of the portfolio was temporarily inflated and exceeded the new "cap". This looks like another unintended consequence of poorly thought out proposal.

John Burgess
March 19, 2023

I appreciate the range of views expressed in Firstlinks publications.

Danielle
March 19, 2023

Good source of information. Have tried to influence/introduce women to your newsletters but find that once brackets, percentages and calculations appear they turn off. Accountant type hyperbole of no interest. Look at the Dixon Fiasco. Perhaps more info to those on balances under $350,000. That is the real world of super, we can only dream of figures in the millionaire bracket.

Dudley
March 19, 2023

"dream of figures in the millionaire bracket":

Millionaire full Age Pension at deeming rate:
= (26 * -1547.6) / 2.25%
= -$1,788,337.78 (- = invested)
Regrettable only while alive.

Mortals:
= PV(0%, (87 - 67), 26 * 1547.6, 0)
= -$804,752.00 (- = invested)

Phil Pogson
March 19, 2023

Survey done!
We all need steady regular cashflow. Besides Peter Thornhill, who else out there is doing good old fashioned dividend growth investing and can capably write about it? Let’s hear them please.
As for Super dramas, there are other products and places to keep retirement money. Super is now in the cross hairs of legislation change, so just don’t have all your eggs in that basket.

Martin
March 17, 2023

Anne, how about $360k in super? ASFA, March 2022. Average super balance for a 60-64 year-old male is $359,870. At a return of 7% pa a 64 year-old male will hit the cap at the age of 104 years.

Martin
March 17, 2023

Sorry Anne, that should have been 94 years, not 104 years, but I could give you some scary numbers for a 64 year old female on a median (not average) super balance.

Dudley
March 17, 2023

"64 year old female on a median (not average) super balance":
= (137051 + 180718) / 2
= $158,884.50
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/how-your-super-balance-compares-with-people-your-age-20220318-p5a5sn

Age Pension Asset Test single:
= $280,000

Age Pension single home owner full:
= 26 f * 1026.50 / f
= $26,689.00 / y

Plenty live & entertain with spare to save.

Anne
March 17, 2023

Any one who shrugs their shoulders and says in relation to the proposed $3M cap 'well it doesn't apply to me' you are on notice. At a return of 7% pa your asset will double in value every 10 years. That means that if you have $1.5M in super now, in ten years time you will be hitting the un-indexed cap of $3M. If you have 750K in super now you will hit the cap in 20 years.
Therefore the valuable commentary, largely by Graham, is very relevant to many people.

Aussie HIFIRE
March 17, 2023

That would assume that you're in accumulation phase and not drawing down on your super at all. So if you're 50-55 (depending on whether you're planning to commence a pension at 60 or 65) then you need to have 1.5 mill now. If you're 40-45 then you need to have $750k now.

Those certainly aren't impossible figures to have, but we're really talking about the top 10% or so of the population. I don't like the fact that this is in real terms a retrospective change to super, but I also think that someone with 3 mill in super of which 1.7 mill is in pension should be paying a higher tax rate on earnings than 0% on their pension and 15% or the other 1.3 mill, which is an overall tax rate of roughly 5%.

If someone wants to argue that they're also missing out on the $21,000 or $26,000 of welfare in the form of age pension (depending on marital status) then sure that's fair, but assuming earnings of 5% on the total super amount of $3,000,000 so $150,000, and tax of $9,750 on the 5% in the $1,300,000 in accumulation phase, plus foregone welfare of $21,000, then you're looking at a total of $30,000 out of $150,000. Not peanuts, but surely a sum of money that someone with 3 mill in super might consider to be reasonable.

Peter
March 17, 2023

leaving aside any withdrawals Anne.

Liz
March 19, 2023

That is the point of the $3m cap. $3m will provide a comfortable retired living. Until you reach that $3m balance, enjoy the tax shelter while your balance grows. After reaching the balance, a discounted tax rate is not required to be paid to you by most other tax payers who have a snowflake in hell of achieving 10% of $3m - particularly women.

Dudley
March 19, 2023

"snowflake in hell of achieving 10% of $3m":

Minimum real after super tax rate of return, with maximum concessional contributions, required to achieve "10% of $3m":
= RATE((67 - 27), (1 - 15%) * -27500, 0, 10% * 3000000)
= -7.438% / y (- = loss)

Real contributions, with o% real return, required to achieve "10% of $3m:
= PMT(0%, (67 - 27), 0, 10% * 3000000) / (1 - 15%)
= $-8,823.53 / y (- = contribution)

Middle of the road proof:
= RATE((67 - 27), (1 - 15%) * -8823.53, 0, 10% * 3000000)
= 0.0%

Dav G
March 16, 2023

well prepared content

Martin
March 16, 2023

Agree with Raymond. Would you please focus more on those of us living in the real world of super balances.

Dudley
March 17, 2023

Calculate using your own inputs:
= NPER(7%, ((1 - 15%) * 27500) + -110000, -750000, 3000000)
= 11.2 y

Ken Ellis
March 16, 2023

I have enjoyed it for many years and is one of my prime sources of information

Raymond Ball
March 16, 2023

Always a good read for current issues. Perhaps a reduced emphasis on poor $3m+ individuals.

Mike
March 17, 2023

Always a good read for current issues. Perhaps a reduced emphasis on boomers and more on Gen-X.

Errol Davey
March 19, 2023

Totally agree. Tax-free $6m a couple in superannuation, income of $30,000 each from other sources and pay no tax! I feel good luck to them, enjoy life, no one has yet taken a cent to the afterlife! If there is one!

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Pros and cons of Labor's home batteries scheme

Labor has announced a $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, aimed at slashing the cost of home batteries. The goal is to turbocharge battery uptake, though practical difficulties may prevent that happening.

Howard Marks: the investing game has changed

The famed investor says the rapid switch from globalisation to trade wars is the biggest upheaval in the investing environment since World War Two. And a new world requires a different investment approach.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 606 with weekend update

The boss of Australia’s fourth largest super fund by assets, UniSuper’s John Pearce, says Trump has declared an economic war and he’ll be reducing his US stock exposure over time. Should you follow suit?

  • 10 April 2025

4 ways to take advantage of the market turmoil

Every crisis throws up opportunities. Here are ideas to capitalise on this one, including ‘overbalancing’ your portfolio in stocks, buying heavily discounted LICs, and cherry picking bombed out sectors like oil and gas.

An enlightened dividend path

While many chase high yields, true investment power lies in companies that steadily grow dividends. This strategy, rooted in patience and discipline, quietly compounds wealth and anchors investors through market turbulence.

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

Getting rich vs staying rich

Strategies to get rich versus stay rich are markedly different. Here is a look at the five main ways to get rich, including through work, business, investing and luck, as well as those that preserve wealth.

Investment strategies

Does dividend investing make sense?

Dividend investing offers steady income and behavioral benefits, but its effectiveness depends on goals, market conditions, and fundamentals - especially in retirement, where it may limit full use of savings.

Economics

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

Strategy

Ageing in spurts

Fascinating initial studies suggest that while we age continuously in years, our bodies age, not at a uniform rate, but in spurts at around ages 44 and 60.

Interviews

Platinum's new international funds boss shifts gears

Portfolio Manager Ted Alexander outlines the changes that he's made to Platinum's International Fund portfolio since taking charge in March, while staying true to its contrarian, value-focused roots.

Investment strategies

Four ways to capitalise on a forgotten investing megatrend

The Trump administration has not killed the multi-decade investment opportunity in decarbonisation. These four industries in particular face a step-change in demand and could reward long-term investors.

Strategy

How the election polls got it so wrong

The recent federal election outcome has puzzled many, with Labor's significant win despite a modest primary vote share. Preference flows played a crucial role, highlighting the complexity of forecasting electoral results.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 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.