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8 February 2026
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At Firstlinks, we strive to provide useful and relevant investment-related information for our readers. Every so often, we like to get an updated picture of who are readers are and what they want to see from us. We thank you for spending a few minutes to complete this survey.
The survey can be accessed via this link, or completed using the embedded form below.
Look forward to the weekly articles from knowledgeable and experienced people and the comments that follow,Always interesting and educational.
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Thank you everyone for the kind words and for filling out the survey.We're always learning from our readers and aiming to get better.
It is good to survey your readers, which is what every publication should do. Nearly all the surveys I do insist that your answer every question or else you can't finish it and submit it. It is amazing that marketing professionals continue with this flaw, because it means that they get less responses than they should. Thankfully Firstlinks has not fallen into this trap. Also you have provided plenty of opportunities for additional comments which is another good feature.
Hi Stephen,Thanks for the specific feedback.If anyone else has ways to improve future surveys, we'd love to know.
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Probably the broadest and best delivered, free, product I have seen. Known and respected commentators and the depth and nature of reader commentary is also very telling.
question had no option for zero in super
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Thank you for your excellent weekly newsletter. I regard it as part of my continuing education but, perhaps more importantly at the age of 77, it stimulates me into looking at my portfolio more critically and into taking action! The LIC Reports & Updates play a major role in this.With best wishes,Leon
What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? I’ve addressed this issue before but think it’s worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.
At this time last year, I forecast that 2025 would likely be a positive year given strong economic prospects and disinflation. The outlook for this year is less clear cut and here is what investors should do.
Treasury has released draft legislation for a new version of the controversial $3 million super tax. It's a significant improvement on the original proposal but there are some stings in the tail.
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 predictions include dividends will outstrip growth as a source of Australian equity returns, US market performance will be underwhelming, while US government bonds will beat gold.
We don’t have a housing shortage; we have housing misallocation. This explores why so many bedrooms go unused, what’s been tried before, and five things to unlock housing capacity – no new building required.
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 latest draft legislation may be an improvement but it still has the whiff of a wealth tax about it. The question remains whether a golden opportunity for simpler and fairer super tax reform has been missed.
Your super isn’t a bank account you own; it’s a trust you merely benefit from. So why would the Division 296 tax you personally on assets, income and gains you legally don’t own?
Inflation consistently undermines wealth, even in low-inflation environments. Whether or not it returns to target, investors must protect portfolios from its compounding impact on future living standards.
Global equity markets have experienced stellar returns in 2024 and 2025 led, in large part, by the boom in AI. Which sector could be the next star in global markets? This names three future winners.
The case for listed infrastructure is built on stable earnings and cash flows, which have sustained 4% dividend yields across cycles and supported consistent, inflation-linked long-term returns.
The US stock market sits in prolonged bubble territory, driven by AI enthusiasm. History suggests eventual mean reversion, reminding investors to weigh potential risks against current market optimism.