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30 January 2026
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Season 2, Episode 1
In this week's episode, we'll discuss how the new $3 million super tax will work with an important clarification, the impact on other investment pools, the headwinds for Aussie large caps, as well as the energy transition and its investment opportunities.
(For more details on the $3 million tax, read here).
The podcast is also available via our dedicated website page, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and BuzzSprout.
Please share with friends and colleagues, and a favourable rating would help spread the word. We welcome questions and suggestions at [email protected].
Grab a cuppa and settle in for our chat.
James GruberEditorial, Firstlinks and Morningstar
Good to hear the podcast again. Graham in your explanation of the $3m super cap, I realise you are focussing on the proportional part of the calculation which many people are missing, but you should also mention that the Super balance change over the financial year is also adjusted for withdrawals and applications. To be clearer, withdrawals are added back and contributions are deducted. The rationale is that people cannot make withdrawals to stay under the $3 million, but their contributions do not push them over $3 million. Important to watch.
Great to see the podcast back! My question is to Peter Warnes and his comments that nuclear power should be part of our energy mix and my thought that with the largest nuclear power station in Europe taken by an invading force, only three months of cooling water left in its cooling ponds with reports that the pond may be rigged with explosives and artillery shells and missiles wizzing all around it that a whole new risk to nuclear power stations has been uncovered and we shouldn’t be going down this path and that is before the financials and red tape are taken into account
Hi Michael, We have to put Australia’s nuclear options in context. We are talking about small Modular Reactors rated from 10MWe to 250MWe providing incremental additions to the National Electricity Market as fossil fuels are withdrawn. To compare Australia’s situation with what is occurring in Europe at present is drawing along bow. Our issue is how to replace fossil fuel generated baseload power and wind and solar cannot do that with the certainty required. We already have a nuclear reactor operating at Lucas Heights for the past 65 years (opened in 1958) without incident. Regards, Peter
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.
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.
Mark Carney has spoken of a rupture in the rules based system that has governed the world since 1945. That rupture means nations like Australia will need to boost defence spending and find savings elsewhere.
With ASX dividend yields now below government bond yields, investors face an upside-down market where income is scarce, growth is muted, and careful selection of bond-like stocks has never mattered more.
ASX miners are back in favour after playing second fiddle to banks for years. Is it too late to get in? Here are some thoughts on the large caps such as BHP and Rio, and the hot gold mining sector.
Most commentary on gold's recent record highs focus on it being the product of fear or speculative momentum. That's ignoring the deeper structural drivers at play.
Tariff turmoil tested Asia, but AI leadership, policy easing and reform momentum are restoring investor confidence and strengthening the region’s outlook for 2026.
New research explains why high valuations, low dividends and bullish sentiment rarely coexist with strong long-term returns after extended bull markets.