Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Register

7 February 2026

Home / 7

Edition 7

  •   22 March 2013
  •      
  •   

Welcome from Chris Cuffe

This week, we have a couple of excellent primers on related issues: mortality risk and the costs of residential aged care. Unfortunately, we will all need to deal with these subjects at some time, either for ourselves or our parents, so it is worth understanding both.

When we focus on retirement and superannuation, it is impossible to avoid issues such as ageing and death. It’s probably only when our own parents appear to age visibly or have serious health problems, or we notice we are attending more funerals, that we really start to consider mortality and who will look after family members as they age. According to the United Nations Population Division, by 2040, almost 40% of the population in many developed countries will be over 60 years old, up from less than 20% in 2010.

David Bell’s article provides an understanding of mortality risk and how long we can expect to live, and while some of you may find it heavy going, the conclusions are both powerful and inevitable. You may be retired for 40 years. Then Alex Denham takes us through some of the complexities of residential aged care in the clearest way I have ever read on this specialist subject. We have also included a link to a Bloomberg article on the worrying consequences of Japan’s ageing population, which may be a pointer to events in other countries, including Australia.

Many people think fund managers are not active enough in defending the rights of investors against company management, but a lot happens behind the scenes in addition to the occasional public showdown. Gabriel Radzyminski looks at shareholder activism in Australia.

Rick Cosier explains the steps we all need to follow to set a financial plan, and Andrew Bloore highlights the need to put the ‘self’ into self-managed super, because everyone is unique and each SMSF investment strategy must meet specific needs.

Latest posts from Cuffelinks, 22 February 2013, Edition 7

  • Mortality risk could be the death of you David Bell
  • Facing the daunting prospect of residential aged care Alex Denham
  • Shareholder activism in Australia Gabriel Radzyminski
  • Everyone needs a plan Rick Cosier
  • Putting the ‘self’ into self managed super Andrew Bloore

View email | Download PDF

  •   22 March 2013
  •      
  •   

 

Leave a Comment:
Firstlinks is sponsored by:
banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Building a lazy ETF portfolio in 2026

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.

Get set for a bumpy 2026

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.

Meg on SMSFs: First glimpse of revised Division 296 tax

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.

Ray Dalio on 2025’s real story, Trump, and what’s next

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.

10 fearless forecasts for 2026

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.

13 million spare bedrooms: Rethinking Australia’s housing shortfall

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.

Latest Updates

3 ways to fix Australia’s affordability crisis

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.

Superannuation

The Division 296 tax is still a quasi-wealth tax

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.

Superannuation

Is it really ‘your’ super fund?

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?

Shares

Inflation is the biggest destroyer of wealth

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.

Shares

Picking the next sector winner

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.

Infrastructure

What investors should expect when investing in infrastructure: yield

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.

Investment strategies

Valuing AI: Extreme bubble, new golden era, or both

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.

Sponsors

Alliances

Site Map

About Firstlinks

© 2026 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.