nestegg’s top 10 most-read stories for 2019

By Grace Ormsby and Cameron Micallef

December 31 2019
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From the handing down of the final report in the banking royal commission to a hotly contested federal election and heavy scrutiny of the Australian retirement income system, it’s been a huge year for finance in Australia.

So, what stories and revelations made nestegg readers really tick?

We’ve pulled together our biggest stories for the year, as decided by you:

10. Australians not prepared for ‘largest’ transfer in history

December

Australians are set to receive the largest pool of money in history, yet they are unprepared for how to use it.

Perpetual Private’s Andrew Baker, general manager of private clients, believes the majority of parents wish their children would use their inheritance wisely and build for the future, but research shows the opposite is happening.

9. Over 2 million Aussies tipped to be captured by franking credits changes

April

For the first five months of the year, nestegg could barely go a day without someone, somewhere mentioning franking credits.

The Financial Services Council threw its hat in the ring and offered up its two cents on the contentious proposal by the Labor Party to end cash refunds on excess dividend imputation credits if it was elected into power.

8. Which lenders lowered their interest rates?

June

After the Reserve Bank of Australia made its first change to the official cash rate in almost three years, it’s no surprise that readers were eager to find out if their bank was going to pass on the savings!

7. Australia’s 10 highest-paid CEOs

November

A woman being crowned the title of highest-paid CEO in Australia for the first time peaked the interest of many nestegg readers.

It was reported that “overall CEO pay has remained relatively modest compared with the $30 million-plus pay figures for the likes of Macquarie’s Allan Moss, Rupert Murdoch and Wal King” that emerged prior to the global financial crisis.

6. What’s wrong with the Australian economy

December

The Australian economy has seen its ups and downs, with consumers keen to know what will happen next.

In December, a fund manager asked why after a period of sustained growth, the Australian cash rate is the same as the Bank of England’s rate.

5. What Scott Morrison’s win means for Australian investors

May

Was it really only just over six months ago that Australia had a federal election?

Rounding out the top five for nestegg’s most-read stories in 2019 is this analysis of what a ScoMo win meant for Australia’s investors.

Half a year down the track, which of his promises have been kept?

January

Family and relationship breakdowns are unfortunately all too common an occurrence, which is what made this lawyer’s warning such a widely and consistently read story by nestegg readers over the entirety of 2019.

3. Australia’s most complained about super funds

November

It’s been a huge year for financial services regulation since the handing down of commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s final report in the banking royal commission.

With the creation of a new complaints authority, and the prevalence of data from this authority, nestegg was able to reveal the five fund options that have been giving their members the most grief.

2. 5 tax deductions you shouldn’t attempt to claim

July

In the lead-up to tax time for the 2018-19 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office released a list of the most outrageous claims it had received for the previous year as a warning to taxpayers.

1. Is your super fund in hot water?

May

nestegg’s most-read story for 2019 reported on the penalty given to one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds – HostPlus – for alleged misleading claims about the “independent” nature of the advice it provided members.

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