Investing

Doubling your money when selling a house is wonderful – but the difference between doubling it in two years and doubling it in 20 years is immense. Photo Dallas Kilponen

THE MOTLEY FOOL

House price profits aren't as good as you think

Scott Phillips   The gains look impressive … but are they, really?

YOUR QUESTIONS

What's my super plan?

Thinking of retiring? It pays to do your homework first.

George Cochrane   I intend to retire this year and have to decide what to do with my superannuation that will complement my part aged pension.

COLLECTING

Opportunity for high-end shoppers

Archive vintage fashion store manager Ellana Powell wearing Celine Blue double satin dress, Comme Des Garcons jacket and shoes.

Stephen Crafti   Investing in high quality modern designer fashion can be money well spent and some top-end secondhand stores are cornering the market.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

A Boyd in the hand...

Surrounded by the cream of his collection Richard Mackay cradles a favourite, by Merric Boyd

James Cockington   A collection of more than 200 pieces of classic Australian pottery is up for auction.

UNDER THE RADAR

Yowie set for monster US rollout

Myth or monster? Either way the chocolate Yowie is poised for big things in the US.

Richard Hemming   Kids' chocolate maker looking to move into major US stores.

MARGIN CALL

Temptation of margin lending may prove too much

It's alluring, but you don't get much wriggle room with margin lending.

Richard Livingston   If you want to borrow to buy shares, other avenues might provide a better way to do it.

GETTING IT REIT

Catching the bus to the wrong bubble

David Potts - dink - dinkus

David Potts   Property is booming but investors won't be getting anywhere near the rental yield that listed real estate investment trusts can offer.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

How to get your kids off to a flying start

Delay the gratification of spending and the rewards will be handsome.

Scott Phillips   Don't let my high school maths teacher's investment advice be in vain.

THE 'HONEST' INVESTOR

Future of super will be in your own hands

Marcus Padley

Marcus Padley   Before you know it, you'll be able to run your superannuation investments yourself.

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

RBA's hands tied as property prices go through the roof

The Australian housing market is in the grip of an irrational exuberance.

John Addis   If a recession does trigger a property-price crash, it won't be Glenn Stevens' fault.

Pay heed to Warren's words of wisdom

David Potts - dink - dinkus

David Potts   The best free advice for investing you'll ever get is the annual letter to his shareholders from the world's richest investor, Warren Buffett.

WRITING ON THE WALL

Star signatures? No thanks. Let me take a selfie

Rising star Massimo Luongo takes a selfie with the Asian Cup-winning Socceroos.

James Cockington   Celebrity snaps seem set to consign signed memorabilia to the scrapheap.

HOT STOCK

Gold Coast property set to soar

Coming up roses: A proposed Brisbane residential tower plan by Sunland Group.

Greg Smith   A Queensland focus and an astute property profile management makes Sunland a good option.

UNDER THE RADAR

Doubts grow over dividends

Watch your dollars: A high dividend payout cannot be sustained for long-term profit growth.

Richard Hemming   When the hunt for yield ends, it’s time to head for the hills.

Beware the drowsy Chinese dragon

Breathing fire: When the Chinese dragon slows down, so too will Australia's economy.

Scott Phillips   Think Chinese housing doesn’t impact you? Think again…

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Don't follow the herd - opposite direction could pay off

Following the herd and your herd-driven broker might not bring you the best returns.

Nathan Bell   Research finds that swimming against the tide can be rewarding.

BUILDING WEALTH

Scrooge landlords not helping themselves

If property owners are not maintenance minded, tenants might not tell them when something major happens.

Nina Hendy   Tight-fisted investors are public enemy number one in the renting world. Here’s how to avoid being one.

WELL-HEELED

Forget magic wands - make a plan and make it happen

Melissa Browne Money columinst

Melissa Browne   It's all very well having a plan, the hard part is putting it into action.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

Gilding via Chile brings French chic to McMansions

Auctioneer Christian McCann with one of a pair of 19th century Sevres and ormolu vases which sold for $8250.

James Cockington   Our big new homes need filling. Many people want to fill them with old furniture. Auction houses are happy to help.

UNDER THE RADAR

Capral buoyed by Chinese dumping decision

Caption here please

Richard Hemming   It might be a poster child for our manufacturing woes but small aluminium producer Capral just got some rare good news.

THE 'HONEST' BROKER

Why worry? Human advisers are on the way out

With the click-and-buy concept, very soon the purchase of financial products will be automated.

Marcus Padley   Before too long most of the products we buy from financial advisers will be a click away online.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

Getting the best out of your super fund

Just like a chocolate box, there are many types of funds to select from.

Scott Phillips   The process can seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Hidden dangers in the mad dash to better yield

You have a goal, but you could be heading for a tumble.

Nathan Bell   Beware of investing in companies that raise dividends - their share price may rise but they may not be making any more money.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

Memories of Melba up for grabs

An English sterling silver toast rack, London, 1895; an American silver toast rack bearing the mark ''Sterling'' and a further plated rack. Estimate $300-500.

James Cockington   Pieces from the personal history of Australia's original diva - including a selection of toast racks - are going under the hammer.

GETTING STARTED

World's best advice - track the market

American billionaire Warren Buffett, chief executive and chairman of investment company Berkshire Hathaway.

David Potts   If you want to beat the highly paid fund managers, Warren Buffett says the key is to be patient.

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Telstra’s dividend reinvestment plan is lazy investing

To DRP or not to DRP?: Telstra is reactivating its dividend reinvestment plan.

Nathan Bell   Telstra shareholders can now compound their stocks in the company, but at what price?

MARKET MOVERS

All good, but Wednesday could change everything

A trader at the New York Stock Exchange makes a call last year as Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen talks about the economy.

David Potts   Expect stock market fireworks as US Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen is grilled by Congress over when rates will rise.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

How to profit from declining dollar

If the Aussie dollar has already fallen, where's the benefit of buying US shares now? Here's why: we don't know if this is yet the bottom for the Aussie dollar.

Scott Phillips   The currency has fallen… here’s what to do next.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Weigh up your needs as you pick your investments

A carefully constructed investment portfolio will ensure you remain in good shape.

Thabojan Rasiah   A portfolio with a good balance of growth and defensive investments is more likely to provide you with the cash flow you need.

GETTING STARTED

What do company reports really mean?

When it comes to analysing company reports, try to keep things simple.

David Potts   To get to the bottom of the bottom line you want more money in the company coffers at the end of the year than at the start.