Market's small fry do better than blue chips
John Collett Despite the Australian sharemarket being dragged down by the banks and miners the market's newbie listings are flying high.
SUPER & FUNDS
DIY super funds not safe from fraudsters
John Collett A new ruling makes it plain DIY super fund members are on their own if they lose money through fraud or theft.
INVESTMENT
Time is right for positive gearing a property portfolio
John Collett Australians' obsession with property investment is about to be tested.
Minerals for new technologies pay off for tipsters
John Collett Despite stacking the field with three Fairfax Media types, private investor Clare Mullen has edged out the AFR's Phil Baker and Jessica Gardner to take top spot in week 2 of the shares race.
Housing, jobs widen generational divide
John Collett One in three parents believe their children are unlikely to enjoy the same standard of living as them, a major survey suggests.
SUPER & FUNDS
Don't be disillusioned by super savings of the wealthy
John Collett It can be demoralising to see how the wealthy are accumulating massive amounts of money in their super compared to how much the rest of us have.
BANKS
Big bank 'dividend trade' far from over, analysts say
John Collett Increasing bad debt provisions, dividends under threat and falling share prices are giving long-term big-bank shareholders pause to think.
SUPER & FUNDS
More to a super fund's returns than its size
John Collett The great divide in the performances of super funds is between not-for-profit and retail funds and not so much their size, figures from SuperRatings show.
Mid-range smartphones on SIM-only plans cheapest way to go
John Collett Australians love their smartphones. With the release of new premium handsets from Apple and Samsung, many people will be tempted to upgrade.
Petrol prices fall in time for Easter long weekend
John Collett In welcome news for those filling-up their cars for the Easter weekend road-trip, petrol prices are falling.
SUPER & FUNDS
Rock-star fund managers mostly yesterday's heroes
John Collett It doesn't seem all that long ago that some fund managers had almost rock-star status, at least among investors.
How to beat health insurance price hikes
John Collett People with private health insurance will be hit from April 1 with another round of big premium rises, but there are ways for policyholders to ease the hip-pocket pain.
SUPER & FUNDS
Some accountants to give up on DIY super fund trustees
John Collett DIY fund trustees who use the services of accountants need to ask them what licensing arrangements they will have in place from July 1.
INSURANCE
How to rate your life insurance policy in the wake of the CommInsure scandal
John Collett Life insurance is the most complex financial product that most consumers are ever going to buy.
SUPER & FUNDS
Telstra dividend still a good call
John Collett BHP Billiton has cut its dividend and there's speculation about the big banks, but Telstra's dividend looks secure.
All the single ladies
John Collett If a man is not a financial plan, what do women need to be doing instead?
HOME LOANS
How 'ideal' borrowers can get great mortgage deals from lenders
John Collett Are you the "ideal" mortgage borrower? If, so, lenders want your business.
SUPER & FUNDS
Australians dream of early retirement but can't afford it
John Collett More Australians want to retire early than just about any other nationality, but we are also less likely to afford it.
SUPER & FUNDS
Finance and investment: sharemarket fear drives surge in gold price
John Collett The gold price has risen about 20 per cent since the start of this year.
The biggest money mistakes people make
John Collett Intimate relationships that end with one partner having control of the finances top the list of money mistakes people say they make.
