![Treasurer Scott Morrison and Kelly O'Dwyer minister for Revenue at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 15 September ...](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/g/o/v/2/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.grgwkt.12uqus.png/1473910270440.jpg)
Money features
![<P>](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/g/5/g/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.grg43e.png/1473914779526.jpg)
The best way to give property to your children
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![There aren't many former public servants with a defined benefit pension of more than $100,000 but, for anyone in that ...](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/5/v/h/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.grg87r.png/1473863224008.jpg)
Retired public servants in the dark over tax on pensions
Former public servants with generous retirement benefits face a grey area in determining how their pension will be taxed.
![Treasurer Scott Morrison's watered-down reform is better than no reform, but still appears remarkably generous to those ...](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/g/q/k/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.grgr9f.png/1473916152905.jpg)
Super change brings lump-sum tax into focus
If you were hoping the superannuation proposals the government took to the election would provide certainty around super for years to come, you will be disappointed.
![<P>](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/y/n/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.grdynm.png/1473779647749.jpg)
Reduce the hassle of reapplying for the pension
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Online marketplaces are paying higher interest for cash but come with risks](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/v/f/w/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.grci9l.png/1473891167706.jpg)
P2P lenders not like having money with a bank
Online marketplaces can offer higher interest rates than banks, but customers need to realise that's not the only difference, writes John Collett.
![American Express was independently rated by Choice and Mozo to have some of the best rewards programs.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/b/f/v/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.grbfjb.png/1473652823882.jpg)
Be a power user of credit card rewards programs
Anthony Bianco maximises the rewards points for his credit card but diligently pays off the balance every month.
![Petar Sabados owns a slice of two investment properties, which he tracks on his phone.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/c/k/l/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gre0eg.png/1473721434049.jpg)
Fractional ownership of residential property a first
Petar Sabados wants to buy an investment property; but he needs to save the deposit.
![Marie Najjar with painters, (R) Raymond Maikhael and his son Steven from Maikhael Painting.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/b/e/s/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.grbef0.png/1473548696951.jpg)
Renovation boom means a shortage of good tradies
The renovation boom in Sydney and Melbourne means a shortage of tradespeople. Money shows you how to find a good one.
![The Share Race was won on the back on a single share pick.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/o/h/2/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.grcd6y.png/1473387564479.jpg)
Dramatic finish to Shares Race
The Australian Financial Review's Phil Baker, after seemingly having the Shares Race wrapped up, has been overtaken in a dramatic finale to the contest.
![The family home is protected in public policy settings.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/5/w/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.grd5pz.png/1473771613269.jpg)
The truth about home ownership and the age pension
The idea that your home does not count when you are assessed for the pension is political fiction.
![If the bills are in your name, you're liable.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/f/x/y/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.grcado.png/1473633739349.jpg)
Nicole helps: fix a broken credit score
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon commences a new weekly consumer finance help column, focused on helping readers with their money woes.
![Is it braver to be a contestant in Ten's Survivor, or to buy Ten Network shares?](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/l/z/9/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gra48o.png/1473227195651.jpg)
Is it fair for my shares to be consolidated?
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![There are still reasons to consider transition to retirement.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/m/h/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.grcag4.png/1473340626047.jpg)
Transition to retirement pensions retain appeal
The government plans to remove the tax-free status of all income received by transition to retirement funds from next July, but they still have some benefits.
![If you're fiscally constrained or simply not hung up on having the trendiest gadget, there are decent smartphone options ...](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/c/k/h/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.grck51.png/1473386853241.jpg)
How to score a free smartphone
If you're nonplussed by the latest smartphone with a selfie mode that autocorrects blemishes, there is a decent range of phones on offer that are basically free.
![In circulation.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/9/g/x/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.grcjln.png/1473497036088.jpg)
Why going cashless is the next next moral challenge
Reckon we're cashless? Think again.
![The LNG industry is a major driver of growth, but not of jobs.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/3/9/c/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.grcuoe.png/1473730604343.jpg)
The answer to Australia's economic growth puzzle
It's the biggest economic riddle of the moment, but there's a simple(ish) answer.
![The banks have a problem with sales culture.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/i/i/f/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.grca1t.png/1473635880643.jpg)
The cultural problem at the banks
The banks are back in the firing line again, and this time there are even calls for a Royal Commission.
![Lower earners need all the help they can get to build their super. Illustration: Karl Hilzinger](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/5/2/t/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gr7dw6.png/1473153871747.jpg)
Top-up super to low paid held hostage by reform package
The longer the politics over the reforms to the superannuation tax breaks continues, the worse it will be for the growing proportion of the workforce working part-time and casually.
![Knowledge asymmetry can cause problems when dealing with tradies.](/web/20160915150723im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/6/x/4/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gr6x4n.png/1472776418229.jpg)
Plumbing, planning and the curse of knowledge
It's probably OK to go through life without knowing much about washer sizes, but financial management is a skill that all adults need.