![George Ray, 85, has small amounts of money in super and in savings accounts.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/x/5/u/5/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.grw1vx.12uqus.png/1475804619550.jpg)
Money features
![Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/t/t/y/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.gry5px.png/1476010923672.jpg)
Women half as likely to benefit from tax cuts as men
Male mining engineers, school principals, surgeons and anaesthetists will be the biggest beneficiaries of the high-end tax cut currently before the Senate, with men more than twice as likely to benefit as women.
![Rather than negative gearing, why not earn a profit on your investments and pay income tax? You're still ahead.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/w/a/l/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.grwamr.png/1475726734852.jpg)
Negative gearing isn't all it's cracked up to be
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![Home ownership is a good foundation for building wealth.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/s/v/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.grwrke.png/1475760280738.jpg)
8 reasons home ownership is one of the best investments you can make
You may have to take on a large debt to buy it, but the family home also becomes your biggest asset.
![The strong performance of Mesoblast moved Money editor Caitlin Fitzsimmons to third in the Shares Race, from second-last ...](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/l/e/m/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.grwyff.png/1475918778485.jpg)
Race winner posts 33 per cent gain with back-to-back wins
Money reader Mendy Amzalak has ended the four-week Shares Race with one of the most emphatic wins ever.
![How banks work.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/x/d/y/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.grx2t3.png/1476000279286.jpg)
What if the banks were forced to treat us like everyone else?
Australia's bank chiefs could be forgiven for thinking they've survived the worst, says Peter Martin.
![Financial literacy is useless unless you can separate fact from fiction.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/w/x/x/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.grx2hm.png/1475800882934.jpg)
Financial literacy won't help if you don't get your facts straight
A little knowledge can be more dangerous than blissful ignorance.
![A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for defined benefit pensions.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/8/i/2/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.grx007.png/1475798606247.jpg)
Inequities in defined benefit pensions
The draft legislation contains tough and in some cases unrealistic valuations of the non-commutable defined benefit pensions received by retirees.
![NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn at the parliamentary bank inquiry last week.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/w/5/v/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.grwbab.png/1475826574633.jpg)
What the banking inquiry means for shareholders
The big bank CEOs seem contrite at the parliamentary inquiry, but the banks are probably safe from real consequences.
![A pair of bronze Buddhist attendants, 18th century.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/u/u/z/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gruuhe.png/1475585497363.jpg)
Chinese investors expected at sale of Buddhist and Hindu statues
Demand for Asian art is largely driven by the Chinese economy, which dipped in 2015 but appears to be up again this year.
![Illustration: Simon Letch](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/k/0/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtk0j.png/1475590296071.jpg)
Is this super option too good to be true?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Super fund members are entitled to know where their funds are investing.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/n/g/8/c/image.related.landscape.120x80.grs2hd.png/1475566476349.jpg)
Super funds keeping members in the dark for too long
Super fund members have a right to know what their funds are doing with their money.
![A little pain now in terms of planning can mean you avoid a financial hangover later on.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/k/f/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtkcu.png/1475455706297.jpg)
Plan ahead for the festive season to avoid a financial hangover
A little pain now in terms of planning can mean you avoid a whole lot of pain later on.
![A financial agreement gives peace of mind for (from left) Simon Lyster, Galileo Lima, 10, Shahrazad Lima 13, and ...](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/r/2/t/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.grr1pf.png/1475625459247.jpg)
How to keep what's yours when a relationship fails
Maintaining separate finances does not protect your assets if your relationship breaks up, but a properly drawn-up binding financial agreement does.
![Wealthy public servants look set to keep nearly all of their superannuation concessions under looming reforms](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/a/q/n/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtmhi.png/1475494159009.jpg)
Elite public servants to escape Morrison's super axe
The wealthy elite of the Australian Public Service to keep nearly all their generous superannuation concessions.
![Jackson Pollock's 'Blue Poles' is on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts in London for the 'Abstract Expressionism' exhibition.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/l/f/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtlca.png/1475806359793.jpg)
Was buying Blue Poles for $1.3m in 1973 worth it?
The government was mocked for spending $1.3 million on Blue Poles in 1973. It's now worth $350 million. Was it a good investment?
![Invest for the long term and then you can enjoy a steak sandwich in peace.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/l/1/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtl0u.png/1475457778492.jpg)
Sandwiches for the long run
Contracts for differences let you short companies, but it adds short-term stress to investment decisions.
![Jordanne Taylor](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/r/s/p/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.grmyzr.png/1475368275315.jpg)
The call that changed Jordanne's life forever
The $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme means improved financial freedom for participants and their families.
![Speculative stocks, including a junior miner, have played well for the shares race leader.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/9/h/p/2/image.related.landscape.120x80.grs9qk.png/1475231159281.jpg)
The king of speculation surges ahead
Money reader Mendy Amzalak is doing it again. He has picked two highly speculative stocks that are coming up trumps.
![The compromise is fairer, but there's still a double standard in the new super rules.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/m/r/s/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.grr2gu.png/1475815554230.jpg)
The double standard in the new superannuation rules
Accumulation fund members are treated more harshly than defined benefit fund members under the new super rules.
![Will Donald Trump be the next US president, or Hillary Clinton? Some fund managers don't care either way because they ...](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/q/t/i/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.grqthl.png/1475473496805.jpg)
Why I changed my superannuation strategy for the US election
It's time to tune into the US election. You may not get a vote, but you can prepare - financially at least.
![Growing numbers of Australians are renting their homes and investing elsewhere.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/r/1/g/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.grr14d.png/1475567463617.jpg)
Catherine left an abusive ex and wants to rebuild her finances
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon has a new column helping fight financial injustice.
![The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme ends in December.](/web/20161009140932im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/s/c/r/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.grschi.png/1475217892553.jpg)
Solar households to earn up to 200 times more in Urth Energy offer
A company offers people the chance to be active players in the energy market.