![School's out and it's time to think about your financial future.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/e/d/s/a/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.gsecx1.12uqus.png/1478055328822.jpg)
Money features
![Illustration: Simon Letch](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/a/4/4/t/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsef7e.png/1478008741734.jpg)
My adult son is living at home. How can he maximise his savings?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Ally Lancaster with her son Connor McLeod, who was born blind and convinced the Reserve Bank to introduce tactile banknotes.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/5/a/q/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsdcbc.png/1477789705023.jpg)
New cards to extend banking options for the blind
For NSW teenager Connor McLeod, who is blind, using an automated teller machine on his own has not been possible until now.
![Share prices were down this week due to poorer-than-expected earnings updates.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/e/q/2/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gscsdh.png/1477636392623.jpg)
Sharemarket heavy weather a challenge for tipsters
It has been a tough week for our tipsters given that the sharemarket went backwards.
![Many home insurance policies exclude leaky plumbing because it's a maintenance issue.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/1/h/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsc1iz.png/1477985752522.jpg)
Nicole helps… expose leaky house insurance policies
Financial expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon has a new column tackling consumer finance problems.
![Good financial planning should address your goals.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/s/5/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gscryx.png/1477783566494.jpg)
How to find a good financial adviser
My stock answer is: "That is no different from your asking me how to find a good doctor, accountant or motor mechanic. I really don't know."
![The Tabcorp-Tatts deal is smart, but the outcome is far from guaranteed.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/5/e/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsdbbr.png/1477642426596.jpg)
Last roll of the dice for Tatts and Tabcorp
There are no shortage of gamblers. But growth is hard to come by.
![Uninsured victims of the Brisbane flood, Sharon and Jonathan Cauldwell, lost almost $420,000 but are determined their ...](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/b/s/n/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsbrwp.png/1477636617386.jpg)
Are you ready for disaster season?
Brisbane hospitality executives Jonathan and Sharon Cauldwell were hit hard after their home was inundated in the 2011 floods.
![Self-funded retirees will struggle under the new age pension rules.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/b/k/t/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsckdh.png/1477603879558.jpg)
Life is set to get tough for self-funded retirees
Self-funded retirees with assets will be struggling to obtain after-tax investment returns higher than the new age pension asset test taper rate of 7.8 per cent.
![A reader is fed up with working and keen to retire in her 50s.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/k/9/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsck7l.png/1477605330818.jpg)
Should we dissipate assets to maximise our age pension?
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![More people are accessing their super to pay for stomach surgery to control their weight.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/g/2/q/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsbtz3.png/1477781728742.jpg)
Rising obesity drives raid on super to pay for surgery
More people are accessing their super to pay for stomach surgery to control their weight as awareness grows that retirement savings can be used to pay for medical treatments.
![Life insurance bought through an adviser has a greater chance of success at claims time.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/m/c/9/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs4m8s.png/1477270929532.jpg)
Life insurance advice reforms will help better protect consumers
Commissions are still with us when it comes to life insurance.
![<P>](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/3/1/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs93ak.png/1477274060732.jpg)
Will we get a health care card if we lose our part pension?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Dressing up for the Melbourne Cup is an Australian tradition.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/0/v/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs90ck.png/1478059599355.jpg)
How to shop for ethical fashion on a budget
It may pay to think before you buy.
![The average person's wealth doubles from when they're in the 25-34 age bracket to a decade later.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/5/q/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs95gn.png/1477568206062.jpg)
The decade that doubles the average person's wealth
The greatest wealth divide is between those just starting out, and their 35-plus, established selves. Beyond that, the growth in your bottom line is slow and steady.
![The Big Short: Steve Eisman's character was portrayed by Hollywood actor Steve Carell.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/w/l/z/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs9gfp.png/1477358511986.jpg)
Motley Fool: The lessons we haven't learnt from the GFC
Watching The Big Short is a sobering experience. Here's what it can teach us.
![NAB is switching its credit card customers to Visa.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/9/y/l/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs94lq.png/1477367122705.jpg)
NAB credit card customers risk bad credit record
NAB credit card customers who do not update their direct debit arrangements when they are issued their new Visa credit card risk damaging their credit records.
![People who are prone to be bulls or bears are displaying cognitive bias.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/m/w/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs94x6.png/1477277297294.jpg)
The reason traders lose money
If you read some of the books on trading, the suggestion is that 60-90 per cent of traders lose money.
![Avocado or housing? You choose.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/8/5/u/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7ti7.png/1477255633277.jpg)
Avocado economics for first-home buyers
We seemed to spend the week obsessed with avocado brunches and property prices. This was Peak Australia.
![It helps to cut up old credit cards when trying to climb out of debt.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/l/c/5/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs6q3i.png/1476933730195.jpg)
Nicole helps… beat a $20,000 credit card debt
How to avoid bankruptcy with smart credit repair and a good 0 per cent balance transfer credit card.
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 13: Steven Golbach looks at flight Centre window on George St, on October 13, 2016 in ...](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/1/e/t/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs6cf0.png/1477013581954.jpg)
Planning travel money and insurance early pays off
Travel money and travel insurance should be organised well in advance of the upcoming holiday season, experts warn.
![Centrelink expects pensioners to report varying income and also an inheritance within 14 days.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/4/x/l/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs4vwu.png/1476921447966.jpg)
How to report variable income and inheritances to Centrelink
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![Catherine Robson with her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Catherine gave a financial talk to her daughter's Grade 3 ...](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/6/n/q/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs6nl1.png/1476931914525.jpg)
Are you smarter than a third grader when it comes to money?
There are really only three things you need to do to become financially independent.
![You don't have to be pulled into full-scale financial planning.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/c/r/q/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7ewc.png/1477006320312.jpg)
The trick to seeing a financial adviser
You don't have to be pulled into full-scale financial planning, where the adviser starts with a $3000-plus statement and then has you on an annual retainer.
![Several employees of Crown Resorts are being held by Chinese authorities.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/f/p/s/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7diy.png/1477012069653.jpg)
Mining services companies ahead while Crown falls on China arrests
Richard Hemming continues to build his lead in week two of the six-week Shares Race.
![Super makes most sense when you're working because of the tax advantages.](/web/20161103021653im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/4/g/q/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs5u5f.png/1477376636398.jpg)
Why some retirees are better off cashing in their super
Superannuation is a tool, which when used properly is highly effective. But like all investment strategies it has a cost.