Maintaining separate finances does not protect your assets if your relationship breaks up, but a properly drawn-up binding financial agreement does.

A little pain now in terms of planning can mean you avoid a whole lot of pain later on.

Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.

Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.

Advice for people who lose their homes at the hands of their own government.

Cathy Filardo knows the value of a good education; she is, after all, a teacher.

In January the pension assets test will change in the biggest shake-up in 10 years. Preparation is crucial for retirees.

Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.

The idea that your home does not count when you are assessed for the pension is political fiction.

Anthony Bianco maximises the rewards points for his credit card but diligently pays off the balance every month.

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.

Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.

There are powerful vested interests pushing the idea that Australians need to save more for retirement.

Jim Buda thinks he was a bit "delinquent" in teaching his children about money, but now he's gone into business with his daughter Bella.

It's probably OK to go through life without knowing much about washer sizes, but financial management is a skill that all adults need.

How do you place a financial guard rail? You become accountable, you put in place rules and boundaries.

Capital gains tax on the family home is not to difficult to understand if you take it step by step.

Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.

Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.

Choosing your first credit card is equal parts daunting and exciting.

Reading personal finance books helped Australian writer Emma Vuletic through a painful divorce in New York City.

Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.

Even though the government is still to finalise the precise details of the budget super changes, retirees have sufficient information to plan ahead.

Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.

Take-up of car insurance sits at about 83 per cent in Australia, but only 27 per cent of people have protected their most important asset.

​If you're smart, over your lifetime a deliberate trickle of "me" money will become a big personal pool of cash – which you can then happily splash. But all too often, slip-ups along the way instead drain a fun fund.

While older retirees may be reluctant to dissipate large amounts of capital to retain their previous pension entitlement, the investment returns now provide compelling reasons to do so.

Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.

You won't find yourself raised from the dead by dark magic and potentially be the rightful heir to seven kingdoms, but you may have a complicated personal life.