Planning
What the new world order means for your hip pocket
The victory of the billionaire maverick Donald Trump to become 45th President of the United States may well lead to a period of political uncertainty.
It's the season for saving to enjoy a debt-free new year
With just 49 sleeps until Christmas there are still many things to organise, including, most likely, the present buying.
How to increase your income – focus on outcomes not hours
If we want something, we can either reduce expenditure, or increase our income.
Five rules for negotiating your pay
It can be a nerve-racking process when you begin negotiating a salary.
Low investment returns bite
​Funding a comfortable retirement has always been a challenge for many Australians but now it's even more difficult.
Seven money survival secrets for school leavers
Most school leavers are – sorry – spectacularly unprepared for the real world. Here are the vital survival secrets you need to hear now – before it’s too late.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
When can you afford to retire?
Once you know what your retirement looks like, you can figure out how much money you will need to fund it each year and then how soon you can actually do it.
The three things low-income earners can do to get ahead
Raj never thought he'd need a financial counsellor. Then he nearly lost it all through a run of bad luck.
Can robots beat humans as financial advisers?
Jason Lim wants to save enough for a deposit on an apartment but a traditional adviser is not for him.
How one family fought the government on aged care fees and won
There is a ludicrous situation caused by the government's inability to get Centrelink and the aged care authorities on the same page - but you may be able to force a different outcome.
Exits and oxygen masks: create your emergency financial plan
We need to start thinking about our own financial emergency plans while everything is clear sailing.
Retirees have little reason to save under the new pension rules
The changes in the asset test for the pension come at the same time as official interest rates and conservative investment returns are at historic low levels.
Financial literacy won't help if you don't get your facts straight
A little knowledge can be more dangerous than blissful ignorance.
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.
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 couple poised for retirement plans to 'hit the road'
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
Ask Noel: can I increase my pension by buying a jetty?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
What you can do if you're facing compulsory acquisition
Advice for people who lose their homes at the hands of their own government.
Is private school worth it? Paying for kids' education
Cathy Filardo knows the value of a good education; she is, after all, a teacher.
Don't downsize your pension when you downsize your home
In January the pension assets test will change in the biggest shake-up in 10 years. Preparation is crucial for retirees.
Reduce the hassle of reapplying for the pension
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
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.
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.
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.