![Many miners earn high incomes but spend it all on things like nice cars.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/r/g/c/f/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.gswglc.12uqus.png/1480031461805.jpg)
Money features
![Westpac lifts interest rates on fixed rate mortgages](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/4/6/0/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsxj5m.png/1480052536949.jpg)
Big banks 'will follow' Westpac's rate hike
Westpac Bank is the first of the majors to increase interest rates on its fixed rate home loans and investment loans, but market watchers says it likely the other majors will follow.Â
![The US Federal Reserve is expected to lift official interest rates in the US.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/w/e/6/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gswe4x.png/1479951720573.jpg)
Rising interest rates make bonds less attractive
US official rates could soon rise, so now's the time to review the merits of bond and other fixed interest fund investments.
![<P>](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/q/1/b/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstqzh.png/1479822543780.jpg)
Unfair treatment for defined benefit pensions
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Pension changes may encourage retirees to hide cash.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/k/h/g/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gssddh.png/1479793143584.jpg)
Better-off age pensioners have incentives to hoard cash
Some retirees may be tempted to stash cash at home, but there are downsides.
![Pam Graudenz, resident of a retirement village and vice president and village liaison officer from the Retirement ...](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/t/u/n/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstued.png/1479771947464.jpg)
Buying into a retirement village? Beware these traps
Don't let the sales hype and glossy marketing blind you to the financial reality of buying into a retirement village.
!["You are what you eat but also a result of how often and how much you eat": Assistant Minister for Rural Health David ...](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/u/z/i/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsuw17.png/1479898294042.jpg)
A soft drink tax will make us less fat. But here's what it will do to prices
The United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, Fiji, Mexico, South Africa and parts of America have sugar taxes. Australia could be next.
![For retiring couples today, there is a good chance that at least one partner will live to be 100.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/t/q/b/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstq0l.png/1479686147486.jpg)
Mind the gap – insure against longevity
From next year, retirees should be able to insure against running out of money in their old age.
![The average super account balance is just $42,000, but nest eggs are bigger than that figure implies.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/a/q/n/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstt1s.png/1479905905489.jpg)
How does your super nest egg compare?
Australia's compulsory superannuation system turns 25 next year. So what have we got to show for it?
![Many investors turn to stocks such as Telstra for the income.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/2/v/3/d/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstsqt.png/1479690701733.jpg)
Time to sell 'safe income' stocks
Interest rates are rising globally and it's time for retirees to think about their investment strategy.
![Renting can make more financial sense than buying in some circumstances.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/g/5/s/t/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsu0lh.png/1479812218386.jpg)
Why I own a property but rent my home
Rent may be dead money, but it beats being a slave to the mortgage.
![Seniors are doing better in real terms than younger people earning the same incomes.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/q/s/7/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.gst8o1.png/1479707078611.jpg)
End the age of entitlement - for seniors
Australia's tax system has become skewed towards a growing and apparently untouchable group of 'taxed nots' - they are older Australians who pay roughly $1 billion per year less tax than younger Australians in the same circumstances, according to a new Grattan Institute report.
![PROPERTY. PIC RAYNER. PROPERTY SPLIT UPS. Generic divorce picture.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/i/7/7/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gslcl8.png/1479612784457.jpg)
How to have a good divorce
Getting divorced or becoming separated is the worst financial decision that anyone is most likely to make.
![Credit card companies will often entice new users with a honeymoon offer.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/b/v/x/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrajr.png/1479354205839.jpg)
How banks cash in with parallel deals
How consumer finance companies cash in with parallel deals.
![Investors are expecting continuing volatility in wake of the Trump victory.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/m/t/g/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gss48h.png/1479710534846.jpg)
Six-week shares race ends with all but Dartboard underwater
The US presidential race that saw Hillary Clinton ahead in the polls and Donald Trump's surprise victory created havoc on markets.
![Rachel White is a reformed shopaholic and she uses techniques she learnt from a wardrobe consultant.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/s/a/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsssfu.png/1479596954067.jpg)
Wardrobe lessons from a reformed shopaholic
Shopping addiction is the female equivalent to gambling, a psychologist says.
![Donald Trump will take over as US president on January 20.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/q/9/6/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrhd6.png/1479773544387.jpg)
Getting the measure of Trump is a short-term game
Don't rush a decision or change a plan just because there's a new US president.
![How much will those Christmas presents really cost?](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/z/r/0/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrb6f.png/1479889819751.jpg)
Three dumb ways you could double your Christmas spend
Think ahead for Christmas and limit how much you spend.
![Peter Martin dinkus.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/k/q/9/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gssj23.png/1480022377334.jpg)
The case for a basic income, no questions asked
What if the right to an income was as basic as the right to vote?
![Men are less likely to seek treatment for depression, and this can intensify the associated problems.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/6/t/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gss6gn.png/1479465657355.jpg)
The money problems most likely to affect men
It's a man's world, but being a man doesn't always pay big.
![Sydney's economy is exposed to global changes.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/8/8/2/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrjp9.png/1479433181376.jpg)
Why bonds are not really 'safer' than shares
While bonds generally guarantee return of capital, you can still take a capital loss if inflation rises.
![​The Aussie dollar is trending lower, but not enough to boost manufacturing.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/g/x/e/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrntw.png/1479418677464.jpg)
Trump win could still bring higher interest rates
If the US Federal Reserve raises rates, Australia may follow suit.
![<P>](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/v/y/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsriiz.png/1479437864907.jpg)
What type of private pension should we take?
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![Houng Lau bought the fourth property on which she had a building report.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/i/o/m/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsom7q.png/1479091517617.jpg)
Home buyers forking out fees to unqualified building inspectors
House hunters seeking to avoid nasty surprises should know that not all building inspections are equal.
![DIY fund trustees think their funds perform better than they really do.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/p/k/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsol6j.png/1479087515127.jpg)
DIY fund trustees fly blind without returns objective
Most of those with DIY super funds don't track the performance of their funds against any conventional published benchmark or returns objectives.
![Illustration: Simon Letch](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/k/o/7/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gskist.png/1479203957773.jpg)
Ask Noel: will our age pension rise or fall in 2017?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Most people don't know how credit scores work.](/web/20161125083449im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/o/r/2/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsotte.png/1479171457252.jpg)
Millions at risk of default in next 12 months but don't know it
A leading credit agency says almost 3 million Australians are at risk of credit default or other adverse credit event in the next 12 months.