![Catriona Wallace is founder and CEO of Flamingo, which was recently acquired by Cre8tek.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/5/t/x/h/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gsxdlu.png/1480165606758.jpg)
Investing
![Catriona Wallace is founder and CEO of Flamingo, which was recently acquired by Cre8tek.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/5/t/x/h/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gsxdlu.png/1480165606758.jpg)
Dodge the pitfalls of buying off the plan
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Graham Hand and his wife, Deborah Solomon, bought one of the Harbour Mill apartments ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/w/t/d/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsw9ab.png/1480035274004.jpg)
It's easy to be seduced by slick marketing but there are some things you need to know before you sign on the dotted line.
What elite cycling teaches us about money success
![Doing many small things better paved the way for Chris Froome and Team Sky to win the Tour de France. The same strategy ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/c/f/6/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gswk6p.png/1479963350835.jpg)
How would you feel if you had set yourself a huge goal and not only achieved it, but smashed it, doing twice as well as you had planned?
Rising interest rates make bonds less attractive
![The US Federal Reserve is expected to lift official interest rates in the US.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/w/e/6/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gswe4x.png/1479951720573.jpg)
US official rates could soon rise, so now's the time to review the merits of bond and other fixed interest fund investments.
Buying into a retirement village? Beware these traps
![Pam Graudenz, resident of a retirement village and vice president and village liaison officer from the Retirement ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/t/u/n/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstued.png/1479771947464.jpg)
Don't let the sales hype and glossy marketing blind you to the financial reality of buying into a retirement village.
Why I own a property but rent my home
![Renting can make more financial sense than buying in some circumstances.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/g/5/s/t/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsu0lh.png/1479812218386.jpg)
Rent may be dead money, but it beats being a slave to the mortgage.
Time to sell 'safe income' stocks
![Many investors turn to stocks such as Telstra for the income.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/2/v/3/d/image.related.landscape.120x80.gstsqt.png/1479690701733.jpg)
Interest rates are rising globally and it's time for retirees to think about their investment strategy.
Why bonds are not really 'safer' than shares
![Sydney's economy is exposed to global changes.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/8/8/2/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrjp9.png/1479433181376.jpg)
While bonds generally guarantee return of capital, you can still take a capital loss if inflation rises.
Six-week shares race ends with all but Dartboard underwater
![Investors are expecting continuing volatility in wake of the Trump victory.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/m/t/g/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gss48h.png/1479710534846.jpg)
The US presidential race that saw Hillary Clinton ahead in the polls and Donald Trump's surprise victory created havoc on markets.
Getting the measure of Trump is a short-term game
![Donald Trump will take over as US president on January 20.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/q/9/6/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsrhd6.png/1479773544387.jpg)
Don't rush a decision or change a plan just because there's a new US president.
Home buyers forking out fees to unqualified building inspectors
![Houng Lau bought the fourth property on which she had a building report.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/i/o/m/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsom7q.png/1479091517617.jpg)
House hunters seeking to avoid nasty surprises should know that not all building inspections are equal.
What the new world order means for your hip pocket
![As the world waits to see the new face of America, so far so good for Australian investors.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/y/d/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsmzdz.png/1479102094422.jpg)
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.
The five things stopping you investing
![Beginner investors need to be willing to "skin their knee" just like novice bike riders.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/l/4/7/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsn1os.png/1478823491909.jpg)
They're decent reasons, but don't let them stop you.
Tipsters finish the week ahead on positives of Trump victory
![Investors see positives, such as President-elect Donald Trump's plan to spend big on US infrastructure.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/m/t/i/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsmwnt.png/1479255034885.jpg)
The Australian sharemarket seesawed this week in response to the US presidential election, before leaving our tipsters generally better off as investors viewed a Trump presidency favourably.
Ride the Trump rollercoaster of money and emotions
![A man holds an American flag upside down as he stands with others in San Diego, to protest Donald Trump's presidential ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/m/s/d/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsmsc1.png/1478898877412.jpg)
Australian investors and super fund members should prepare for volatility.
How to find treasures in op shops and garage sales
![James Cockington with a vintage magazine he has collected.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/e/i/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsjfoz.png/1478563639372.jpg)
Can you still find anything in op shops that is worth more than what you paid for them?
Making sense of the Dreamworld tragedy for investors
![Queensland Police assistant commissioner Brian Codd speaks to media at Dreamworld, where four people died after a ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/a/p/a/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsib72.png/1478236593396.jpg)
The human cost was high, what does it mean for investors?
Looming threat of US President Donald Trump leaves our tipsters in the red
![Another poor week for shares mainly as a result of US presidential election worries.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/k/o/e/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gshslw.png/1478221874586.jpg)
As the US presidential election draws closer, the worry that Donald Trump could win has been the main factor in sending our sharemarket from about 5300 points to 5200 points during the week.
Why governments are powerless to make housing affordable
![Policies to help first-home buyers can backfire.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/d/m/3/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsgzh1.png/1478222234221.jpg)
The catalyst for the global financial crisis was US President Bill Clinton's idea that housing should be available to everybody.
The resurgence of 'junk' as home decoration
![Warehouse 8 Interiors auction: 19th-century life-size statue of Jesus which sold for $12,200 IBP.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/h/4/d/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs5znp.png/1478473697299.jpg)
Oddities are now much in demand for the individual touch they bring to contemporary spaces.
Last roll of the dice for Tatts and Tabcorp
![The Tabcorp-Tatts deal is smart, but the outcome is far from guaranteed.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/5/e/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsdbbr.png/1477642426596.jpg)
There are no shortage of gamblers. But growth is hard to come by.
Sharemarket heavy weather a challenge for tipsters
![Share prices were down this week due to poorer-than-expected earnings updates.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/e/q/2/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gscsdh.png/1477636392623.jpg)
It has been a tough week for our tipsters given that the sharemarket went backwards.
Shares are a better bet than the Melbourne Cup
![Lucky for some: Trainer Bart Cummings and foreman Reg Fleming after Viewed won the 2008 Melbourne Cup.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/d/r/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.gscrco.png/1477878079189.jpg)
Australians love a punt but there are better ways to make money.
The decade that doubles the average person's wealth
![The average person's wealth doubles from when they're in the 25-34 age bracket to a decade later.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/5/q/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs95gn.png/1477568206062.jpg)
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.
Motley Fool: The lessons we haven't learnt from the GFC
![The Big Short: Steve Eisman's character was portrayed by Hollywood actor Steve Carell.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/w/l/z/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs9gfp.png/1477358511986.jpg)
Watching The Big Short is a sobering experience. Here's what it can teach us.
The reason traders lose money
![People who are prone to be bulls or bears are displaying cognitive bias.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/m/w/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs94x6.png/1477277297294.jpg)
If you read some of the books on trading, the suggestion is that 60-90 per cent of traders lose money.
Mining services companies ahead while Crown falls on China arrests
![Several employees of Crown Resorts are being held by Chinese authorities.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/f/p/s/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7diy.png/1477012069653.jpg)
Richard Hemming continues to build his lead in week two of the six-week Shares Race.
Anne Schofield sells collection of antique fob seals
![Selection of antique fob seals on sale through Anne Schofield's antique jewellery shop in Woollahra, from her personal ...](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/i/d/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gruuay.png/1476918716410.jpg)
This personal collection, currently for sale, is one that has amazed even veteran jewellery experts.
Six reasons it's nuts to invest in property right now
![Rental yields are tiny right now.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/u/g/9/d/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs5qzu.png/1476942031359.jpg)
Owning a house might be the great Australian dream. But investors should think twice.
Vintage cigarette lighters on trend for collectors
![Alfred Dunhill - Aquarium Table Lighter, London c.1930. Estimate $2000-3000.](/web/20161127145517im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/5/h/g/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs5hbw.png/1476854086338.jpg)
Smoking may be unfashionable these days, but there was a time when a stylish cigarette lighter was a social necessity.