![Data is the new currency.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/g/d/6/d/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.gugd5w.12uqus.png/1487723021823.jpg)
Money features
![<P>](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/g/e/3/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.guge31.png/1487536625989.jpg)
Will we lose our health care card?
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![DIY versus large super funds - industry funds hit back.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/5/2/t/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gufafa.png/1487664214661.jpg)
DIY funds with less than $2 million not viable, say industry funds
An economist in the superannuation industry says DIY super funds with less than $2 million "are not viable retirement savings vehicles".
![Pockets of Melbourne have an apartment glut.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/p/f/i/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.guf6us.png/1487408098252.jpg)
Nicole helps… keep an apartment buyer safe
Financial expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon discusses strategy for a couple who want to buy their first home in Melbourne.
![Comedian Sarah Silverman understands that scarcity sells.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/e/9/6/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gue8rh.png/1487430065670.jpg)
Sarah Silverman's take on fart jokes applies to money
The comedian can teach us something in terms of restraint.
![Focus on maximising your after-tax income rather than tax minimisation.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/g/w/1/r/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.gufabs.png/1487300621889.jpg)
The beauty of fully franked dividends
Far too many Australians let the tax "tail" wag the investing dog.
![Gold shines for shares race winner.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/o/p/k/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.guf31h.png/1487293522587.jpg)
Gold medal goes to the yellow metal's biggest backer
Chartist Richard Pritchard takes line honours at the close the four-week Shares Race as his decision to back gold pays off.
![Centrelink is updating its "antiquated" telephone systems.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/1/q/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.guckjw.png/1487118850340.jpg)
The wait continues at Centrelink and tips to navigate it
Centrelink's phone lines are about to get better… no really, they're meant to, but you just have to wait a little longer for it to happen.
![GPs will have to use their "godly discretions" to determine when to bulk bill.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/3/f/g/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gudenm.png/1487128824669.jpg)
Are healthcare-card concessions clear cut?
Financial expert George Cochrane answers readers' questions.
![''You've only got to look at the arithmetic,'' said former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/b/c/u/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gue6ho.png/1487540944489.jpg)
Fraser review rejects 'independence' quotas for industry super funds
A long-awaited review into the governance of industry super funds by former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has found no grounds for legislation that would force boards to have a minimum number of "independent" directors.
![</p>](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/z/l/7/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.guddnu.png/1487205465274.jpg)
'It's a stock-picker's market' and other cliches
Watch for loose words designed to part you from your money.
![How do you compare the performances of super funds? Illustration: John Shakespeare](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/8/i/m/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.guaiaj.png/1487057060565.jpg)
Why comparing super funds can lead you astray
Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.
![Following investment fashions usually results in losses.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/h/o/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu9yqt.png/1486931781142.jpg)
BRICs, CIVETS, NUTS and other useless acronyms
A trendy acronym is no substitute for an investment strategy.
![Watch out for sharks, and put something aside regularly for emergencies. Illustration: John Spooner](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/e/7/p/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.guahli.png/1487056960405.jpg)
Cash-poor Aussies letting shonky operators take advantage
There are loan sharks cashing in on 5 million savings-poor Australians, but there are more affordable borrowing options out there.
![Australia recently notched up a record trade surplus, driven by surging mining exports.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/i/0/7/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu6l7o.png/1487056855886.jpg)
Why this resources boom will be less fun than the last
The gains to households from this phase in the resources boom will be less visible than in the past.
![A good relationship involves having awkward conversations about money.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/3/v/u/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.guaijg.png/1486928999308.jpg)
The awkward conversation you need to have with your Valentine
You need to have the talk. No, not the one about your sexual history, whether you want to have kids or where you want to live.
![<P>](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/i/z/3/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu9gez.png/1487057031785.jpg)
Nicole helps… identify a good financial adviser
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon answers the single most popular financial question
![Come Valentine's Day, florists spruik long-stem roses grown in the Andes in South America.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/a/e/z/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.guad0h.png/1486786005244.jpg)
Valentine's Day? Bah, humbug!
Let's be honest, there'll be a lot of obligation spending for couples this week. Roughly $100 per person.
![Marcs and David Lawrence collapsed recently.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/3/k/d/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.gua7y2.png/1487398935173.jpg)
What the averages don't tell you about investing in retail
You might have heard the Australian economy is enjoying an unprecedented run of economic good fortune.
![It's time to think about reallocating assets within the family.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/1/t/b/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu9xtr.png/1486688232622.jpg)
Time to reallocate assets within the family
With the opportunities for investing or reinvesting money into super soon to be severely limited, now's the time to plan ahead for alternative tax-effective strategies.
![Tiarna Ernst leads the pack at Bulldogs training.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/y/g/9/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu8xai.png/1486607663890.jpg)
Women playing footy? It's for love, not money
If you had to give up some of your income to do something else that you loved, would you?
![A great home care assistant can help the elderly go places.](/web/20170223101746im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/8/u/o/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gu8ugm.png/1486607573213.jpg)
Home care program for elderly to expand
In 2017, the number of Home Care Packages available will increase by nearly 30,000.