As Bitcoin moved up sharply again this week, after breaching $US5000 last week, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue heard evidence about virtual currencies and tax.

The price of Bitcoin rose by another $US500 this week after breaching $US5000 last week, making investors huge fortunes. But those who have seen their fair share of booms and busts are scratching their heads.

Money reader Scott Andrews takes out first spot in the Shares Race after maintaining the lead throughout the four-week race with big contributions European Cobalt, EHR Rources and Living Cell.

The NAB Equity Builder offers novice investors a simple way to borrow for investment in shares.

Gearing to buy speculative investments at the best of times involves considerable risks because of margin calls as share prices decline.

many investors are seemingly unaware as to the nuances between listed investment companies and exchange-traded funds and the impact they may have on portfolios.

Financial expert Nicole Pedersen-Mckinnon on how young people can get started with investment.

Money reader Scott Andrews retains first spot in week three of the Shares Race with his original $100,000 portfolio worth $$140,995.

There's an image floating around cyberspace that resurfaces every year or so. It's a page from a 1991 Radio Shack catalogue. Radio Shack is the US version of the old Tandy, for those who remember the latter. On it are a range of products for sale. And the capabilities of the products on that page can now be found in a single place: inside your smartphone.

• COMMENT

There appears to be an inherent conflict between doing what's right and moral, and maximising financial returns.

Money reader Scott Andrews has increased his lead over Angie Ellis of 80 20 Investments in week two of the four-week Shares Race.

Holiday and short-term letting websites are making it easier to profit from that property.

The rapid growth of passive investment may carry risks for the broader market.

Increasingly, consumers and employees want to know if a business is about more than just profits.

Funds owned by the big banks and AMP continue to dominate the ranks of the 'fat cats' with high fees and poor performance.

Peer-to-peer lender, RateSetter, says 56 per cent of money invested with it is from savers withdrawing their money from their bank savings accounts.

Despite Australia representing only 2 per cent of the world's gross domestic product, Australian self-managed superannuation fund investors on average have almost 70 per cent of their investment portfolios in Australian-focused assets.

A real lack of diversification in property market hotspots is catching out investors and it's threatening to send some people to the wall.

Money reader Scott Andrews has thrown down the gauntlet to Angie Ellis, of 80 20 Investments, as racers start new round.

One of the truly new parts of economic theory is the belated realisation - or perhaps we should say acceptance - that people aren't the purely rational automatons that the academics had previously assumed.

In 2013 Nant Distilling Company launched a nationwide marketing campaign using full-page advertisements in major newspapers. The offering was almost irresistible.

Into the final quarter of the Year-Long Shares Race, Angie Ellis of 80 20 Investments holds on to her lead over the second-placed competitor.

• COMMENT

Two more time-wasters for investors: watching Powerpoint presentations and listening too closely to the economists at big institutions.

• ANALYSIS

If Bitcoin hadn't been invented by a shadowy tech guru, it could've been the invention of a movie.

A big lift in the share price of Richard Pritchard's pick of lithium miner Argosy helped the Chartist to increase his lead over his main challenger in the final week of the four-week Shares Race and take line honours.

Higher stamp duty rates for foreign investors and APRA's tightening of bank lending regulations on investment loans have reduced new investor housing demand especially for apartments.

In the past five years we've seen an astonishing disruption in financial services that gives consumers different ways to invest.

Tech stocks are potentially more rewarding than companies operating in other sectors of the economy, but also riskier.

Financial expert and consumer advocate Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon answers readers' questions.