Positive signs visible despite the gloom

It's been a year best forgotten: the Australian sharemarket has lost almost 10 per cent and house prices nationally are about 3 per cent lower.

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker Is it possible to take money out of super to buy a new home and return it when the old home is sold?

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker Noel Whittaker answers your finance questions.

Ask Noel

We've bought a new house but have been unable to sell our original home for what we paid for it in 2004. What should we do?

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker In recent years I have come to believe that we ‘‘normal’’ investors have little or no influence on the price of shares. Do you think this is correct?

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker Is investing in income-producing shares with dividends reinvested a good way to grow my super balance?

Legacy of bad money management

To secure a mortgage it's essential to dispose of old debt, writes George Cochrane.

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker After a disastrous business venture, we invested $95,000 in a managed fund, which has fallen in value. What should we do?

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker I’m 49 and have taken a redundancy with a lump sum of $54,000 net (taxed at 31.5 per cent) to be paid after June 30.

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker How can I know the exact balance of my super to tell if I’m above or below the $500,000 cut-off on super concessional contribution?

Wealth engineering for security

Bina Brown Whether it is a total financial overhaul or a prod in the right direction, almost everyone can benefit from some level of financial advice from a professional.

Reconsider those pension plans

George Cochrane Planning a cruisy retirement may require some serious saving, writes George Cochrane.

Ask Noel

I am 66 and retired. I only have a very small amount of super, which I removed from the fund when I lost $2500 in the GFC. This was a panic action that I already regret.

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker I’ve just turned 56 and my wife is 49. I have $180,000 in super and my wife has $70,000.

Ask Noel

Noel Whittaker If I retire at age 62, can I withdraw lump sums from my super fund as needed? At 65, am I compelled to transfer the balance to an annuity?

Not all decisions are safe as houses

George Cochrane Adding to the mortgage could add unnecessary expense, writes George Cochrane.

Make the most of good fortune

Lissa Christopher An unexpected windfall can transform your life providing you invest the money well. Lissa Christopher gets expert advice on what you should do with it.

Show her the money

Eilene Zimmerman As a business writer and a feminist, Eilene Zimmerman can't understand why she left all the finances to her husband. But now, in the aftermath of divorce, she knows what the decision cost her.

Comments 2

Make the most of good fortune

Lissa Christopher An unexpected windfall can transform your life providing you invest the money well. Lissa Christopher gets expert advice on what you should do with it.