A business out of a box A franchise might promise a safe entry into business but things can pan out differently. John Kavanagh reports. A better pension bet Reverse mortgages get a lot of attention because they are marketed by financial institutions and sold mostly by advisers on commissions. Billabong International (BBG) The story of Google's conception at one of the founders' homes is legendary in the tech world. Conjuring up a global leader from one's bedroom is de rigueur in Silicon Valley these days. Lending changes threaten poor The end of interest-rate caps on pay day lenders will leave low-income earners vulnerable to exploitation. Dig deep for documents The strategy: To claim a tax deduction for my work-related expenses. Get connected for top rates The best banking offers are often found online. Packing a punch Cricket dominates the world of sporting memorabilia, with Australian football perhaps the only other sport to come close. Verdun Howell's retrospective 1959 Brownlow Medal was bought for $57,500 by his old club, St Kilda, last week. The first Brownlow Medal, won in 1924 by Edward Greeves, sold privately last year for more than $300,000. Mortgage springs a leak Ask for an interest reconstruction if you suspect a bank error on your account. Profile Cheryl Kernot "Keeping the bastards honest" still drives this former politician who now teaches social entrepreneurship. Loose change The end of an era Headlines archive This page lists articles appearing across all areas of the site. Browse across topics or go directly to one of our four main categories: Investments Banking Property Planning Pick your targets Analysts are divided on what the new financial year will bring but everyone is agreed a cautious approach to investing is best, reports Barbara Drury. Rallies lose the seasonal spark Don't rely on traditional fluctuations to take advantage of the market. DIY road ahead The road forward for investors with self-managed super funds comes down to whether they are still working and accumulating savings or in the pension phase. Funds under wraps DIY investors know better than to hand over commissions to financial advisers when they invest in managed funds, writes John Collett. Is it the end of the bear market? Despite the recent rises, stockmarkets remain unpredictable and prospects for recovery equally uncertain. A retirement conundrum Legislative risk is the big concern as the Government shifts the super goalposts, writes John Collett. Extinct but still a tax advantage There are several ways of salvaging a benefit from company shares that are now worthless. Alternative assets boost super The difference in performance between industry funds and retail funds comes down to the investment mix. Mortgage funds structural change The industry says the offerings should be for fixed terms, reports John Kavanagh. Gold to rally on inflation fears With trillions of dollars being pumped into the world economy during the financial crisis analysts expect the precious metal to soar. Infestation of sweet deals They look like an easy solution to your credit card debt but balance transfers come with complex arrangements that can add to your woes. Up, up and away The banks have been quick to raise fixed rates but there could be another chance to lock in at a low level later. Take super's tax breaks in hand The strategy: To get a last-minute tax break for contributing to super. Painting without borders It comes under a number of names; naive art, outsider art, art brut, raw art, primitive. For a better description, collector Mark Schaller prefers the word "uninformed", a reference to the artists' disregard for the conventional way of doing things. Open slather on discount prices For the best shopping deals in town - just ask. Profile Hugh Durrant-Whyte He runs the world's second biggest robotics research lab but quips he is a Luddite. Loose change Solid gold investments Off to a flying start The Qantas and Woolworths loyalty program offers airline tickets and discounts on day-to-day items. Glass cracks the market The current fad for collecting art glass has its origins in the Middle Ages, when the Italian glass industry was established on the island of Murano, just outside Venice. Profile Duncan Seddon The composition and competency of company boards is the focus of this shareholder monitor. Loose change Record-setting ring Good medicine Internet pharmacies offer some savings and convenience, but consumers need to be aware of the limitations. Education pays The Australian Tax Office is helping parents, carers and guardians buy laptops for school-aged children. Your tax-return checklist The countdown to the new financial year is upon us. Now's the time to leap into action and save money. In a glass of their own As baby boomers such as David Jones (My Collection, right) well remember, there was a time when old bottles could be picked up by fossicking through rubbish heaps. This was how he, and many others, started their collections. Loose change The mystery of the missing stamps Just what the consumer ordered New pricing laws for goods and services will force businesses to be more transparent. top Advertise with us | Contact us | Site map | About us Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use Copyright © 2009. Any unauthorised use or copying prohibited.

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