Weed them out
You may be paying more bank fees than you realise, writes John
Kavanagh.
Transurban Group (TCL)
Transurban chief executive Chris Lynch proposed an "outlandish"
concept this month. The toll roads operator will now pay
distributions from operating earnings instead of debt.
Don't duck cover
Member interest in superannuation is low but interest in life
insurance is even lower, with funds puzzling over why this is the
case and how to address it.
Protection racket
Think peace of mind comes with insurance for your income? There's
good news and bad.
No place to hide
The strategy: To do the financial housekeeping for my self-managed
super fund.
The age of resin
Amber is one of the few organic materials to be valued in the same
way as diamonds and other precious stones. In fact it's a resin, or
was millions of years ago when most deposits of amber started their
life's journey. The resin emerged from prehistoric trees, probably
in northern Europe, before becoming fossilised and swept around the
world's oceans.
Parental supervision required
With a bit of work, 'mum and dad' share portfolios can boost
household coffers, writes Martin Roth.
Super swifties
Switching jobs can cost fund members benefits that were arranged
behind closed doors, John Collett writes.
Fast, easy money
Scammers are casting a wider net, writes Graeme Samuel, the
chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
No such thing as a free lunch
Those interest-free purchase plans can be a minefield for the
unwary consumer, writes Bina Brown.
Profile Denis Simond
Older travellers want more than scenery: they want to learn more.
Buy now and hurt later
Garry Rothman, financial counsellor with UnitingCare, is all too
aware of the dangers that customers can get into with "buy now pay
later" deals.
E-trades and margins
George Cochrane details when margin lenders cannot use client
shares as collateral.
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Spoilt for choice
We all expect to have options but with managed funds too much of a
good thing can lead to paralysis.
Sweet, sweet assets
Self-managed super funds have a lot of appeal and are being heavily
marketed by a raft of accountants and financial advisers, all keen
to share in the multiple fee clip that is generated by super.
Fare well
Reduce your capital gains tax bill by claiming a capital loss on
those dud shares before June 30.
Super way to cut tax
The strategy To use super contributions to offset capital gains
tax.
Golden rule of ownership
You don't buy a home to make money - you buy it to live in and
enjoy it.
It's really not so grim out there
It says a lot about the sharemarket that there are 150 buy
recommendations on stocks, compared with 85 a year ago, as counted
by the research house Morningstar.
Why borrowing to save makes sense
David Potts gives his expert guidance on how you can make margin
loans work to your advantage without suffering the indignity (and
panic) of a margin call.
Shoppers beware
Now more than ever, online shoppers should be wary of credit card
fraud, especially where overseas sites are involved.
Flawed foundations
Mandatory home warranty insurance is supposed to protect owners but
after 30 inquiries into the scheme, many question its benefits,
writes Kelsey Munro.
The entire box and dice
It's nice to share the wealth but grandfathering the children could
do them a world of harm, not good.
Kicked to the kerb
Drive-by property valuations can be risky in the current market.
Double is trouble
The strategy: To avoid double tax on my super contributions.
Baggy green gems
Perhaps the most remarkable item at the new Baggy Green exhibition
at the Bradman Museum in Bowral is the cap belonging to Adam Craig
Gilchrist, Australian Test player No. 381.
It shouldn't be nearly as taxing
These days silence should never be taken as consent, especially at
the Tax Office when you're talking about a deduction for interest
on interest.
Petrol pain unavoidable
Wallets are being assaulted now but long term the outlook is
bright.
Kerry Greenwood
A love of storytelling and a determination that rivals that of
Churchill are the hallmarks of this author.
Why we shouldn't be too hard on super funds this year
Don't get too angry with your super fund when you get your
statement this year. It's probably the first time since 2003 that
you will find a negative return - during the week it was revealed
that most super funds expect returns of between -2 per cent and -13
per cent - the worst for 20 years.
When bears battle bulls
John Collett asks the experts where the market is heading and what
sectors and shares are a good bet.
Print your currency
Interest in art prints has taken off recently, with prices for
quality examples rising sharply at auction.
Each week financial advisor Noel Whittaker answers your
questions.
