December 2023
My brother won’t help Mum. Should she change her will?
My elderly mother needs help with her bills but my brother won’t contribute. What can we do?
- Opinion
- Penny Wise
Are we spoiling the kids by paying off their HELP debt?
Even in very wealthy households, value-setting can produce grateful and hard-working children.
- Updated
September 2023
- Opinion
- Property downsizing
The secret to happy downsizing? Family connection
Think carefully about what your next move will mean for how often you see your family.
June 2022
- Opinion
- Air travel
How my travel agent got me home
My second international trip in eight months confirms it was good advice to leave the logistics to someone else – especially when things go wrong.
- Updated
November 2021
- Opinion
- First Person Pandemic
Reunited with family in Cape Town, when will I return to Sydney?
In Cape Town visiting an ill family member, the Financial Review’s Debra Cleveland hopes the omicron standoff is a temporary blip rather than another long travel ban.
January 2020
- Opinion
- Portfolio management
Six investment tips for 2020 (and one way to relax)
Fund manager Stephen Hiscock outlines what to watch in 2020 and how he unwinds in Normandy.
Why investors should watch wages
Investment strategist Giselle Roux reveals her key trends for 2020 and talks about her lifestyle change from suburban Melbourne.
Why it pays to be picky in real estate
Property fund manager Chris Bedingfield reveals the key trends for 2020, including how Boomer demand for healthcare will boost your portfolio.
December 2019
- Opinion
- How to invest
BT Private Wealth chief on how to invest in a zero-yield world
Elissa Crowther-Pal outlines opportunities in debt, her best investments and how she unwinds.
February 2019
What to do about Labor's franking credits overhaul
Worried about losing unused franking credits? Ask our experts what you should do.
- Updated
January 2019
- Opinion
- Superannuation
4D Infrastructure's Sarah Shaw: slower global growth but no US recession
Sarah Shaw, global portfolio manager at 4D Infrastructure, outlines how infrastructure assets play to both solid and more challenged macro environments.
- Opinion
- Shares
SG Hiscock's Hamish Tadgell: don't let FOMO ruin your portfolio
Understanding valuation and the quality of what you are buying is absolutely critical - especially after a market correction in an already mature cycle.
- Opinion
- Shares
Alphinity's Nikki Thomas: 'block noise with disciplined investment analysis'
Markets are not all doom and gloom, and it's imperative to judge how much of the negativity is already captured in share prices.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Superannuation
Fidelity's Kate Howitt shares her investing lessons for 2019
Kate Howitt, portfolio manager of Fidelity's Australian Opportunities Fund, outlines key challenges for investors in the year ahead.
- Updated
May 2018
Federal budget 2018: super tweaks you need to know about
There was relief all round that there were no big changes to superannuation in the federal budget. But this doesn't mean you don't need to take a close look at all the "mini measures" and how they would affect you.
- Updated
Why industry super funds are hard to beat
If you're thinking about switching your super, it's hard to go past the not-for-profit funds. Nine of them were among the top 10 performers to end-March.
- Updated
April 2018
Solution to retirement? Spend a bit more, says research
Financial consultant Rice Warner argues there's a way to enjoy a bit more income without hitting your super balance too hard.
- Updated
What happens when your super contributions are too high
Now is the time to check what is going into your fund. Change any salary-sacrifice amounts before you exceed the caps.
- Updated
'Modest' self-funded retirees lash out at Labor tax grab
Those who just missed out on the age pension because they scrimped and saved say Bill Shorten's proposal to stop the refund of excess franking credits will be 'brutal'.
- Updated
What to do if Labor's franking plan goes through
The bias that many SMSFs have to Australian shares would almost certainly change if the Labor proposal went ahead.
- Updated