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Personal Finance

Yesterday

TPD insurance in super pays a lump sum if you become totally and permanently disabled because of illness or injury.

How to access total and permanent disability benefits from super

Super funds typically offer income protection – or salary continuance – for temporary inability to work, and a lump sum benefit for permanent inability to work in any job.

Bridging finance is never assessed on the grounds of age.

Are we too old to get bridging finance?

Downsizers can use bridging finance as they transition into a new home, but be aware that these loans tend to come with very high rates of interest.

This Month

The NSW Appeals Court upheld Colin Peek’s $13.6 million will made on an iPhone.

Near-death experience sways court to uphold $13.6m iPhone will

The NSW Court of Appeal found there was clear evidence that Colin Peek intended the comments in the Notes app on his iPhone to be his will.

With a five-year age gap, Shirley and Peter Brown may stagger their retirement.

Why staggering retirement could be a great financial move for couples

Couples who retire at different times can maximise their income while minimising the tax they need to pay by using these strategies.

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5 common money problems between couples (and how to fix them)

Avoiding money conversations is a common – and dangerous – mistake. But there are things you can do to grease the wheels and get the conversation flowing more freely.

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Marion Mays and her son, Somerset

Why this mum bought her 11-year-old son a townhouse

“I’m glad I’ve done everything I can to help my son get into the housing market,” says money coach Marion Mays.

Vincent Ho, at his parents place in Merrylands, is a physiotherapist who has built a six-property portfolio before the age of 30.

This 29-year-old is $2.85m in debt. And he’s OK with that

Millennial Vincent Ho has mortgages on six investment properties. It’s a high-debt strategy that requires diversification and cash flow management.

When adult children receive money from a trust, they pay tax at their marginal rate.

How can we ensure our daughters get equal inheritances?

Many parents struggle with the idea of fairness when children earn different incomes or are at different stages of life.

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How my Ferrari fantasy was replaced by wanting to be a good dad

You think you want nice stuff, but what you really want is attention from the people you love, writes Morgan Housel.

Jennifer Daniels deposits money into nine accounts each payday to hit her savings goals.

Saving is hard. Here’s how to set goals (and stick to them)

The prospect of putting money away each week can seem hard, but this approach has helped achieve balance saving and spending.

Regifting should be celebrated.

How to survive the Christmas gift gauntlet

It’s time to break the shackles of generosity etiquette and tell people what you actually want.

There’s still plenty of time to get you super into shape this financial year.

4 ways to squeeze more into super in 2026

There’s still plenty of time to get your nest egg into shape this financial year. Here’s how.

Han Bailey is recovering from the loss of her father.

Caring for two generations cost Han her corporate career

What started as a six-month break for this executive morphed into a multigenerational caregiving squeeze that upended her life.

Shifting money from a spouse with a higher super balance to one with a lower balance can help manage your super tax bill.

How can we split our super to stay under the new $3m tax threshold?

If you have a partner with a lower superannuation balance, there are strategies that can help you sidestep Division 296 tax.

November

Family trusts have a little over a year to find and report errors that could date back as far as 1999,

ATO warns family trusts to confess to past errors

Families with trusts have a year to declare errors dating back to last century if they want to avoid big interest bills. Tax experts say the ATO is at fault.

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Money can buy you happiness, but it can also ruin your life.

Getting richer usually makes you happier – until you hit 2 risk points

For millennia, storytellers, philosophers and economists have been fascinated by whether money buys happiness. But when does wealth become a burden?

Tash Etschmann says the rules for influencers are far from clear.

Why this 27-year-old told her friends about a $250,000 inheritance

Financial windfalls are increasingly complicating relationships as the gulf between the haves and the have-nots grows.

Is a house or apartment a better buy?

Is a house or unit the best first property purchase?

It’s long been said that houses outperform units because land appreciates and buildings depreciate. That principle still holds true, but it’s not quite as simple as it sounds.

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Nicole owns a stake in a $4m business – and it cost her nothing

With thousands of small businesses seeking new owners, and lending for small business acquisitions stalled, innovative solutions are helping would-be entrepreneurs buy in.

Artery uses bespoke AI tools to streamline internal workflows.

Expanded unfair contracts legal regime requires specialist insurance advice

The expansion of Australia’s unfair contracts regime means it’s more important than ever for businesses to call on expert insurance advice when entering into contracts with third parties.

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Sarah’s story will become increasingly common as Australian women become custodians of a significant share of family wealth over the next decade. 

She’s inheriting everything. Who is advising her?

Younger women don’t want the same things from their financial advisers as their parents did.

There are three types of property markets that are worth the watch in 2026.

5 ways the property market will shift if rates fall

Three of the big four banks predict at least one rate cut next year, which will trigger another surge in demand.

Hannah White is a young woman who inherited about $1.8 million from her uncle.

Hannah inherited $1.7m. This is what she did with it

Receiving a large inheritance requires a strategic “pause” to manage grief and avoid emotional spending.

Paul Katranis once owned a gunmetal grey Lamborghini.

What this Lamborghini can teach about money and happiness

Living well involves striking a balance between saving and spending.

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‘Live within your means’ is still some of the best advice

At the core of any wealth strategy are a few simple, timeless principles and the unstoppable force of compound interest.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance