advice

If you have a bank account, insurance policy, and financial planner or belong to a superannuation fund, you want to avoid the wrong ones. One way is to understand the DNA of the companies behind these financial services. But up until last year, journalists ... More

When it comes to protecting your wealth and passing it on to those you love, wills are often not as straightforward as they seem. Speak to any family lawyer and they will provide countless examples of estate warfare and why it's important to build ... More

NAME: Elena Antonis STATUS: A retiree who wants a tree change. QUESTIONS: Should my daughter and I accept a lower price for our Sydney apartment or should we wait until prices rise? What are the stamp duty and conveyancing costs if I buy a property ... More

Q. I am doing OK but not anywhere near what I had planned for this time in my life. I am a 55-year-old widow with a non-dependent 24-year-old son. With my partner I own a home worth $900,000 with a $450,000 mortgage. I have my own savings of $230,000 ... More

As someone who has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years, I have seen the best and the worst when it comes to financial advice and financial advisers. High quality advice from an advice professional can genuinely be life changing ... More

Q. More often than not you propose investing in super as a tax-planning tool. Superannuation, like all mutual funds, invests in a range of areas, from equities to term deposits. Is it still worth investing in super when one is not sure, after 20 or ... More

The royal commission has made many Aussies cynical about getting financial advice. The most important step in finding a financial adviser you can trust is to remove any conflicts of interest. To be truly independent I believe the adviser needs to satisfy ... More

Q. I am seeking some broad financial direction for my wife (28) and I (30). Both of us work full time but we may be reduced to one income for a period in the near future if my wife falls pregnant. I currently earn $104,000, and receive 15.4% super in ... More

It has been said (and many books have been written about) that habits play a critical role in achieving success. While it's all well and good to set lofty goals, it's the (seemingly) small and positive habits that we adhere to on a daily basis ... More

Q. I'm a 30-year-old single midwife earning $110,000 a year. I co-own an investment property with my brother - it's worth $500,000 with $490,000 owing on it due to the drop in the Perth property market. The cost per fortnight is around $300 each as ... More