You only want to hear “Come in spinner!” when you’re having a once-a-year flirt with an ANZAC Day two-up school. But every day, people are stalking you, trying to catch … Read More “Nobody likes to lose money. What are the biggest financial rip-offs we should watch out for?”

How wealthy am I pretending to be? JR Ewing loaded? Mother Theresa poor? Or a mixture of Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places? The point being, if you’re … Read More “When a family member suffers financial problems, what do you do? Compassion or tough love?”

There’s always an “it” toy at Christmas – the toy that trendoids simply have to get their children. It was Tickle Me Elmo one year. Inevitably, stores run out. Disappointed … Read More “What is the most memorable piece of share market advice you’ve heard and why?”

I don’t think I’ve made any huge tax-time mistakes. I’m fanatical (my wife says “anal”) about filing receipts. When I started my first full-time job, I hadn’t done my returns … Read More “Mistakes on tax returns can prove costly. What was your biggest tax time mistake?”

Sure, super’s recent performance has been as exciting as Scott Baio’s career since Charles In Charge. But “super” itself isn’t to blame. It’s just a low-tax vehicle, not an investment. … Read More “Super funds have taken another hit lately. Is it still the best place for retirement savings?”

While we thankfully continue to embrace capitalist democracies and shun the “nirvana” of communism (don’t forget Animal Farm), the wretched will be attracted to your money like the ants chasing … Read More “Scammers are getting smarter all the time. How can we scam-proof our finances?”

Hey, it’s June! And June is “grand final” time for personal finances – time to minimise your taxes. And $1000 can give some great tax time rewards. “I hate tax … Read More “We all like a good return on investment. What are some great ways to invest $1,000?”

“Learn the rules. Then play them.” From birth, say my parents, I wanted to know what the rules were, so I knew the boundaries. My brother Dirk, however, liked to … Read More “What is your personal life or financial motto and how has it helped you create wealth?”

Billy Joel claimed his Boomer generation “didn’t start the fire”. Maybe, but they certainly fuelled it. Gen X will make it worse. And our Gen Y and Z kids will … Read More Instant gratification is a key sign of modern lifestyles. How do we balance it with saving and investing?”

Nothing quite feeds an “us versus them” mentality as voraciously as cutting down tall poppies. It’s as Australian as tax evasion, bagging politicians and drinking cold beer in Bali. And … Read More “Big changes to the tax system are on the way thanks to the Henry Review. What do they mean for our personal finances?”