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Author: Helen

How much cash should you hold for an emergency, and where do you keep it?

Sure, they come in degrees of seriousness, but they’re all emergencies. A good drama-queen can make an emergency out of anything! Bar, 2.30am. You’re exceedingly intoxicated and have been acting like Dudley Moore in Arthur for several hours. Alas, without scoring. Pockets contain only coins. Hope you stashed an emergency $50 for the cab home. […]

A good DIY deed

PORTFOLIO POINT: Four things you need to check to make sure more of your super keeps on breathing after you stop. The prime driver for people getting into self-managed super funds is control. In rough order, of the types of control that SMSF trustees want to exert, it’s usually control over investments, control over tax […]

Borrowing to invest: Is it still a worthwhile investment strategy today?

There’s a fringe element out there – certifiably crazy, in my opinion, like Charlie Sheen’s spectacular brain implosion – that believes debt is the devil. These, um, fools, claim embracing debt is essentially Russian roulette, using a revolver with ammo in every cylinder. Forfeit enjoyment until all debt is repaid. If debt is evil, how […]

Five financial mistakes

Time to name your weakness. What’s the stupid thing you do time and again? I’ll go first. Buffet. I’m hopeless. If a waiter hands me an empty plate (with more empties ready for courses two to 13) and says “Knock yourself out”, I follow orders. I have an exemplary record. When I finish at a […]

The lowdown on SAFs

PORTFOLIO POINT: They’re not a big part of the DIY spectrum, but SAFs have some important advantages over SMSFs … and could save your super skin. Those who are deeply immersed in their world of self-managed super funds are almost inevitably happy with their choice. They have, as far as super goes, almost the ultimate […]

What should you do if your wage comes up in a conversation with your colleagues?

Implement previously rehearsed emergency tactical diversion techniques. This is not a drill. This situation is live! Go to the bathroom. “Sorry, I’m off. It’s washing night.” Wander off to order another drink. Pretend your mobile is ringing (on silent). Look at your phone and exclaim “Oh, my God! I’ve got to answer this text!” “Wow, […]

What should you do if your wage comes up in a conversation with your colleagues?

Implement previously rehearsed emergency tactical diversion techniques. This is not a drill. This situation is live! Go to the bathroom. “Sorry, I’m off. It’s washing night.” Wander off to order another drink. Pretend your mobile is ringing (on silent). Look at your phone and exclaim “Oh, my God! I’ve got to answer this text!” “Wow, […]

Enemy of the SMSF people

PORTFOLIO POINT: Lies, damned lies and statistics. Selective quoting of stats won’t make ACOSS a friend of SMSF trustees. Today I’m going to declare an “enemy” of self-managed super funds. This doesn’t happen often. Sometimes, some people, or some organisations, start proposing changes that would so fundamentally impact on your interests, that I feel compelled. […]

Eating out can cause financial fights. Who pays on a first date and who pays at a family dinner?

FOOD fight! Cool, I feel like a Blazing Saddles pie fight. The default position for payment for all restaurant meals is … Boomers, of course, should pay for everything. While they still can. And then for some time after, given they will be mooching off the labours and taxes of Gen X and Gen Y […]

Fixed rates

They’re a little family of four. Let’s call them Mike, Greg, Peter and Bobby. Mr Editor, roll the tune … Here’s the story of some corporate “heroes” who were “fighting for survival” on their own. They had to sack staff and raise int’rest rates … They were deeply disowned … It’s the story of some […]