Good question, Mr Editor … if your aim was to create a flood of bookings with couples counsellors and divorce lawyers like Arnie Becker (Corbin Bernsen in LA Law). The answer should be simple. But when it comes to couples, “simple” would require relationships to be routinely built on trust, equality and other ridiculous concepts, […]

We’re talking property, so we’re talking fences. Here’s a general rule for Generation X and property investment: If it doesn’t have a fence, then steer clear of it. Capital gains and rental income are a trade off with property investment, just like shares. And Gen Xers should aim more for capital gains than income. More […]

It was the toughest lesson of my life and I still grapple with it today. But if I hadn’t learned it, I could never have become an investor at all. As a kid, I had an issue with making decisions. My parents called it procrastination. I believed I just wanted to ensure I got the […]

Died-way-too-young singer Karen Carpenter said it wasn’t only rainy days that bummed her out. She lumped Mondays in to the same category. But Karen believed being with someone special fixed “rainy days and Mondays”. Mmmm. Perhaps emotionally. But a cuddle won’t pay the rent, put petrol in the car, or keep beer and vino in […]

My kids are 3½ and 2. I’m literally elbow deep in poop! The parents at mothers’ group, sometimes that’s all we talk about. We bad? My troublesome questions are “Who did you vote for?” and “How much do you earn?” I love talking, arguing and moaning about politics. But who I actually mark the numbers […]

World-leading taxation from a resourceful government! Franked dividends are the government saying “We’re stealing some of your money now. But we’ll give you a credit note for it.” Genius! But it’s darn site better than the previous arrangement. “We’ll still take it, but we won’t credit you for it and we’ll tax you on it […]

Aww, do we really have to start this argument? That’s like asking: “Which was better, Dynasty or Dallas?” Heather Locklear or Victoria Principal? The “property versus shares” battle is a war with no end. And I’ve donned khakis for both sides. I originally fell in love with property. Obsessed, actually. So much so, I wrote […]

Declaring bankruptcy is to your personal finances what turning your back on your team is to being a football fan. They are both a declaration that you’ve given up. You might lose some respect from those closest to you. And both make it harder to participate generally in society. The major difference is that you […]

How to defend the indefensible! Giving Gen Y some credit for future financial potential? Retirees are great with money. No question there. And I’ll ignore Gen Y. Like my 3yo boy, Ned, they’ve still got training wheels on. Any mistakes are relatively minor stuff. They’ll recover. Simply, Gen Xers are the best, Boomers the worst. […]

Simple answer. But the problem is that insurance is the “great grudge purchase”. So, let’s set the scene. Gen Xers are at an exciting, if exhausting, life stage. Marriage, mortgage and midgets (the triple Ms) have either happened, or are on the radar. Those who have so far dodged those bullets (Are you The Matrix?) […]