Your money today
Saving for a very rainy day
The economy might be reasonably solid, but Australians don’t think so. And we’re also keener on putting more away for a rainy day.
Higher super tax to affect all
The government’s proposed higher tax on big earners could have knock-on effects for everyone if the burden to collect the funds is passed on to the superannuation fund.
Don’t get burnt
Borrowing to invest in property in your SMSF could boost your returns – just make sure it’s right for you.
Bank yields to rise
If you are tired of the way banks treat you as a customer, perhaps you might want to become an owner as well.
Investing
The pros and cons of ETFs
ETFs can provide an anchor point for a portfolio – with little time, money or effort. Here we explore the pros and cons of investing in a product that mirrors an index.
The safe way to borrow to invest
When markets are going sideways, it pays to do your sums before taking out a loan to buy assets.
Can celebrity experts give you good investment advice?
It’s hard to resist the allure of celebrity investors who seem to know all about accessing the path to wealth and success. But investing is not that easy.
The pros and cons of investing in LICs
Listed investment companies (LICs) are catching the eye of investors disillusioned with unlisted options. Many LICs have been hit by broad-based risk aversion, which is being reflected in expanding discounts across the industry. Whether this makes them good buying depends on the LIC.
Budgeting
How debtor financing works for small business
Getting credit is tough for any young business, but debtor finance and other discounting and factoring facilities are growing in popularity for business owners without any bricks and mortar to their names.
How to make an aged care plan
We budget and plan for retirement, but not many of us are very organised when it comes to the next big life expense – moving into care or getting home help.
The problems with credit card reward schemes
Chasing reward points offered by some credit card companies becomes riskier if consumers don’t do the repayment maths.
Seven of the best free finance apps
Managing your finances has never been easier thanks to a range of apps for your smartphone or iPad – whether it’s splitting the bill, monitoring your shares or searching for a house.
Borrowing
How to save thousands on your home loan
Don’t just sit there – haggle. Shop around, talk to your loan provider and be prepared to switch – you could save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
Finding a good mortgage deal
Smart Investor’s Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon discusses some of the better value mortgage deals around.
How to find the best credit card
The trick to finding the best credit card for your personal situation is to look at your spending habits and take a close look at the benefits offered – including rewards programs and fees.
How to give your mortgage a makeover
Financial Review Smart Investor crunches the numbers on the average mortgage to reveal where you can get the biggest saving – with surprising results.
Insurance
Five expensive insurance traps to avoid
Protecting your income is a crucial part of financial wellbeing, but risk insurance can be trickier than it looks. Watch out for these five traps.
How to get the cheapest car insurance
Your insurer could be heavily penalising you for simply living in one suburb rather than another. And it’s not just the more working-class-suburb residents who pay higher premiums. Here are our tips for keeping your premiums under control.
What do you think ... time to change health funds?
Take our survey and let us know what you’re going to do after the latest premium increases.
How to buy insurance in your super fund without breaking the rules
Paying for a policy through superannuation can save money – but the rules over payouts can be strict.
Stock price lookup
Video | Where you can earn the big bucks
Banks are rewarding savers like never before but there are good returns in other safe asset classes too. Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon discusses the best places for your cash on Channel 7’s The Morning Show.
Video | Australia’s hottest properties
Real estate might be in the doldrums but there are areas around the country defying the downturn. Watch Today Tonight’s coverage of Smart Investor’s exclusive, nationwide property survey to see how your suburb is faring.
Video | A buyers’ market.
AFR Smart Investor editor Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon tells Channel 7’s Sunrise that it’s a buyers’ market for property across the country.
Video | How to turn resolutions into results
There’s not much fun about striving to earn more and spend less. So editor Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon explains on Channel 7’s Sunrise program that you need to instead figure out what you want to do with your money in 2012, and work backwards from there.
Video | Customer satisfaction guaranteed
Smart Investor editor Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon discusses the results of the 2011 SMILES customer satisfaction survey.
