The flight to safety
Investors fleeing the sharemarket in search of security can easily
earn 8 per cent a year and sleep well at night. John Kavanagh looks
at what you can get if you shop around.
Paperwork dull but crucial
Outsourcing of super by employers is a regular occurrence. You
start off as a member in one fund and find you are transferred to
another when the employer no longer wants to spend time and
resources administering super.
FKP Property Group (FKP)
Classic economics, Adam Smith-style, says the price of any product
is the combination of the cost of labour, the rent on the land to
produce the product and a return on capital employed. Of the three,
land is the lowest returning asset, although some wage-earners
would dispute this.
The bad news bears
Australia won't avoid the effects of the global subprime crisis but
our fundamentals remain sound.
Three menus in a boat
There are signs that cruise liners, at least those at the top end
of the market, are returning to the days when a journey by ship was
the ultimate in luxury.
Why caution is the keyword
With the property market in disarray, investors are taking cover in
cash, writes Barbara Drury.
Who wants to be a millionaire?
Australia now has more of them than Brazil or Spain. John Collett
looks at the reasons why.
Profile Hugh Mackay
The social researcher has seen great changes in his long career.
Two crises short of a catastrophe
Waiting for the dollar to reach parity with the US dollar has been
like betting on two flies climbing up a wall.
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Hold on tight and ride it out
Shareholders are taking a closer look at company balance sheets as
some dividend payments are cut.
On the tollway to (stock) hell
Transurban shares can be bought at a 2.5 per cent discount; opening
an online bank account may be a better option, writes David Potts.
Derivatives without the misadventure
Different products carry different risks and benefits. There's more
to alternative investing through derivatives than recent disasters
suggest, writes Helena Keers.
Weather the storm
After this year's deluge of bad news, the regulator is flagging
changes in how the performance of super funds is reported.
Weed them out
You may be paying more bank fees than you realise, writes John
Kavanagh.
Buy now and hurt later
Garry Rothman, financial counsellor with UnitingCare, is all too
aware of the dangers that customers can get into with "buy now pay
later" deals.
Shareholders, beware of banks
The banks are always copping it sweet for their fees, but you
should see what they're doing to their shareholders.
Why borrowing to save makes sense
David Potts gives his expert guidance on how you can make margin
loans work to your advantage without suffering the indignity (and
panic) of a margin call.
Nest and less
Property prices are dropping, yet demand for housing remains strong
throughout the country.
Flawed foundations
Mandatory home warranty insurance is supposed to protect owners but
after 30 inquiries into the scheme, many question its benefits,
writes Kelsey Munro.
The entire box and dice
It's nice to share the wealth but grandfathering the children could
do them a world of harm, not good.
The building blocks of wealth
You can't get ahead unless you slam the brakes on spending. Barbara
Drury looks at cost-cutting.
The rising son
There has always been strong interest in traditional Japanese
culture in Australia - from haiku to kimonos - but the collecting
of contemporary Japanese art is a relatively recent phenomenon. The
transition from traditional to modern may appear dramatic yet in
many cases it is simply a matter of generational change.
They've got the baby business sewn up
Helena Keers meets three working mothers who are using their
entrepreneurial and creative talents to meet the growing demand for
everything to do with babies.
Wrap it up
Financial advisers like to push investment platforms but customers
should investigate the benefits first, writes Annette Sampson.
The tribe has spoken
Earlier this year, Mask 1980, a stunning work by the late
Australian sculptor Joel Elenberg, sold for a record $384,000 at
auction. Elenberg was inspired by African tribal art, as were many
other artists, such as Pablo Picasso.
Profile Garry Weaven
Growing super for workers is this man's proudest achievement.
Get the facts and maximise your refund
Receipts? Check. Tax Pack or e-tax in front of you? Check. Blue or
black pen? Check. Before you return your, er, return, find out what
you can claim for and what might have changed, writes David Potts.
Each week financial advisor Noel Whittaker answers your
questions.
