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    • 25 Years of Whitt & Wisdom
      For more than 25 years, finance expert Noel Whittaker has helped thousands of Australians manage their personal finances with wit and wisdom via columns in some of the country’s best-known publications. This hand-picked collection of shrewd insights chronicles the rollercoaster ride of both global and local economies over the last quarter century. There’s a treasure trove of financial knowledge between these pages — start digging! BUY IT NOW    
    • The Torch (Free Download)

      The Torch

      Many successful people credit their success to the books they have read in their life. In this chapter  The Torch  from my book Making Money  Made Simple  traces the  the history of success books. Why not download it now? DOWNLOAD IT NOW  
    • Free Downloads

      The 20 Commandments Of Wealth

      by Noel Whittaker

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      The 20 Commandments Of Wealth for Retirees

      by Noel Whittaker

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      Noel's Action Plan

      by Noel Whittaker

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      Noel Whittaker's Examination Paper

      for Making Money Made Simple

      DOWNLOAD PDF
      • The 20 Commandments of Wealth
        by Noel Whittaker .
        1. Practise the guaranteed secret of wealth.
        2. Keep in mind that income seldom exceeds personal development.
        3. Have adequate insurance.
        4. Use the magic of compounding.
        5. Understand the basics that never change, and take advice on the things that do change.
        6. Use the Rule of 72.
        7. Take advice before the deed is done – not afterwards. It’s hard to rewrite history.
        8. Always judge an investment on its merits – any tax benefits should be regarded as the cream on the cake.
        9. If a person contacts you by phone with an offer of an investment, or even to help you pay your mortgage back faster, hang up.
        10. One of the most expensive evenings you can go to is a “free” investment seminar.
        11. Borrowing for investment is a great strategy because it puts assets at work for you early in your life. But keep in mind that it speeds up whatever is going to happen – wealth or poverty.
        12. It’s better to get rich slowly than go broke quickly.
        13. Becoming wealthy depends more on how you manage your money, than how much you earn.
        14. Don’t pick a fight with the tax office.
        15. Make sure you set goals – they are the essential ingredient in your success.
        16. Remember that financial winners borrow for investments that grow in value – the battlers borrow for consumer items that depreciate.
        17. Every year assess your net worth.
        18. Ignore the prophets of doom – they are always with us and usually wrong.
        19. Don’t follow the herd and back last year’s winner – that’s a recipe for disaster.
        20. Never stop learning.
          Download Noel’s 20 Commandments of Wealth as a PDF  
      • The 20 Commandments of Wealth for Retirees
        Download Noel’s 20 Commandments of Wealth for Retirees as a PDF 20-wealth-retirees by Noel Whittaker
        1. Ignore the prophets of doom – they are always with us and usually wrong.
        2. Make sure your children have adequate insurance. It’s much more affordable than your funding their misfortune.
        3. Understand compounding, and appreciate that the rate of return your portfolio can achieve will be a major factor in how long your money will last.
        4. Understand the basics that never change, and take advice on the things that do.
        5. Take advice before the deed is done – not afterwards. It’s hard to rewrite history.
        6. Always judge an investment on its merits – any tax benefits should be regarded as the cream on the cake.
        7. If a person contacts you by phone with an offer of an investment, or even to help you pay your mortgage back faster, hang up.
        8. Don’t have all your eggs in the one basket – diversify across the major asset classes and certainly have some international exposure.
        9. Involve your partner, if you have one, in all your financial decisions. This will make it easier if one of you passes away or becomes incapacitated.
        10. Don’t panic when the share market has a bad day – volatility is the price you pay for the unique benefits of shares.
        11. Make sure your wills are up-to-date and include a testamentary trust if that is appropriate.
        12. Give Enduring Powers of Attorney and an Advance Health Directive to trusted people. And make sure they have copies and can locate the originals when needed.
        13. One of the most expensive evenings you can go to is a “free” investment seminar.
        14. Be extremely wary of going guarantor for any of your children – especially if they are in business.
        15. Don’t spend unnecessarily just to maximise your Centrelink benefits. Further cuts to benefits are possible.
        16. Investigate if you should have a Binding Death Nomination in your super fund. Keep in mind that what is appropriate in one situation may not be appropriate in another.
        17. Each year assess whether it is to your benefit to stay in super. In some cases you may be better off to withdraw the balance and invest outside the superannuation environment.
        18. Don’t follow the herd and back last year’s winner – that’s a recipe for disaster.
        19. If you decide to take on a reverse mortgage involve family members in the process and have them pay the interest if possible. This will stop the debt increasing.
        20. Finally – keep in mind that your potential worst enemies can be the media who focus on the negative, and well-meaning acquaintances who may give you information that may be half right.
      • Noel’s Action Plan
      • Making Money Made Simple – Exam Paper
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    • Newspaper Articles & Ask Noel
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        Death planning doesn't kill
        July 31, 2014
        The earlier you take out life insurance, the more you will save – and sleep.
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        Beat banks at their own game
        August 7, 2014
        Choosing the best home loan product is much more than ticking boxes.
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        New Year's Countdown
        August 21, 2014
        Centrelink income tests for retirees kick in on January 1. There’s still time to prepare.
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        Super reforms a no-brainer
        August 28, 2014
        The anomalies in the system can be fixed without too much pain.
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        Can you afford to retire?
        October 16, 2014
        It’s important to plan early to ensure a comfortable retirement.
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        Boom or bust, it's still a case of buyer beware
        October 23, 2014
        Australia’s current economic state can be blamed on the GFC.
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        History can help calm jitters
        October 30, 2014
        Learn from past financial crises before proclaiming the end of the world.
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        The power of one vision
        November 6, 2014
        Investors should use market turbulence as a time to buy, not to sell.
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        Investing for the long haul
        November 13, 2014
        Medibank is a powerful brand, and there’s no reason that won’t continue. MEDIBANK is the hottest topic in town right now– and every where I go, people ask if it’s a good buy. Yes, I do think it’s a good buy, but it’s obvious that most...
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        All dressed up in red tape
        December 4, 2014
        A financial adviser should act in their client’s best interests, apparently. FINANCIAL loss is nothing new. In fact, Edinburgh in Scotland has a Library ofMistakes which contains more than 6000 volumes that chronicle a whole litany of financial misfortunes. There is even...
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        The gift of financial insight
        December 11, 2014
        Giving a book about money matters is an investment for the future. CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and with it, the usual challenge of finding a gift that will be of lasting value to the recipient. As usual, I’ve done the rounds of the book stores and found some titles that would be welcome in any Christmas stocking. Financial success is much easier if you start earlier rather than later. This is why my first choice is...
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        When$45 becomes$530
        December 18, 2014
        Beady eyes are needed when your credit card statement arrives. THE dangers of credit cards at this time of the year have been well publicised. First is the danger of ...
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        Fight for a fair go pays off
        January 1, 2015
        Challenger took on an unfair government aged care ruling – and won. THANKS to some decisive action by Challenger some of our most vulnerable senior citizens have been spared a...
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        Reap long term rewards
        January 8, 2015
        Before planning for 2015, understand recent legislative changes. MUCH of the news coming out of Canberra last year has been political parties fighting with each other. The fights made the headlines, but behind the scenes a lot of legislation actually got passed. Today I will take you through... Download Full Article
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        Holiday homes no picnic
        January 15, 2015
        Be sure to do your sums carefully before buying that place in the sun. THE holiday is going fine, the weather is perfect,and you are probably thinking how wonderful it would be to own a holiday home of your own. It’s a natural feeling but... Download Full Article
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        A good year for investors
        January 22, 2015
        For the third year in a row, all major asset classes produced positive returns. THE year so far has been characterised by a litany of bad news. Terrorism is in the headlines, commodity prices are falling, and governments all over the world are having increasing trouble balancing their budgets. Depressing as that may be, it’s still important to keep your own goals in mind and not let yourself be sidetracked by extraneous matters over which you have little control. For starters, keep in mind that... Download Full Article
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        Share in compound effect
        January 29, 2015
        Term deposits have fallen behind the investment pack since the 1980s. FOR my money, shares are the best investment any body can have. No other asset class offers such flexibility or liquidity, nor the tax benefits offered by franked dividends if you invest in Australian shares. Peter Thornhill has been preaching the gospel of Australian industrial shares for more than 30 years, and I’m sure many of you have had the pleasure of listening to him at investment seminars. A feature of his presentations is a graph which tracks both income and capital from... Download Full Article
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        In for a long, exciting haul
        February 5, 2015
        Forego instant gratification in favour of the thrill of accruing real wealth. JANUARY has gone, and all those NewYear’s resolutions to lose weight and get your finances in order may have gone with it. You’re probably berating yourself with statements like ‘‘I’ve got no willpower’’, or ‘‘this happens every year’’. Take heart – the sad truth is that the human body is not wired for long-term planning. Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers who lived by the rule of fight or flight. Their dominant thoughts were... Download Full Article
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        Rethinking pension policies
        February 26, 2015
        Politicians are floating a raft of ideas to cope with the ageing population. One, means testing the family home, has administrative implications. PENSIONERS have had a scary week. Senator David Leyonhjelm started the ball rolling with a major newspaper article in which he stated: ‘‘We are not entitled to an age pension merely because we have paid taxes all our life. Pensions are not for everyone; fundamentally they are welfare reserved for the poor.’’ He then pulled out the old chestnut about pensioners living in multimillion-dollar houses while drawing the full pension. His solution for them was to... Download Full Article
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        Tax tweak misses themark
        March 5, 2015
        Running a small business just got even harder with the new lower company tax rate. PRIMEMinisterTony Abbott is full of paradoxes.He has repealed the carbon tax, restored the live cattle trade, and taken steps to get the budget back inthe black andstop the boats. Unfortunately he has also sacked Philip Ruddock, and knighted Prince Philip – a ridiculous decision which many of us though twas a hoax when we first heard about it. But his latest effort really gets first prize for getting it wrong. That is to give small business a much-needed boost by cutting their company tax by... Download Full Article
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        Super idea not a good one
        March 19, 2015
        Dipping into your superannuation to buy a new home is a bad move. THE prize for the stupidest idea of the week must go toTreasurer Joe Hockey for his suggestion that first home buyers should be allowed to access part of their superannuation for a house deposit. Not only would it drive up house prices, the plan has two other major faults: it ignores the true cost of homeownership and it subverts the purpose of superannuation. Certainly, falling interest rates have reduced the gap between owning and renting, but... Download Full Article
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        Board the share roller-coaster
        March 26, 2015
        The younger you get used to the ups and downs of the stockmarket, the better position you’ll be in later. IS a million dollars enough to retire on? It’s a tricky question, and certainly a topical one, judging by the emails I received after a recent column in which I talked about a couple who were living in a $2 million home and receiving the full age pension of $33,000 a year. The example assumed they had nothing much in the bank due to... Download Full Article
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        Get to know your super plan
        April 9, 2015
        Understand your fund’s access rules and work them to your advantage. SUPERANNUATION has been all over the news this week, with scary headlines aplenty about what governments of all persuasions may do to change the system and make saving for retirement even harder. Don’t lose any sleep about it. It’s all part of yet anotherproposed reform of the tax system, which has been put out for consultation with the aim of making possible changes in 2016. There are many potential problems with that: ... Download Full Article
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        The problem with pensions
        April 23, 2015
        There’s a big move against linking the age pension to the cost of living. AUSTRALIA has one of the most generous superannuation systems on the planet. There is just one problem – it’s unsustainable. Under the current rules, a couple can have up to $1,151,500 of assets, plus a family home of unlimited value, before losing access to at least... Download Full Article
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        Make plannerwork for you
        April 30, 2015
        Three letters mean a lot when you are choosing a financial planner. WHAT does ‘‘financial planning’’ make you think of? Anxious nights trying to make ends meet? Money disappearing into super with the promise you’ll see it again in 20 years? The shonky advisers you’ve read about in the papers, who left their clients penniless? It’s notmeant to belike that! Financial planning is about... Download Full Article  
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        Money for nothing
        May 7, 2015
        A simple super strategy works, and need not break the bank. THE May budget is just a few days away and my mailbox is full of emails from retirees who are concerned that their ability to make lump sum withdrawals from their super will be suddenly curtailed. Invariably the question is: ‘‘Should I take all my money out of super before budget night?’’ There isno need to worry – Prime Minister Tony Abbott has recently pledged there will be no adverse changes to superannuation in the life of... Download Full Article  
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        How to become a first home owner sooner
        May 10, 2015
        The Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the official cash rate to an historic low of 2 percent this month, but that won’t necessarily make it easier for first home buyers to enter the property market. In fact, of the 34 leading economists ...
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        Stability would be super
        May 14, 2015
        Labor’s tax proposal would create a new compliance burden. ‘‘FORGIVE them Lord, for they know not what they do,’’ said Jesus Christ, as he was about to be crucified. It’s just as relevant today, when you think of the proposal by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to crucify thousands of retirees with a new tax on super – the implications of which have obviously never occurred to anybody in the Labor Party. Unfortunately, dreaming up impractical ideas to... Download Full Article  
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        Retirees face balancing act
        May 21, 2015
        DESPITE the rumours, superannuation and negative gearing were left untouched in last Tuesday’s Budget. However, as foreshadowed in this column last month, the government announced a change in attitude to wealthy pensioners by changing the asset test taper rate. By increasing the level at which the pension starts to reduce due to assets, and by steepening the taper rate itself, they managed to increase... Download Full Article  
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        Keeping wolves from door
        May 28, 2015
        It’s a big word, but testamentary trusts are simple in operation. Noel Whittaker is the author of Making Money Made Simple and numerous other books on personal finance. His advice is general in nature and readers should seek their own professional advice before making financial decisions. ACCUMULATING enough money to retire on is one issue – trying to protect it for our beneficiaries is another. In many cases the best option is to include a testamentary trust clause in your will. Don’t let the term scare you, it’s worth... Download Full Article  
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        Pensioners feel the pinch
        June 11, 2015
        It can be a tough road trying to be self-sufficient by the time you retire. WEALTH creation is becoming a dirty joke in Australia. For months we have been subjected to attacks on the money we’ve accumulated in superannuation; now Labor and the Greens have upped the ante by calling for the abolition of negative gearing. It’s an attack on middle Australia. Contrary to the spin,... Download Full Article  
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        Split super funds and win
        June 18, 2015
        Splitting superannuation with your spouse can save you money. THE attacks on superannuation are ongoing. Labor has already announced plans to increase taxes on super, while my Canberra spies tell me that Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was openly amenable to changes at a retirement conference in Canberra last week. This is despite promises by his leader, Tony Abbott, that any changes were off the table. One thing is clear... Download Full Article  
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        The negative point of view
        June 25, 2015
        It can be a tough road trying to be self-sufficient by the time you retire. WEALTH creation is becoming a dirty joke in Australia. For months we have been subjected to attacks on the money we’ve accumulated in superannuation; now Labor and the Greens have upped the ante by calling for the abolition of negative gearing. It’s an attack on middle Australia. Contrary to the spin,... Download Full Article  
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        Smart plans to reduce tax
        July 2, 2015
        There are a number of strategies you can use to help reduce your tax bill. JUNE30 is rapidly approaching, which means it is time to seek advice about ways to save tax. Smart tax planning means deferring income while bringing forward expenses. For example, if you have money to spare, think about placing it ona term deposit with the interest maturing after June 30. The interest will then be taxed next year. If you have... Download Full Article  
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        Start as you mean to go on
        July 9, 2015
        Consider how you’ll make the most of your money this financial year. WELCOME to a new financial year, and the opportunity to lay some solid foundations for the year ahead. As always, the last year was a challenging one, and current market gyrations in the Eurozone indicate more challenges ahead. Market movements are nothing new. What makes the coming year unique is a growing awareness of...
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        Postponing the inevitable
        July 15, 2015
        Government corruption and tax evasion are to blame for Greece’s woes. GREECE was certainly a victim of the global financial crisis, but their troubles started long before 2007. The root of the problem seems to have been that most Greeks expected their government to be a fountain of wealth, but were not prepared to pay one cent in tax to help make that happen. Not only do the Greeks hate paying tax – the system is purpose built for tax evasion. Can you believe that some of their more picturesque islands have more churches than citizens? Apparently, including a tiny church on the land... Download Full Article  
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        Tax reforms pose quandary
        July 30, 2015
        Tax reform is back on the agenda, with the usual suspects establishing their positions. This week ACTU head Ged Kearney took a strong position against widening the GST, calling for a higher Mediacare levy, a review of negative gearing and increased tazes on superannuaion. The employer groups responded with a call for a cut in company tax and the abolition of payroll tax...   Download Full Article  
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        Be shrewd with your super
        August 6, 2015
        THIS month, expect to receive a most important document - your annual superannuation statement. If you're like most Australians, you'll probably give it a cursory look and then throw it in the too-hard basket until you've got more time to think about it... Download Full Article  
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        Keep pension goals on track
        August 13, 2015
        ‘‘DO you really need a million dollars to retire?” It’s the question that has been dominating the media all week. But it’s a pretty silly question when you think about it, because there are a multitude of factors that determine how much anybody would need to retire comfortably. These include the state of your health, the extent of travel you are planning, and how often the children are likely to put their hands out for help....   Download Full Article  
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        Hang in and add to portfolio
        September 3, 2015
        WHAT a week it's been. The Dow Jones had its eight-biggest decline in history, markets all over the world tumbled, and of course the Australian market crashed as well. For the nervous it was a time to wonder if this is the start of another global financial crisis, for the experienced investor the big decision was whether to sit tight or jump in and buy....   Download Full Article  
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        To stay or go is the question
        September 10, 2015
        FAMILY situations are dynamic. Additions to the family, or a new hobby, may mean you need to upgarde your home. this begs the question-should you move or renovate? No matter which option you choose, there are going to be hassles. As a person who has both moved and renovated, let me assure you that both create major disruptions in your lifestyle....   Download Full Article  
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        Changes sap creep's effect
        September 17, 2015
        FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey celebrated his second anniversary in government by promising to cut income tax to protect us from bracket creep, Certainly, tax cuts are welcome, but achieving them in the context of a worsening budgetary position is going to be a major challenge....   Download Full Article  
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        Supperannuation is safe
        September 24, 2015
        HOW safe is my super? What do you think the government has in store for us? The person who asked these questions is an executive in his early 50's who is busily trying to get his finances in shape to retire at age 65...   Download Full Article  
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        Diversify, go international
        October 1, 2015
        IT'S a challenging time to be an investor - the Australian dollar is plunging and stock markets are all over the place. But don't let the volatility faze you: this is a great time to look at your portfolio to see if you can improve it. ...   Download Full Article  
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        Perfect fiscal storm loom
        October 8, 2015
        THE more I travel, the more I see that most developed nations are facing the same problems - the sad reality is that their governments seem powerless to solve them. Ive spent the last week in London, where Labour has elected as leader a populist politician...   Download Full Article  
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        Super goalposts shift again
        October 15, 2015
        BATTEN down the hatches nd take cover: our superannuation is under attack. The Abbott government-remember them? - promised no changes to superannuation, on the grounds that today's retirees had invested in superannuation in the reasonable belief that the present rules would remain unchanged and no retrospective legislation would be enacted.   Download Full Article  
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        Things look good for 2016
        October 22, 2015
        IS the glass half full or half empty? I guess it depends who you talk to. Just this week, Credit Suisse released a report forecasting a slowdown in world growth - at the same time the National Australia Bank business confidence index bounced back from its worst reading in four years.   Download Full Article  
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        THE EXPLAINER - Couple may need 30 years of growth
        November 26, 2015
        I'm lucky enough to have a fully paid-off investment property. Is there any way to withdraw equity from it to buy a home to live in, besides selling? It would be great to take advantage of negative gearing, but I assume using the investment property as security for a home loan wouldnt allow me to do that.   Download Full Article  
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        Contribute to Super at 65+
        July 20, 2016
        In the budget, the Coalition promised that people aged between 65 and 75 would be able to contribute to superannuation without passing a work test. I thought this only applied to the concessional contribution. Does it also apply to the non-concessional contributions? It would suit me very well if that was the case. Download Full Article
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        THE EXPLAINER - How to boost the pension by $792 a fortnight
        February 7, 2017
        MY wife is 62 and currently has a Transition to Retirement super pension as well an associated accumulation account. Her job is being terminated in a few weeks (the business is closing down) but she would like to maintain something like her current arrangement (a super pension and accumulation account) as she is likely to obtain short-term work from time to time but also... Download Full Article  
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        THE EXPLAINER - Will we lose our eligibility for health care card?
        March 6, 2017
        THE Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card (CSHC) is of great value to us self-funded retirees. We have more than $1.6 million each in superannuation and are concerned that we will lose the grandfathering provisions when we are required to adjust our arrangements on June 30. Can you throw any light on this matter? A Treasury spokesperson assures me that existing CSHC holders with current retirement income balances in an account based pension of more... Download Full Article  
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        THE EXPLAINER - Do you still get compulsory super after the $1.6m cap?
        March 6, 2017
        YOU recently explained that an individual with more than $1.6 million in superannuation will no longer be able to make any contributions to super after June 30. If the individual is still working, does that mean that the employer can no longer make the required contributions to their account either? If that is the case, does the employer just keep that money or would they pay it to the employee in another form? Once a person has more than $1.6million in superannuation they will not be allowed to make any non-concessional contributions. However, employer contributions are ... Download Full Article  
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        Ask Noel - Article from the Newcastle Herald
        March 17, 2017
        MY wife and I, both in our 80s, run our self-managed super fund and at present we both have more than $1.6 million in the fund. Both are in pension mode. There is one bank account attached to the fund. We are now required to transfer above $1.6 million to individual accumulation accounts. The question is how is the bank account...
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: Complex situation for defined benefit members
        May 18, 2017
        WE are looking at downsizing to extract some surplus from our existing home to add to super. If we draw on existing super to pay the deposit for our new (smaller) home, are we able to replace that money into our super on the sale of the old home or will we be subject to the
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: How much can I save for a home?
        May 25, 2017
        I refer to the new first-home super saver scheme. Are the contributions subject to the cap on concessional contributions that will drop to $25,000 a year from July 1? I have been told that they are counted within the cap, but that does not seem logical. Yes, they do count within the concessional cap and I agree that this does not seem logical. After all, the purpose of the caps on contributions is to prevent people building up large sums in the low tax superannuation environment, while the stated aim... See full answer to this and more questions in the full article here: Download Full Article
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: Is it worth borrowing for aged care?
        June 8, 2017
        I am on a full age pension and wondering if money can be gifted to myself directly into my standard super fund. My concern is having my pension reduced if I am gifted directly into a bank account...
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: How will CGT gains be calculated?
        June 15, 2017
        MY wife and I are trustees of our self managed super fund and are the only two members. The fund is in pension mode and we pay our pensions in lump sums before June 30. If the fund does not have enough cash to cover our minimum pensions, can we transfer shares in specie to ourselves in lieu? We have had conflicting advice on...
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: How pensioners should use an unexpected gift
        July 6, 2017
        I HAVE been bequeathed $20,000 and do not knowhow best to invest this unexpected gift. I am 68, female, retired, but work the odd day per month. My super account is still open with a balance of $8000, I receive the full...
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: How will Airbnb affect my capital gains tax?
        July 13, 2017
        I am renting out part of my home on Airbnb and have been faithfully declaring the income and expenses on my tax return. Does that put my capital gains tax position in jeopardy?
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        Ask Noel & The Explainer: Since when does a bank account beat super?
        July 20, 2017
        I was shocked to read a recent column of yours where a female pensioner sought advice on investing a legacy of $20,000. You told her not to put it in super but instead use a bank account ‘‘that pays reasonable interest’’. Why would you do that when bank...
       
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    • About Noel

      Noel Whittaker is Australia’s Financial Wizard of Oz.

      Not only does he write weekly columns in the Sunday Mail and the Courier Mail, but, by some strange magic, he has the entire Australian continent covered from the Cairns Post in the North to the Hobart Mercury in the South, to the Perth Sunday Times in the West. He also writes in Australian Doctor magazine.

      You’ll hear Noel on Fairfax radio and see him on Channel 10.

      He has written 20 bestselling books that have sold over two million copies around the world. His book “Making Money Made Simple” set sales records across the country and was recently named in the top 100 of the most influential books of the last century.
      In 1988, Noel was named Australian Investment Planner of the Year. In 2003, he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in recognition of his services to the financial services industry and, in 2011 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List.

      Noel is a Fellow of CPA Australia, a Fellow of the Taxation Institute, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management

      He is a Certified Financial Planner, a member the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Liaison committee, and is currently an Adjunct Professor and Executive in Residence with the Faculty of Business at the Queensland University of Technology.

    • Testimonials
      I just wanted to say thank you for changing my life. In 1999 I came over from England and visited my brother who went to live in Australia. I was staying with him and travelling around for three months. He worked in a cafe in Canberra. One day he came home with a book and said that an author had been offering it to the workers. He brought home a copy for me. The book was 'Getting it together.' It became my bible for the next few years and I went on to read other great books of yours. I was in a dead end job and always struggling financially. Your book taught me to take control of my money and go to university so I could do something fulfilling. I was also very lucky to meet my future wife at university who is super shrewd when it comes to finances as well as a great many other things as well. I now have fantastic job which I love, I am financially secure. I have a loving family and I've self published two science-fiction books of my own, with two more in the pipeline. My dad said today that I'm very lucky. I'm not sure what luck is. All I know is that I was always ready I just needed the right people to guide me. You were one of them. I just wanted to give you a big thank you for everything you've done for me, without even realizing it. Thanks Noel.
      A beginners Guide to Wealth
      Hi Noel, I always enjoy your articles in the Sunday Mail and over the years your advise has been a great help to our family. We read Making Money Made Simple in the late 1980's and I have re-read the book many times since. I have also given copies to a number of acquaintances and have had the pleasure of watching some of them follow your advise and prosper. The book was a "Light-Bulb" moment for my wife and I, with small children and a mortgage, we were puddling along but with the knowledge you gave so freely on those printed pages it focused out direction and gave us the confidence to put what you had suggested into action. Now, after nearly 30 years we can retire in comfort, our children and grandchildren have carved out their futures based on the foundations you laid and none of us will ever need the support of social security. I guess I'm saying thank-you for having the guts to put into plain English the knowledge you had gained. I have had a young fellow working with me over the school holidays and he has shown a depth of character and willingness to learn than I rarely see in someone of only 15 years. I would like to give him a few pointers as he starts his journey in life and I recall you mentioned in your Sunday column a few months ago about a Managed Fund or ETF for beginners. The product had it roots in the US and was recently been offered in Australia, it has only small management fee and very low minimum contribution amount to suit young investors. If you are able, I would appreciate the name of the fund to pass onto him. With my sincere thanks, Peter.
      Light Bulb Moments
      Hi Noel, I just stopped by to sign up for your newsletter.  I've been following "Ask Noel" on the SMH for then years, since I moved back to Australia in 2006 at Age 35.  I was a bit of a late bloomer, financially.  At the time, my super balance was about $5,000 with personal debts also.  My husband had no super, although he had some properties that he envisaged to be his "retirement plan" but we I assumed I'd have to work until I dropped. Thanks to your excellent guidance and advice, we're now own our home, and have about $400k in super.   Your advice has always been clear, sensible and straightforward and I wanted to say thanks for making sense of investing Kind Regards, Sally
      Expat with no Super
      Hi Noel, I just wanted to thank you for everything have done, and the amazing books you\'ve written. I started off with the beginners guide to wealth, when I was 19 and earning around 55k per year. I then read more money with NW, and have followed the principles in that ever since, and I'm now 22 years old, earning between 100-110k and about to buy my first investment property! Thanks for all your help. Matt
      22 and well on my way!
      Hi Noel,  I always read  your column in the Sunday times WA and love your newsletters.  I have read one of your books and have just purchased 2 more and so excited to start reading them.  I just can't get enough!  I plan to have a "masterclass" with my 2 children who are in their 30s and impart some of your wisdom, then I hope they too will read your books.
      Passing down good financial decisions to our kids
      Thanks also for your advice over the years. The most important advice I followed was to live on one income when the wife and I
      had two incomes coming in, it has enabled us to accumulate wealth in-spite of some bad decisions.  I always tell people this is the easiest thing we did money wise, but by living on one income and putting the rest into the bank, mortgage, superannuation etc, has also been the most  effective.
      Thanks
      Michael
      Living on one income
      I've started reading your latest book and I'm very impressed so far. Thanks for consolidating all of your best articles, they'll make a good history lesson for our boys when they are older. It's also a very enjoyable read and your write very articulately.
      New book well received
      I did contact you a few years ago to let you know how profound your book 'Making Money Made Simple' was for me. I first read this at Christmas in 1992, as a naive
      20 year old. This book changed my life, even though i didn't quite realise it in 1992. I realised early on that I had to start saving early so I had little time to waste. I didn't start earning a proper income until 1996 due to travel and study, but between 1996 and 2015, I paid off my first home in 2002, did the same with my wife in 2008 after selling the first home for a substantial profit, and we now have a very, very healthy portfolio of shares and a few managed funds. Our life would have been substantially different if I hadn't read your book and figured out that investing was something that had to be taken seriously and from a young age. I just wish I could have started much earlier than 1996!
      Saving since 1996
      5 Dec 2015 Dear Noel I have been a practising taxation accountant for over 35 years. During that time I have given enough of your books to clients to almost make me a silent partner. I have read every book you have authored and I have just finished your latest 25 years of Whitt & Wisdom I consider myself financial savvy and am currently a SMSF auditor. I also have given a copy for Christmas your book to my son who is a practising CPA as the life lessons you talk about are spot on. It is interesting to note that I agree 100% with your opinions without exception and the advice I have given clients over the years are simply the same as your recommendations. Especially to clients the advice “if it seems too good to be true it is” Once again Noel congratulations you will never know the vast amount of people your books have helped people secure their financial future  and it is comforting to know that ethically run business’s with prudent investment programmes should set people up for a comfortable retirement. David S
      I started reading Noel's earlier books in the late 1980's and have since read every book that he has ever written. It is not an exaggeration to say that in my case at least, he has made me aware of information which has earned me millions of dollars!
      Yes that's right; millions of dollars.
      I also attended a seminar in Perth at the end of 2002 which he and Margaret Lomas, the property guru, hosted. The seminar cost $49, lasted all day and included lunch and books (written by Margaret) to the value of $200.
      As a result of that day's information, I purchased a property in Perth which doubled in value over the following three years and the rest is history, as they say. Noel and Margaret didn't recommend any properties or so called advisers, they just made us all aware of time honoured investment principles and it was then up to all of us to overcome inertia and procrastination in order to go ahead, do our own research and then purchase something.
      If you know any young people who may benefit from this book or any other books that Noel has written, then please pass on the newsletter to them or buy the book as a Christmas gift.
      You may wish to buy the book for yourself, even better; it will probably be the best $50 you have ever spent!
      Merry Christmas
      Peter K
      Peter K Makes Millions!
      Dear Noel, it was such a pleasure to catch up with you as guest speaker on the 2nd December at Wealth Connexion client dinner. As mentioned I thank you for the early financial  guidance after my position as Expo88 Piazza Entertainment Producer and the times you and the family attended performances at Carindale. It is thanks to you and over many years Jeff Stella and Randall Corless both influenced by your expertise that I have continued investing and am in the excellent financial position I enjoy today. I look forward to reading your new book and passing on good financial habits to my 19 year old nephew Jayedan who along with my sister Rosalynd and mother Betty benefited from your informative presentation. Congratulations on the many lives you have touched and remaining the gentleman that you are. Kindest regards, David
      David H
      Hi Noel
      I have just ordered your latest book and would like to thank you for not only writing the book, but for helping me so much over the past 40 years years.
      I would have ordered all your other books as well, but fortunately for me, I already have them!!!!!!!!
      Wishing you good health and continued wealth for the festive season and many more years to come.
      Best Regards
      Peter K
      Peter
      Dear Noel,
      This is the third time I’ve read Making Money Made Simple and More Money (and I don’t think I’ve yet to fully digest it).  I find it helpful to re-read them every time a significant change is about to happen in my life.  I’m 32, I first read yours books right after I graduated from uni, again before I started my specialist medical training/buying my first home, and now in my final months of training before I start work as a specialist proper.   I first came to Australia as an overseas student for medical school on the back of my parents’ funding topped up by quite a few significant study loans.  I graduated medical school in 2007 with a huge debt and just enough money leftover for a deposit on a car.  Your books and I together have got to 2015 with most of the loans (the interest-bearing ones anyway) paid off, a car owned outright, and almost enough in my offset account to make my mortgage payments interest free (albeit with the help of a legacy along the way).  Oh, and with no credit card debt and all relevant insurances in place as you have always advised.  Thank you.
      I think that before I embark on this next phase of my life, it is time for me to consult a financial planner as I will soon have extra money for investment rather than just plowing straight into my offset account.  I seem to remember reading in one of your earlier newsletters of you offering  to help point me in the right direction re: who to talk to?  I live in Perth.  I would really appreciate it.
      Thank you again!
      Kind regards,
      Jia
      I read ‘Making Money Made Simple’ in 1987 and was horrified by the chapter ‘Why only 8% Make it Financially’ (I checked that title in the 2007 version - the stats were definitely there in 1987, but maybe the title has changed).  I’m one of the 7% retired on a liveable income thanks to your advice.  I’ve given copies to both my kids as well.
      Greg
      I would also like to thank you for the assistance books and news articles have given me over the years. Working as a part time GP with young children they provided me with the knowledge to make sensible investment choices that have served me well. Recently my son (a 23 yo Graduate engineer) purchased Making Money made simple on my recommendation and has started his investment journey, having recently placed his savings into a well run managed fund!
      Anonymous
      Noel, I read "Making Money Made Simpl​e" in 1987 when I was 27, and couldn't put it down. I remember wondering why the various subjects covered were not taught, or at least mentioned, when I was at school. (Maybe I wasn't paying attention!) To cut a long story short, I took out a basic AMP investment portfolio (on the advice of a good friend who had no time for spruikers, but had been impressed by a local AMP rep in Bendigo), and over 10 years earned enough from that and my occupation (firefighter) to buy a house and have it paid off in 5 years. I have since recommended to a number of friends and colleagues that they buy your book and read it. Thanks for your efforts and advice over the years, your information has been priceless.
      Mark
      Hi Noel, Just a quick email to say thank you. I've just finished reading Making Money Made Simple (I bought the Kindle version), and I'm now feeling very enthusiastic about making a positive change. I'm 33 years old and in my final year of study (I'm mid-career change). Up until now I've been terrible with money - I rent, own no assets, and have not saved a single cent. Recently I've felt discouraged by the thought that I've left it all too late to get anywhere, until a friend recommended your book. I'm now putting aside 10% of my gross income for investments, no exceptions. While I'm studying it's not a lot of money, but I know it will change from next year. I can now see that each day counts, and putting things off only sets me back. 10% is 10% no matter how much you earn. I feel inspired and optimistic about the future. So, thank you. PS. The challenge is now getting my partner on board!
      L.
      Years ago I met you at a money show in Adelaide. I have three of your books, followed your advice and am now financially independent and retired. My wife and I now spend our time doing what we wish to do - going on holiday, visiting restaurants and the theatre, etc. We still save 10% of our income. Taking charge of our own destiny was the best thing we did. Thank you.
      F.M.
      Sensible people everywhere should be building monuments in your honour for the principled way you have set about educating us all in how to secure a reasonable financial future. I have bought several of your books and your Wealth Building kit and have found them to be invaluable.
      R.S.
      I first read ‘Making Money Made Simple’ in 1992 and it was really a life changing experience in that it made me pay some attention to our personal finances. I now have been keeping a balance sheet and a profit/loss account of sorts for about 10 years. More importantly, we are investing first and "consuming" what is left over, rather than the other way around. Thank you for writing this and your other books as they have all been immensely helpful.
      N.M.
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Annuities

Annuities

Annuities

September 9, 2016September 30, 2016 by Noel Whittaker

Annuities

“The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future.” – John Maynard Keynes

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