Noel Whittaker argues that families choosing aged care focus on the care and leave the money until last. Here is why the financial side deserves equal attention, and what to ask before you sign.
Noel Whittaker argues that Australian house prices are driven mainly by borrowing capacity and government charges on new homes, not by investors or tax concessions. Here is what that means if you are managing a mortgage, planning to downsize, or trying to help an adult child into the market.
Noel Whittaker's latest Firstlinks column proposes three low-cost reforms: stopping surprise bank account freezes, making lenders mortgage insurance portable, and easing the age pension income test for older workers. Here is what each one would mean if you are in your 40s or 50s.
Noel Whittaker on why blanket identity questionnaires are a poor substitute for watching what accounts actually do — and what the compliance burden costs ordinary customers. Plus the practical steps worth taking before your bank writes to you.
With capital gains tax rules changing from 1 July 2027, a reader asked Noel Whittaker whether to get their property valued now. The Tax Office's answer: there's no need to rush — and a valuation done too early won't count.
