Vita Palestrant has contributed to Money for more than 15 years. Previously, she was the editor of the Money section of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Vita has worked on major metropolitan newspapers in Australia and overseas and has won several prestigious journalism awards, including the Citigroup Award for Excellence in Journalism - Personal Finance.
‘It won’t last forever’: Daniel Ricciardo on F1 driver salaries
The rewards can be rich at the top of any field but the financial lessons learnt getting there can also prove invaluable What does it take to be a great F1 driver, cricketer, principal soprano or actor? Behind all the glitz and glamour is a high-stakes game. For years their earnings are unpredictable and making […]
The net worth reality check you desperately need
Some people may look and feel wealthy but they aren't looking at their net worth. That is when money trouble happens.
Why you should split super contributions with your spouse
Splitting concessional super contributions with your spouse may offer tax savings as well as earlier access to retirement funds.
Is it time for you to exit your SMSF?
The most common reasons for winding up an SMSF are failing health, demanding compliance, divorce and a low balance that makes the SMSF too costly. So when is it time to exit your fund?
Are casual workers entitled to super?
There is no shortage of employers who try to avoid paying super, so we look at the rights of contractors and part-time employees when it comes to entitlements.
Why you should consolidate your super funds
If all super fund members consolidated their multiple accounts, the average Aussie account would increase by 79%.
Tips for managing your super in the pension phase
It's daunting moving from super's accumulation phase to pension phase. Here's why it's important to check whether your existing fund still works for you.
The more you pay in super fees, the less you get in retirement
According to researcher Rainmaker, the super industry earned an estimated $30 billion in revenue in 2014-15. Not-for-profits, which account for 41% of funds under management, drew 37% of these fees, mostly from MySuper products.
The pros and cons of life-cycle investment funds
Life-cycle investment funds give you high returns and low risk - just not at the same time, writes Vita Palestrant.
Why income protection is a good back-up plan
There's no better time to tackle the tough stuff than the beginning of the year and that should include much neglected income protection insurance.
