Noel Whittaker's Blog
By Noel Whittaker
Estate planning is a critical issue as the population ages, but many people still don’t understand the consequences of not getting it right. Just recently a reader asked for advice about his family situation. His mother-in-law has instructed that the family home be sold when she dies, and the proceeds split equally among the family …
I have written before about the problems faced by retirees, who don’t have a credit card, and who are trying to get one. Often it may be a widow who is declined, because the family credit card was held in the name of the husband, often the breadwinner, with the wife having a supplementary card …
A slight rise in the age pension rates, and some small changes to the deeming rates, mean that many pensioners may now be slightly better off. Also, some retirees who did not qualify for an age pension because they were over the asset test cut-off point may start to qualify. Under the new rules a …
Recently a reader asked my advice about a situation which is becoming commonplace. She and her husband were homeowners receiving the full aged pension and he was suffering bad health. He went into respite early in February while waiting for a nursing home place which came fairly quickly. He passed away early in April. Her …
A fundamental principle is to take advice before you undertake any significant financial transactions. Recently, I was told about a widow who decided to move in with her son and his wife in what could loosely be called a “granny flat” arrangement. There was nothing to be built – she handed over $400,000 to her …