Money Magazine

Money magazine is Australia’s longest-running, highest-selling and most-read personal finance magazine. Money magazine provides credible, independent, easy-to-understand financial advice to help its readers save money and make the most of their investments.

EDITOR'S NOTE

LETTER OF THE MONTH

“Tell us the most successful way you've negotiated a discount on a policy or bill.”

Money Magazine

Welcome to the neighbourhood • The Budget may weigh on today's taxpayer, but the long-term pay-off is real.

Technological shift

Divorce is in the dark ages

Deductions you're already entitled to

THIS MONTH NEWS & VIEWS

Banks pocket $4 billion in fees

New boost for Indigenous business

Price growth stalls

Yield hotspots

Fees don't buy returns

Risk appetite returns

Is income the new play?

BUY HOLD SELL NEW HOPE (NHC)

Value proposition

Q&A

Destination: Far North Queensland • Rainforests, gorges, sandy beaches and local wildlife – tropical Cairns has an abundance of natural beauty to enthral visitors and plenty of resorts to retreat to after a day of adventure.

Winter warmers

Indulge

SMART TECH

SCAM ALERT

I'm worried about having to drop my standard of living when I retire so want my investments to work hard. • Maintaining your standard of living when you retire is important, so work with a financial adviser to come up with a plan for life.

2026 Consumer Finance Awards • Finding the best banks and financial institutions to suit your needs and stage of life requires hours of research. This month, we've done that research for you and compiled a list of Australia's top 18 financial institutions from the best banks to margin lenders and insurers, retirement income and more. Turn the page to find out who made the grade in each category to win Money's 2026 Consumer Finance Awards.

Budget tax wins • It's “the most important and ambitious Budget in decades”, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Here, Money cuts through the noise to bring you the facts.

AI tools of the trade • Curious about AI's stockpicking capabilities? This beginner's guide gives a glimpse into its possibilities… and its shortcomings.

Calling all caregivers • Looking after your parents can be thankless but it is a key step to safeguarding their finances.

How can you help your parents as they age?

The loyalty tax • Today I was informed that my insurance premium was increasing by about 25%.

How do I know if my partner and I are financially on the same page?

New year, new you - how to embrace SOFY • Now that the dust has settled on the EOFY rush, it's time to plan for SOFY – the start of the financial year.

Home sweet home • Five emotional traps first-home buyers should avoid.

Wheel of fortune • How Australians should handle market volatility at every life stage.

Crunch time • APRA mandates that banks wind up hybrids leaving investors searching for alternatives.

Work ethic in the age of AI • The workplace is changing in a big way, but experts think we have less to fear if we learn to hustle.

Euro threat • The Trump effect spreads far and wide, impacting even the credibility of two of the world's most-used payment networks.

Go with the flow • In such a diverse sector, a global leader with a trusted brand is a breath of fresh air.

Sarah Starbuck • Sarah, 40, did a big midlife career switcheroo. A highly qualified nurse and midwife, she spent many years working at hospitals all over Australia, including the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital. A chance encounter at a Latin dancing class...