Mass Effect Game Ending?

Question

I don't want to know how Mass Effect ends, I am probably about 20 minutes worth of play from seeing the ending.

What I would like to know is what happens to your saved file? Can you start a new game with all your weapons and cash and experience? Or does it end the game? I would like to play through the game again, but I don't know if I'll need to create another save file, or if I can keep all my equipment and exp. from my previous file.

I need to know because, like I said, I am minutes from beating the game and I don't want to beat the game if I am going to lose my file and not be able to go back and play some of the side-quests that I haven't finished.

Answer 1

I just finished it yesterday....

So the game will end, but you can start a new career with your player with its level, cash and experience.

But you lose your paragon/renegade points.  

Answer 2

So long as you have one save game from your original game. If you start a new game you start a new character completely, so if you want to play your original character you need to load your old save. You do get to keep all the achievements though even if you start a new game.