Many parents and grandparents want to be able to help their children, and do so while they’re alive rather than leaving a large inheritance. But there are tax implications and gifting rules to be mindful of. In this episode, co-founder and head of financial advice at Leeuwin Wealth Jason Featherby sits down with The Australian’s Wealth Editor Julie-anne Sprague to explain the tips, tricks and traps to helping your adult children financially. In today’s show we cover: Tax implications by gifting ...
Oct 02, 2025•37 min
House prices across most capital cities are expected to rise over the next 12 months. So how do you pick which is the best one to buy an investment property? How can you pick a stand-out market and what are the traps for investors when buying property in rising markets? Empower Wealth managing director and podcast co-host Ben Kingsley joins The Australian's Wealth Editor, Julie-anne Sprague. In today's show, we cover: The government's expanded First Home Buyer Scheme Is there a potential propert...
Sep 30, 2025•51 min
A generation of investors have used Self Managed Super Funds for property investment, but steadily the numbers have changed in this area with higher rates, higher upfront costs and a growing realisation it is not the deal it used to be. Financial adviser James O'Reilly from NorthEast Wealth joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby, in this episode. In today's show, we cover: SMSF property - A sub-optimal performer Survivorship bias - Why SMSF property may lose in the future Would you be bett...
Sep 25, 2025•28 min
The nation’s second biggest city is climbing out of a decade-long period of severe property price underperformance - so where are the opportunities? Investors are scouring the inner-city, but our guest today takes a different tack - and as someone who runs a portfolio of 15 residential investments across the city…she should know! Anissa Cavallo of the Eda Property group joins Associate Editor- Wealth James Kirby in this episode. In today’s show, we cover: Melbourne bargain town - where the crowd...
Sep 23, 2025•31 min
Private credit, private debt...it's boom time out there for unlisted markets but how do you walk the fine line between shooting in the dark and making the best moves? Charlie Viola, is one of the best known advisers in Australia - he's got a method, it's worth hearing. Charlie Viola of Viola Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: An insider's guide to private markets Knowing the risk difference between private credit and equity Th...
Sep 18, 2025•27 min
Inside the Self Managed Super Fund sector, it is professionals - such as auditors - who are on the front line: They will be dealing with valuations which ultimately determine whether or not investors will be hit with the new super tax. One of the leading voices in the campaign against the new super tax is auditor Naz Randeria, here she lays out the faults of the new super tax regime and reveals how - if you are unlucky enough - you could end up paying unrealised gains tax twice over on a propert...
Sep 16, 2025•29 min
It's looking very much like 2025 is going to be the year that Artificial Intelligence changes the investment sector beyond recognition. A hot spot of this change is going to be financial advice. So what can AI offer? Today my guest is Microsoft's 'Co-pilot' AI bot (ably assisted by human financial adviser James Gerrard) In this episode, we cover: AI for the investment beginner Testing Ai for advanced investment information Where Ai gets it wrong Ai - The IQ is excellent, the EQ not so much! See ...
Sep 11, 2025•24 min
Renting where you live and investing your spare funds to maximise capital growth is steadily becoming a key factor in the residential market - especially for younger buyers. But the key to success in this area is optimising your position as an investor - rather than a homebuyer. Arjun Paliwal of buyer's agency, InvestorKit joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Perfect Match - How to optimise 'rentvesting' Borderless buying - Overcoming home bias...
Sep 09, 2025•30 min
It sounds so good: Sophisticated Investor status is open to all investors who have enough money to get across the line. But did you know a financial adviser is no longer legally bound to act in your 'best interests' if you sign along the dotted line? Three million people now qualify for Sophisticated Investor status but the regime is creaking and it's time for serious overhaul of the rules. Peter Burgess, CEO of the Self Managed Super Funds Association joins Associate Editor - James Kirby in thi...
Sep 04, 2025•26 min
A remarkable 100,000 Australians refinanced their mortgage to a better rate in the three months to June this year. If you have yet to join the party, the pathway to lower mortgage costs is now clear, here's what to do... Mortgage broker, Christian Stevens of the Flint group, joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: How to cut your mortgage rate without moving banks Reducing mortgage rates by switching banks Long-term interest-only loans for experie...
Sep 02, 2025•24 min
Roger Montgomery is the founder of Montgomery Investment Management. While he is into adventure sports, when it comes to investing he's acutely focused on managing risk. From working at a fish and chip shop to managing $1.5bn in funds, he offers his advice on wealth creation for those in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. In this bonus episode of The Money Puzzle, Sydney fund manager Roger Montgomery sits down with The Australian's Wealth Editor, Julie-anne Sprague to chat about how he learnt to inve...
Aug 31, 2025•36 min
The Federal government is pushing big super funds into the housing market: That market is currently dominated by 'mum and dad' investors - Would big funds do better? Overseas experience of major institutional ownership of housing shows that rents rise when big funds buy into housing because they need a higher running yield. In turn, traditional buyers get priced out. Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at Ray White joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we co...
Aug 26, 2025•24 min
This week's economic summit coincided with a surprise move by the Albanese government to lift the deeming rate for the first time in four years: The measure reduces access to the pension for wealthier Australians. Moreover, it's exactly the sort of change that advisers have warned are set to come down the line as Treasurer Jim Chalmers exerts his influence in the second term government. Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth James Kirby in this episode. In toda...
Aug 21, 2025•24 min
Immigration numbers were meant to float lower this year but a surprise pick up in numbers over the last few months coincides with a tightening of the rental vacancy rates across the market. For renters it means any short-term easing in pressure is now off the table, but for property investors it signals a return to rising rental income. Pete Wargent of the AllenWargent Property Buyers joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's episode, we cover The 'you can rent any...
Aug 19, 2025•25 min
The new super tax may dominate the headlines, but for most investors with less than $3m in super, a bigger headache is navigating increasingly risky marketing promotions in finance.Off the back of the recent First Guardian scandal - where some investors were offered 'free super reviews' - today we take a hard look at booming business of luring people into switching super funds. Liam Shorte of the Sonas Wealth Group joins Associate Editor - Wealth James Kirby in today's episode. In today's episod...
Aug 14, 2025•25 min
If it wasn’t said by a top financial adviser, you might dismiss it as a quote out of context, but Partners Wealth Group Jack Tossol is not kidding: He says a generation that has ‘sunk everything’ into the family home will miss the chance to have a successful tax-deductible investment plan. It’s a provocative notion, challenging die-hard principles of money management, but with house prices moving higher again...you have to listen. Financial adviser Jack Tossol of Partners Wealth Group joins Asso...
Aug 12, 2025•27 min
In this bonus episode of The Money Puzzle, The Australian’s Wealth Editor, Julie-anne Sprague, unpacks what it takes to be a great investor with one of the nation's top stockpickers, Jun Bei Liu. How did Liu learn to invest? What did she learn when things went wrong and what's her advice for everyday investors wanting to build their wealth? Jun Bei Liu of Ten Cap joins Wealth Editor Julie-anne Sprague in this bonus episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 10, 2025•34 min
Inside the advice sector, they call it ‘the sweet spot’: The perfect amount of money to have in super that also guarantees you access to a government pension. With the majority of Australians accessing full or part-time pensions, it’s a big game and the rules have been clear for a long time. But those ‘pension access’ rules may soon be overhauled as the government launches a major tax review this month at the so-called ‘productivity summit. Hugh Robertson of Centaur Financial Services joins Asso...
Aug 07, 2025•28 min
Property investors have watched the Melbourne market sink for a decade. But the tide is turning, early investors are being rewarded as the latest numbers for Victoria show green shoots in the nation’s second biggest city. Stuart Wemyss of the ProSolution Private Clients group joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Green shoots for Melbourne as city prices lift A long way to go, how Victoria did nothing for a decade Property tax - Victoria no wors...
Aug 05, 2025•35 min
In today's special edition to mark the online launch of The Australian's 'Wealth Vertical', wealth editor Julie-anne Sprague joins James Kirby to talk about how an experienced financial journalist sets about investing. Wealth editor Julie-anne Sprague joins Associate Editor-Wealth in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Do the very rich tell us anything useful? Financial advice: Getting it is one thing, using it is another Taking risks when you know how often things go wrong The way to start...
Jul 30, 2025•47 min
So the story goes, you buy inside the 'zone' of a top public school and your property purchase can only be a winner. Well actually... the numbers don't really say that: In fact, as an investor you may do better somewhere else! Eliza Owen, head of research at Cotality Australia, joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Are public school zones hot property or not? School fees versus property price premiums Underquoting is back with a vengeance Downsi...
Jul 29, 2025•31 min
The markets are overheating : Records are being made on the ASX while profits are actually falling. As we inch towards the most dangerous time of the year for the share market, you should be rebalancing your investment portfolio. Adviser and family office chair, Dr Doug Turek joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby, in this episode. ----- In today's show, we cover: Rebalancing time - whether you like it or not The alternatives to shares...especially gold A very obvious way to avoid the new ...
Jul 24, 2025•34 min
2025 started slowly for house prices - and the absence of a second rate cut mid -year might have cooled sentiment - but economists are now upgrading their forecasts as prices move significantly higher.Bank of Queensland is now calling a 6 per cent price increase for houses across the nation this year and next year. Peter Monckton, chief economist at Bank of Queensland joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. ----- In today's show, we cover:Property prices get upgraded...but ...
Jul 22, 2025•27 min
The extensive wealth of triple murderer Erin Patterson is almost certain to now be the subject of claims from the estates of her victims: The extraordinary story highlights some key changes in the world of wills and inheritance. In today's show, we cover: Rich from inheritance, Erin Patterson now set to face money claims The rapidly changing rules for wills and inheritance Why Wills left on iphones will become more common What you need to know about inheriting super Lawyer and financial adviser ...
Jul 18, 2025•25 min
If buying off the plan property is so long associated with later problems, why do investors ever do it? Today we take a look at the value proposal offered by off the plan property with its discounts, tax breaks and guarantees... In today's show, we cover... The best and worst of off the plan investments Who is offering the guarantee? Buying through Self-Managed Super funds A listener wants to construct their own index fund. James Gerrard of www.financialadviser.com.au joins Associate Editor - We...
Jul 15, 2025•37 min
Is it the end of the US markets as we once knew them? No way! But the US dollar is fading and that creates a major shift in global investment markets.For Australian investors it's time to hedge and it's also time to look at two key investments you may not have considered until now. Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. ----------------- In today's show, we cover: Gold...the outlook from here Emerging Markets present an opportunity...
Jul 10, 2025•33 min
Rates are falling, demand is strong and rental vacancy levels remain at rock bottom: No wonder auction clearance rates across Australia are returning to normal. What happens next? It's looking like we are at the start of a rebound. Louis Christopher, managing director of the SQM Research Group joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Why property experts believe a recovery in the property market is underway Will Melbourne come to the party? Brisban...
Jul 08, 2025•26 min
Is it really this easy? You buy a share market index fund and it goes up by 10 per cent every year.....Hmm...Well, actually, the ASX 200 index is comprised of 50 per cent banks and miners: When they rise together, an index fund will fly high. But if the going gets tough, your share portfolio will not be as diversified as you may think. What's more, major problems are forming in the market where enormous amounts of money are pouring into stocks often because ETF algorithms are blindly following m...
Jul 03, 2025•33 min
It's the first week of the new financial year: Time to reset your portfolio for the year ahead. Hot share markets, patchy property prices and new rules for super: You need to get up to speed but more than that, you need to stick with your investment principles. Author Noel Whittaker joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode In today's show, we cover: Property - Challenging the positive outlook After double-digit returns for shares, prepare for the Black Swan Yes, Super rules a...
Jul 01, 2025•38 min
Our recent show on crypto, which was openly sceptical about Bitcoin, triggered a storm of response from listeners who believe Bitcoin is a very worthy asset. Today, we hear another point of view: AMP recently invested $27m in Bitcoin and that decision has returned around 40 per cent in profits. In today's show, we cover... The bull case for Bitcoin from a mainstream investor Must you understand something to invest in it? The widening 'use case' for crypto FY 2025 investment wrap - too good to be...
Jun 26, 2025•31 min