Friends With Money

Help to Buy is finally here. So how do shared equity schemes work and are they a solution to unlocking homeownership? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Jack Elliott, mortgage broker and national first home buyer specialist at Alcove and First Home Unlocked, to discuss shared equity schemes and the first home buyer market. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Understa...

After a turbulent 12 months for markets, how are Australian stocks shaping up heading into 2026? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Jun Bei Liu, co-founder and lead portfolio manager at Ten Cap, to discuss the key factors likely to influence local markets in the year ahead and the sectors worth watching. 00:00 Introduction 01:19 Reflecting on the surprises...

Coming up with financial resolutions for the new year is easy. Setting realistic goals – and following them through – is the real challenge. This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by behavioural economist and psychologist, Phil Slade, to discuss financial goals and the psychology behind goal setting.  00:00 Introduction 01:30 Why resolutions fail 03:02 Refle...

From super scandals to market swings, 2025 certainly kept us on our toes. So before 2026 begins, it’s time to reflect on the year that was. This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s editor-in-chief, Michelle Baltazar, is joined by senior journalist, Tom Watson, to discuss the biggest financial news stories of 2025 and the topics they’ll be watching closely in 2026. 00:00 Introduction 01...

You’ve booked flights, hotels and activities for your summer trip. But have you considered how you’re going to pay your way? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Tristan Dakin, Wise’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, to discuss travel money options and other tips for your summer holiday abroad. 01:42 Choosing the right payment method 04:57 Loca...

After a turbulent year for the local market, which Australian stocks could shine in 2026? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Dale Gillham, chief investment analyst at Wealth Within, to run through the Australian companies that investors may want to consider adding to their Christmas lists. 00:00 Introduction 02:31 2025 Australian market recap 07:54 Large c...

Rising property values have left many retirees rich on paper but short on cash, so are there options for those looking to utilise their home equity? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Chris Grice, chief executive of National Seniors Australia, to discuss reverse mortgages, equity releases schemes and the government-run Home Equity Releases Scheme.   0...

Ready to start building a deposit towards your first home? The First Home Super Saver Scheme could help you reach your target faster. This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Derek Gascoigne, private client adviser at UniSuper, to run through the nuts and bolts of the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS). 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Overview of the First Home Supe...

With the festive season fast approaching it's time to get serious about budgeting, spending and avoiding post-Christmas debt. This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Sarah Meggison, personal finance expert at Finder, to run through a survival guide and a host of financial tips for the 2025 festive season. 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Financial hurdles of the festiv...

In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Michelle Baltazar speaks with Alex Homer, chief customer and brand officer at insurance group TAL, about navigating life and living insurance. They discuss the importance of insurance for younger people, different types of living insurance, and how superannuation funds can help. Alex also shares practical tips for young workers and the sel...

A new wave of superannuation changes is on the horizon, so what could they mean for your retirement? This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Shane Hancock, general manager of retirement at AustralianSuper, to unpack proposed changes to higher super balances and the low income super tax offset (LISTO) and provide an update on payday super. 00:00 Introduction 01:...

In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Vanessa Walker, managing editor of Money Magazine, delves into the topic of franking credits with Matthew Gibbs, the author of 'Frankly Speaking' in Money Magazine's October issue. Matthew explains the concept of franking credits, how they work, and their implications for shareholders in Australia. He discusses the benefits and potential downsides...

One of the great uncertainties in retirement is how long your savings will need to last. So, could annuities provide an answer?  On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Aaron Minney, head of retirement income research at Challenger, to unpack everything annuities. 00:00 Introduction 00:50 What are annuities? 01:33 Understanding how annuities work 04:...

From superannuation to digital assets, there’s much more to think about with estate planning than just creating a will. On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by William Moore, partner and head of private client advisory at Hall & Wilcox, to run through some of the essential components of estate planning. 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Why you need a will and...

Procrastination is a bad habit at the best of times, but when it comes to our finances, failing to act can have serious consequences. On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Shayne Sommer, a private wealth adviser at Shadforth Financial Group, to discuss the topic of financial procrastination and the ways in which it can be tackled. 00:00 Introduction 01:...

Emerging markets have had a strong showing so far in 2025. But is the allure of growth and diversification worth the risk? On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Hugh Lam, investment strategist at Betashares, to take a deep dive into the world of emerging markets. 01:24 Defining emerging markets 04:48 Opportunities in emerging markets 07:12 Risks in emer...

Whatever the asset, investors dream of spotting opportunities before everyone else – and property’s no different. So how can buyers identify hotspots early? On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Abdullah Nouh, founder of Melbourne buyers’ agency Mecca Property Group, to discuss the features that investors may want to look for in a location and individua...

In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Vanessa Walker hosts an in-depth discussion with journalist Ryan Johnson about the financial aspects of solar energy in Australia. Starting with the government's 2020 renewable energy target, the conversation covers the evolution and uptake of solar panels, the introduction of solar batteries, and the new incentives available. They also delve into...

Investors often agonise between choosing stocks that can deliver dividends or growth. But is it possible to get the best of both worlds? On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Jonathan Nurick, founder and co-chief investment officer at investment fund DivGro, to discuss all things dividends. 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Understanding dividend and growt...

With power bills rising, could solar, batteries and electrified heating and cooking help households save in the long run? On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Saul Griffith, founder of Rewiring Australia and author of Plug In – The Electrification Handbook, to discuss the opportunities presented by home electrification. 01:44 The journey to...

Is AI coming to take your job? In this episode of the Friends With Money Podcast by Money Magazine, managing editor Vanessa Walker and journalist Nicola Field discuss the impact of AI on the job market, focusing on both global and local perspectives. They explore how AI is expected to create more jobs than it eliminates by 2030 and identify roles likely to thrive versus those at risk, characterist...

Home prices are rising and interest rates falling, so do buyers or sellers hold the cards leading into the spring property season? On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Dr Nicola Powell, chief of research and economics at Domain, to discuss the latest on property prices and preview the spring property season. #friendswithmoney #tomwatson #nicolapo...

The RBA dropped the cash rate once again at its August meeting, so which banks have already passed the cut on to mortgage and savings customers? On this bonus episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, to run through the latest home loan and savings changes following the August RBA cut.   #friendswithmone...

There are many parts to building sturdy financial foundations, but it’s hard to argue against the importance of property in that mix. This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by financial advisor and author, Helen Baker, to talk about her latest book ‘Money for life’ and the role of property in building financial security. They discuss: Five...

From mix-ups and records highs to new ETF listings, the past week has been full of action on the ASX. On this bonus episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Samy Sriram, market analyst at Stake, to discuss the new exchange traded funds from Betashares and Global X and to provide an update on the performance of the local market. #friendswithmoney #tomwatson #...