Dollars and Making Sense

While Australia's superannuation retirement system is the envy of many countries around the world, so many Australians are still not aware of what is available as standard offerings within their super funds.  Today we explore the various components of Life Insurance cover within superannuation funds, and what's under the hood.  This includes death cover, terminal illness, temporary or perm...

A troubling subject that has been swept under the carpet for too long.  This week, Lina Saliba, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer from MetLife Australia joins us to discuss a recent study of the financial and health impact of menopause and perimenopause on Australian women.  The study involving over 1000 Australian women provides some sobering results about a much hidden issue with women, and...

Understanding retirement age is rather important. Is it 60, 65 or 67? or none of the above? Justin Bott from Services Australia joins us to discuss some interesting considerations when deciding on when to retire. Money is just a small part of the equation, albeit important! We need to consider aspiration, health, finances, super, retirement aims, and what to do with the nest egg you've been pl...

Justin Bott, media information officer from Services Australia is back with us and covering off information that is brand new to me and possibly many others out there.  There is a budgeting and cash management tool available for all Services Australia payments recipients called Centrepay  https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/centrepay  - tune in to find out how this free service provides recipient...

Kirk Wilson, subject matter expert from the Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ) joins us to work through the myriad of changes introduced in this year's Federal budget surrounding Capital Gains Tax (CGT).  Bringing down some of the most dramatic changes in tax law pertaining to capital gains and housing policy in probably 25 years.  Kirk provides an interestin...

Rachel Waterhouse, CEO of the ASA was last on the show in 2023.  Much has happened since then, and it has been too long since we've caught up with what's happened in that time.  Shareholder advocacy, community investor groups, ongoing financial education are all part of the ASA delivers to its members.  Rachel rejoins us to refresh this information and also catch up on new online initiativ...

Jen Richardson is a Newcastle based accountant, former financial planner who has a passion for educating those who need help in money, budgeting and finance.  Now being an accountant doesn't always mean you know a lot about making money.  Jen explains some of the poorest money managers she's ever met were accountants!!  This show, we're discussing the ongoing dilemma of the gap in supe...

We continue our series on timing your superannuation contributions with Stuart Sheary from the Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ).  This week we pick up on last week's theme and continue to discuss reversionary pensions, contribution strategies and ensuring you don't pay any more tax than you need to.  This includes Div 296 and Div 293 considerations and...

Stuart Sheary from the Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ) joins us for part 1 of a 2 part series on how to develop a contribution strategy for your concessional and non-concessional contributions for your super, and why timings these contributions will become increasingly important.  Why? Because indexation and higher inflation is raising limits for your balance...

Natasha Panagis, superannuation expert for IFPA ( www.ifpa.com.au ) joins me this week to work through an expansive show in the second part covering the major changes happening in our superannuation system.  Part 2 will cover changes in SMSF compliance, changes in contribution caps for CCs and NCCs, and Payday Super changes, updates in how we get our workers better off with super guarantees being...

Michelle Griffiths, a CPA and a FP rolled into one, a rare gem, and we're pleased to have her on the show discussing some nuance around the new Div296 legislation coming into play from 1 July 2026.  Natasha and Stuart from IFPA have explained the facts, now we have a different perspective from Michelle on timing.  To do nothing sometimes is the best strategy - if you know what the strategy sho...

Stuart Sheary, subject matter expert from IFPA (Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia) joins us as we start navigating through some major changes in our superannuation system.  Much vaunted since compulsory super came in 30+ years ago, it can get increasingly complex.  Determining who can and can't be paid a death benefit and what tax may apply is a subject of many assumptions and...

Natasha Panagis, superannuation expert for IFPA ( www.ifpa.com.au ) joins me this week to work through an expansive show in 2 parts covering the major changes happening in our superannuation system.  Part 1 will cover changes in Div 296 (I told you they wouldn't tax unrealised gains!) for super balances at $3m and $10m with some excellent examples of what the Div 296 will actually impact.  Its...

With International Women's Day being recently celebrated, we welcome back long time contributor to the show, Philippa Hunt from Wise Girls Money.  We're discussing progress in women's financial literacy, education and the continuing trend of independent women striking out on their own, despite some pop culture media suggesting directions should be the opposite.  FutureFund2 gets a revi...

This week, Justin Bott, Media Information Office from Services Australia (also known as Centrelink) comes on to discuss the pros and cons of reverse mortgages.  For many that have all their assets tied up in the family home, this could be a valuable way to unlock much needed cash flow.  But buyer beware, there are many traps as well as benefits.  We also discuss for those of pension age, the gover...

There are many misconceptions about the Aged Pension, who can access it, who is entitled to it, and what are the rules that surround applying for, and getting the Aged Pension.  This week, we welcome back Justin Bott, Media Information Officer from Services Australia, (better known as Centrelink).  Justin is a wealth of information and guides us through what "deeming" is, the income and...

Are you a travelling pensioner? Then tune in to listen to Justin Bott from Services Australia explain what is, and is not permissable under the Age Pension travel rules and regulations. Valuable information for grey nomads, both locally and internationally.

There's a lot of money sitting in the Medicare coffers at the moment that belongs to Australians who never bothered to claim their rebate. Tune in to listen to Justin Bott from Services Australia explain what to do, and how to retreive money that is rightfully yours.

Stuart Sheary from the Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ) is back and this time, we're covering off what happens to your tax bill should you be made redundant or decide to volunteer to become redundant.  The rules and details are important if you want to receive some or all of your final payment/s paying the correct (read minimum) tax.  You know it makes Doll...

After 2 years and more of political turmoil and much debate, the government has changed its mind on taxing unrealised gains in Super and introduced some taxation tiers as well.  We're joined by Natasha Panagis, subject matter expert from the Institute of Financial Professionals Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ) to work through the details of what's changed and the impact.

A number of election cycles have passed, and Super is usually mentioned as a political football.  But today, we chat with Stuart Sheary, expert from the Institute of Financial Professionals of Australia ( www.ifpa.com.au ) to work through the details of the First Home Buyers Super Save Scheme (FHSSS).  It surprised me, as it will you, this policy has been around since 1 July 2017.  Let's get s...

Ian McLeod, principal of RP Emery Legal Agreements returns to chat to us about financial agreements.  Last year we featured 2 shows about binding financial agreements and prenuptial agreements which garnered a LOT of discussion and views.  In today's interview, we focus on timing of agreements and how important they can be in relationships and couples looking to "go the distance".  W...

Anna Venonnen from Coredata returns from her very insightful research last year about crypto investing.  Having recently completed a research article for Coredata in "Trends in Crypto Investing", what better way to find out then to go straight to the source.  Anna's whitepaper is available on this link for free, and this interview picks up on some key themes - well worth a listen, no...

This week, we follow up with part 2 of what is the difference between non-concessional contributions and concessional contributions in our superannuation system.  Natasha Panagis knows what she's talking about, so tune in to find out if for any range of reasons you over contribute without even knowing it.  This is important stuff for your retirement planning.

Stuart Sheary from IFPA ( www.ifpa.com.au ) joins us to work through a range of potential options that pensioners might consider to supplement their income.  Not everyone has the comfort of a fully loaded super account, and Stuart's suggestions are well worth considering when a number of them won't impact Centrelink payments.  Tune in and find out whether you (or your parents!), may be abl...