Money Mechanics with Scott Malcolm

In this episode of Unpacking Money , Scott Malcolm and co-host Ara Jansen use the start of the new financial year as a practical reset point for your money life. Rather than treating 1 July as just a tax year, they unpack how to review what changed over the past year, reconnect your financial choices with your values, and create a simple framework for better money decisions in the year ahead. &nbs...

In this episode, we demystify recession by separating economic headlines from household reality and focusing on what listeners can actually control. We explore what recessions are, how they typically affect jobs, markets, borrowing, and confidence, and why thoughtful planning around emergency savings, debt, and investing matters far more than panic-driven decisions.   Demystify recessions, cu...

In this episode, we unpack what redundancy really means, how it affects people emotionally and financially, and the practical steps to take when work suddenly changes. With some focus on public sector employees, we explore genuine redundancy, voluntary redundancies, redeployment rights, and how to make calm, confident decisions about cash flow, debt, and super during a period of uncertainty. &nbsp...

Not every money decision looks smart on a spreadsheet, but that doesn’t always mean it was a mistake.   In this episode we unpack the so-called “dumb” money decisions people make (Scott included) and why some of them are still worth it. From spending on experiences, taking career risks, helping family, buying convenience or choosing joy over optimisation, we explore the diff...

Every year Budget night brings big headlines, hot takes and a whole lot of confusion. In this episode of the Money Mechanics Podcast, Scott Malcolm CFP® and Ara Jansen unpack the 2026–27 Federal Budget and translate it into real‑world implications for everyday Australians. We break down the key tax changes in plain English – from income tax cuts and the new “no‑receipts&rdquo...

Receiving an inheritance can bring up a mix of emotions, decisions and responsibilities. In this episode of Money Mechanics, Scott and Ara unpack what to think about if money, property or other assets come your way, from pausing before making big decisions to understanding tax, super, debt, investing and family considerations.   We also look at the other side of the conversation: how to plan...

Choosing a super fund can feel simple on the surface, until you start comparing fees, performance, insurance, investment options and member services.   In this episode we unpack how super comparison tools work, what they can help you see, and where they can fall short. We look at the difference between comparing a fund on headline performance and understanding whether it actually suits your l...

From 1 July 2026 , super is getting a shake‑up—and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the detail and sometime the complexity of the language. In this episode, we walk through key questions covering  Payday Super,   Division 296 tax , and indexation of the contribution caps and total super balances. We’ll help you sense‑check whether your current super strategy still lines...

Every year, thousands of Australians hit the same financial crossroads: Should I put extra money into super? Pay down debt? Or start investing? In this episode, Scott and Ara unpack the emotional tug‑of‑war behind each choice — the security of reducing debt, the satisfaction of future‑you decisions through super, and the excitement (and sometimes anxiety) that comes with investing. We break...

Inflation is hitting households hard — but what’s actually behind it, and what can you actually control? In this episode, we break down how global events (including rising oil prices and supply chain disruptions) flow into fuel costs, supermarket prices, and everyday expenses. Scott and Ara explore how interest rates affect far more than mortgages, what’s pushing up the cost of l...

The Money Mechanics Podcast is back for 2026! Scott Malcolm and Ara Jensen jump straight into one of the hottest topics in the media right now: Capital Gains Tax . After a year off-air, they’re breaking down what CGT really is, why everyone’s suddenly talking about it, and how the rumoured changes in the upcoming 2026 Federal Budget could affect you.   From discounts and holding p...

From Snoop Dogg to Sting and prize scones to long distance swimmers and now Scott Malcolm!   Ara Jansen has met, interviewed or written about the famous and the rest during her extensive career as a freelance writer and rock journalist. Words, deep blues, swimming pools, books, music and good conversation with interesting people make her deeply happy. Today we are discussing investment and ou...

Gabe Trew is the young founder of the iconic retail destination, POP Canberra, which he established at the age of 25. Under his leadership, POP Canberra has become a beloved retail and community hub, supporting over 300 individual small and micro businesses. POP Canberra has the largest selection of all local goods in one store, anywhere in the Country. Each year POP Canberra injects millions of d...

Today we turn the tables are Ara interviews me, about cash flow and we discuss ideas on how you can be getting ahead with Cost of Living Crisis happening in our lives at the moment. From Snoop Dogg to Sting and prize scones to long distance swimmers and now Scott Malcolm!   Ara Jansen has met, interviewed or written about the famous and the rest during her extensive career as a freelance writer an...

Kylie has 12 years of experience in the not-for-profit and Corporate Social Responsibility space, as a Fundraising and Marketing expert. She is experienced in startup environments, building innovative campaigns with $0 budget and evolving them into successful global movements. A great demonstration of this was her work launching and growing the Polished Man campaign. Kylie has been recognised as o...

Lisa Eriksson is the owner and principal clinical psychologist of Eriksson Psychology. Lisa predominantly works with adults to overcome a wide range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and complex trauma. She also has experience in working with neurodiverse, gender diverse and LGBTQIA+ populations. She has a broad range of experience having worked previously in...

Dr Katherine Hunt is a Growth Authority and Ethical Expert who combines education in Psychology, Law and Economics with two decades of working with businesses and their leaders. She is currently a Core Faculty member at Portfolio Construction Forum, where she shares her insights and expertise on human factors, ethics, and growth strategies with financial professionals and investors. Katherine has...

Laura is a Director at Because finance, a company that helps clients, brokers, planners, and other professionals navigate the lending process and facilitate the loan application process. With over 18 years of financial services and insurance experience, Laura has a proven track record of delivering outstanding, measurable results in business development, relationship management, and financial plan...

As human beings we share a commonality.  We are all born into the financial system in which we live.  On a daily basis we make decisions on how we earn, spend, save, invest and give away our money as well as how willing we are to get into debt. Welcome to Looking Under the Hood – a podcast all about helping you to unpacking money so you can move towards financial freedom. I’m Scott Malcolm, I’ve a...

From Snoop Dogg to Sting and prize scones to long distance swimmers and now Scott Malcolm!   Ara Jansen has met, interviewed or written about the famous and the rest during her extensive career as a freelance writer and rock journalist. Words, deep blues, swimming pools, books, music and good conversation with interesting people make her deeply happy. Today we turn the tables are Ara interviews me...

Dr Anna Carr is a coach and facilitator who combines social science analytical frameworks with a deeply personal discovery of how we are BEING in the world and who we become in the workplace. Anna’s academic curiosity has led her to delve deeply into the philosophy of science, ideas and relationships and how people relate to themselves and each other in expressing their preferred futures. The more...

After only hearing about the good things going on with property I bought my first investment at the age of 22 🙌🏼 It was a huge milestone that I'd been working towards for many years but I was naive and uneducated 🤡 in this space which led to a massive missed opportunity 😣 Over the subsequent years I built a successful career in recruitment but knew I wanted a way out at some point. To allow me...

Danielle is passionate about helping female entrepreneurs to go from being overwhelmed & stressed with finances in a mess, to mastering business profitability, building wealth, and enhancing wellbeing. Danielle focus on the four pillars of success – mindset, profit, wealth strategies, and enhancing wellbeing.   Connect with Danielle here: https://www.moneywellbeing.com.au/about/ https://www.in...

With extensive experience in accounting and plan management, Jane Hadrill founded Prudent Plan Management with the collective vision of acting with care and thought for the future.  Jane leads a warm, client focused business, ensuring that participants and providers feel welcome and informed. Kirsten Merlino has been working with NDIS participants and providing plan management assistance since 201...

ESG investment refers to the practice of considering environmental, social, and governance factors in the investment decision-making process to generate sustainable and responsible returns.  It was great to connect with Angela Ashton from Evergreen Consultants to discuss building portfolio with this lens but also some of the current challenges in the market. Angela founded Evergreen in 2016 and is...