The Money Puzzle

SMAs are booming inside the financial advice sector: But if they are so terrific, then why is regulator ASIC asking so many probing questions around fees and conflicts of interest? Nathan Fradley of Fradley Advice joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover... The good, bad and potentially ugly side of the SMA boom Will SMSFs get a fair deal in the new Compo sche...

You can’t have a run of interest rate hikes and expect property to shoot out the lights. The chances are we are going to see a price slowdown in the major cities later this year…especially at the top end. But a string of factors point to serious resilience at the other end of the market. Independent housing analyst, Eliza Owen, joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode ...

What are investors doing in reaction to the shocking turn in markets during the first three months of 2026?  One of the first moves is a distinct retreat from Wall Street back to the ASX, as investors seek mining and energy stocks along with blue chips that can deliver reliable dividends. It's early days but we are also seeing a pick-up in defensive investments such as infrastructure and a li...

If you want to get advice from today's guest, Ben James of Escala Partners, you need to have at least $5m in your investment portfolio. In other words, his clients are strictly from the top end of town. So what have his clients been doing since the Iran crisis broke in February, and what is he telling them to do next? Ben James, CEO of Escala Partners, joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this e...

Buyer's agents armed with rubber-stamp qualifications are herding investors into overpriced regional hot spots just in time for a looming wave of rate rises...it's an accident waiting to happen. Veronica Morgan from Good Deeds Property Advisors joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover A warning for investors buying outside their home markets  The off...

What do the super-rich have in common? The everyday investor might never be a dealmaker, but they can learn a lot from the discipline, focus and confidence common to the cohort on this year's Rich 250 list. John Stensholt, Rich 250 Editor joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The common traits among the Rich 250  Who's who on the list and why they mak...

Cash rates are now more than 4 per cent and your mortgage is around 6 per cent: What's more, it looks very much like the hiking cycle is far from over, so should you fix at these levels? Stuart Wemyss of the Prosolution Private Clients group joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: To fix or not to fix...the dilemma bites  Surprise good news for older ca...

Former AFL star Chris Judd has become a fund manager specialising in 'small cap' stocks: No surprise, he's got some clear views on the share market and what investors should be doing as higher interest rates loom. Chris Judd of the Cerutty Macro Fund joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby, in this episode .In today's show, we cover: The share market according to Chris Judd  How Judd's C...

"Rentvesting' is increasingly popular where wannabe home owners move first to buy a rental property and later to use their accumulated equity to buy 'a forever family home.' But putting some of your capital into the sharemarket, rather than the property market may be much more lucrative...and even better if CGT tax is raised in the near future. Author Jacqui Clarke, Your Personal CFO joins as...

These are very early days in the Iran war and the impact on share markets is far from clear. But already we can see there is upward pressure on interest rates around the world, there is also a clear risk of an inflation spike due to oil supply. Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Why the Iran war will push r...

Though 80,000 investors own more than two negatively geared properties, the reaction to news that the government is planning to ‘cap’ the tax break has been low-key. Perhaps that’s because losing money on an investment property should not be the first aim of an investor. Jarrod McCabe of the Wakelin Advisory Group joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode In today&rsquo...

Everyday investors have been heavily sold private credit funds as an alternative investment and now the reality of this opaque, often illiquid market is starting to bite. Dr Doug Turek of Minchin Moore joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Problems with private credit spook investors Have commissions for financial advisers returned? Why government bonds ar...

Are we looking the wrong way? As property investors fret over likely lifts in Capital Gains Tax, the bigger issue for long term investors is interest rates: Despite the industry-wide assumption that we are in a new rate hike cycle, it is looking increasingly likely that rates are not going to go through the roof, in fact some already believe we should be thinking about lower rates in the near futu...

More investors are coming to realise that inherited super is taxed at 17 per cent, but the government has stirred a hornet's nest in adding a de facto death tax into the new super tax legislation. What to do? Hugh Robertson of Centaur Financial joins Associate Editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Inheritance tax changes : What you need to know Understanding your super cap...

At the very core of wealth building is the dilemma of setting up your super or making sure you own a home; The long-term returns on both investment choices are broadly similar, but the tax system is hugely in favour of the home-owner. So what to do? James Gerrard of www.financialadviser.com.au joins Associate Editor James Kirby in this episode  In today's show, we cover: The in-built bia...

Interest rates are moving higher again as the RBA renews its battle with inflation: It's time to think seriously about inflation-proofing your investments, and that means a lot more than buying some gold. Chris Brycki of the Stockspot group joins Associate Editor - James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover:  The full menu for inflation-proofing your investments Big super funds do...

'You can't get into the property investment market for less than $1m' is something you may hear regularly...but is it true? High-profile investor Nathan Birch says not only can you get into the market for $300,000 or less, but you can do it without negative gearing. Nathan Birch of the B Invested group joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Buying...

Whether you are with a big super fund - or run your own SMSF -  the outstanding risk for your long-term return is whether your portfolio is appropriate for your age? The chances are that you are being too conservative because you are going to live a lot longer than you realise.   Anna Shelley, chief investment officer at AMP joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episo...

Gold prices jumped dramatically last year and then soared through the $US5,000 milestone last month: Now the price is suddenly heading south as profit takers push the price down closer to $US4,660. Some listeners may have missed the gold rally, our guest today - a specialist gold mining stock picker - says this might be a time to reconsider. David Franklyn of the Argonaut Gold Fund joins Asso...

The sharemarket is surging and we are trading like it's late 2007, which makes it a very good time to review how your portfolio would fare if things turn sour. It's also time to catch up on new changes in super.  Liam Shorte of the Sonas Wealth group joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode  In today's show, we cover: Cash, annuities and hybrids  Stings in the new super t...

If you are planning to put more money in the property market this year, be warned the risks of tax changes are now clearly on the table: Top of the agenda is a wind back in Capital Gain Tax concessions.  Peter Esho of Flexdoc joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The biggest tax risk for property investors this year  How Victoria's Airbn...

How many years can a bull market last? What will it take to dampen investor sentiment in the year ahead, and what should you, the active investor, be doing? Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode  In today's show, we cover: The risks and opportunity in the 2026 listed markets How to defend against the looming risk of inflation&nb...

Property prices are tipped to rise by 5 per cent in 2026 : But where will investors really make their money? In our property investment outlook show for the year ahead, we identify the property sector that is ready to rebound...and we pinpoint the best location too. Stuart Wemyss of the ProSolution Private Clients group joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. I...

The ASX can return 10 per cent again in 2026...or maybe even more, says star stockpicker Jun Bei Liu...but what to buy? In this second part of our 2026 investment outlook, she outlines very clearly the red-hot sectors offering the top stock picks and also the parts of the market to avoid. Jun Bei Liu of Ten Cap joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode  In today's show, we...

It looks like the sharemarket will once again be the place to make money in 2026, especially on Wall Street. But it's not going to be a smooth ride: In the first weeks of the year, the US has unleashed a wave of foreign interventions - and President Trump has subpoenaed Fed Reserve chair Jay Powell - triggering alarm bells on Wall Street. Marc Jocum, investment strategist at Gl...