The Money Puzzle

The ASX is up 12 per cent in a year, the US S&P is up 24 per cent and now 'pro-market' Republican Donald Trump looks set to win the US election. What are investors buying and what can we expect for the rest of the year?  In today's show, we cover... * Will Trump accelerate the share market bull run? * Australian investors stick with miners even though banks surge  * What might a sudden Trump-d...

Investors with multiple properties often get a hard time: Anissa Cavallo owns 15 investment properties having started as a divorced mum living in her parent's home. So, don't expect any apology from this investor, but she does put forward a forceful argument for investing in residential property - and some excellent insights into how to do it successfully In today's show, we cover... * How many pr...

The sharemarkets are firing - the US market is on an absolute tear...and now we have the prospect that Republican Donald Trump could win again. The last time Trump won, Wall Street went for a run...what might happen this time? In today's show we cover: * The outlook for the share market  * Why 'active' ETFs are riskier than you think * The problem with assuming your super returns will stay so good...

Property investors and home buyers take a second look! Villa units - the humble single storey dwellings to be found in every metropolitan suburb are being reassessed by a new generation. They may not be fashionable - but they are going to be hot property. In today's show we cover: * Reassessing the villa unit  * Why insurance inflation is crunching the housing market * Where is the government's sh...

It’s the single most common question among Australian investors and the answer is different for everyone. But there are firm principles you can follow and simple formulas that will at least give you a very good sense of how your super is shaping up. In today's episode we cover:   * Why you need to be sceptical of ‘super calculators’ * How you - or your partner - could live to be 100 * Don’t undere...

How much is property costing you? Home loan borrowers are extending their mortgages to keep costs down: Investors are absorbing higher running charges with an eye on the long term prize of capital gain. This week we take a close look at refinancing and how to make it work  In today’s show we cover  *  How to speak the language of property finance (and score a better deal)  *. Does downsizing actua...

The share market is heading for another strong year, but the short sellers are working hard to pull down some champion stocks on the ASX: Blue chip CBA and IPO darling Guzman Y Gomez are among the targets. What does it mean for investors?  In this episode, we cover:  Short order - Why do traders believe top stocks are heading for a fall? The tricky business of small-cap stock selection  What happe...

You may think you are ready to join the property market but do you have your squad of professionals in place? And have you considered the humble villa unit?  In today's episode we cover:  * A buyer's advocate tips for the first -time buyer * Villa units - Are they the most undervalued properties in Australia?  *  Land tax - Getting to know state-based land tax regimes  *  Have we reached peak mort...

Tycoons win and lose on the sharemarket just like the rest of us: This week Peter Cooper had a win with Guzman Y Gomez but then 'Hungry Jack' Cowin has watched his Domino's Pizza shares drop by a third so far in 2024. What can we learn from tycoon stock-picking? In today's episode we cover  * The stocks that paid off big time for Rich 250 players  * Terrible tycoon stock picks of 2024 (so far)  *...

As NSW follows Victoria with fresh moves to raise more money from Land Tax: Investors need to review their options and look at the different settings around the nation. In today's show, we cover... Land tax -The states squeeze the lemon - what can you do? Interest-only loans as a way to better manage debt  Buying a house with mates - what you need to know  If your home is your main workplace - are...

Most of us invest to make money for better times. But what about needing money for when things go very wrong. Today's guest was a patent lawyer when her family was hit with a major health trauma. The experience triggered a career change into becoming a financial adviser. In today's show we cover:  Emergency money - Why you must have a plan Understanding the insurance inside your super  Should you...

The soon-to-be-biggest city in Australia is among the cheapest! It is also the weakest in terms of price gains this year...so what should an investor do? In today's show we cover ... Is Melbourne now the bargain of the decade? Interrogating the 'units will rebound' theory  Will immigration cuts weaken the property market? The first steps in developing a property? Financial adviser Bruce Brammall j...

Ever been to a BBQ where someone told you about a unique tax strategy and you're left wondering why your accountant never mentioned this before? It might be claiming a luxury car as a tax deduction or becoming a tax resident of a tax haven like Vanuatu to avoid paying income tax. We sit down with an accountant to run through a range of "is this possible" scenarios from claiming travel costs on inv...

High risk, high return is the perception when it comes to property development. So, no wonder that only 2% of all property investors actually engage in property development activities. If you have ever thought about property development, this is the episode for you. In this episode we cover: How to get started in property development Tips and tricks from an experienced property developer Is there...

The inbox at themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au  has been bursting at the seams - it's time to give listener questions the attention they deserve.  In this show we cover:  Is a stock split something to worry about? Help! I should have put this investment inside super Retirement calculators forget to tell you one thing Dividend Reinvestment programs - how they work  Financial adviser James Gerrard...

Using super for any reason other than retirement savings used to be taboo: Not anymore, and not when the tax system is totally loaded in favour of the homeowner. The Coalition proposal to allow super for first home buyers is gaining attention, it's an idea that will be hard to resist. James Gerrard of  The Financial Adviser joins Wealth Editor James Kirby in this episode. In this episode we cover:...

Are SMSFs worth the trouble? How much should you have in funds to get started?  There are now more than 600,000 SMSFs in the local market: If you don't have a fund, it's time to think about it (and if you do have a fund: It might also be time to consider whether it is still the best tax structure for your situation). In today's show we cover:  Are Self Managed Super Funds worth the trouble? What i...

The argument against apartment investment has always been the same: 'They can just keep adding new developments'...well, not anymore. The market is changing and the statistics are there to prove it. In today's show we cover:  * Why the rebound in apartment investment returns will continue * Using super for buying a home - should you?  * WA wins as the best state for property  investors  *  Is Lend...

The 2024 budget was a deft piece of work: Politically astute, and supportive of low-income Australians but also a very mixed bag for investors. In today's show we cover: The budget measures that matter to investors Things the government did not do (which will make a big difference) The share market sector awash with government largesse HECs - did they really do that much?   Will Hamilton of Hamilt...

You might think you know the Australian property market but the goalposts are moving: Hobart had slid down the ladder, Canberra is second only to Sydney while Brisbane and Perth are charging ahead. It's time to reassess. In today's show we cover: The changing profile of big city property markets Why units are set to do better than houses (per square metre) In support of the First Home Super Saver...

Is there anything behind this piece of share market folk wisdom? We find out. Also, our biggest super funds are set to expand their offerings in financial advice: What can we expect from this development - and what does it mean for independent advice?  In today's show we cover : Pros and Cons of super funds offering advice The reality of 'sophisticated investor' rules Why are we selling key assets...

The banks are starting to carve up the lending market by postcode. If you are inside one of the 145 (out of 3300) postcodes ANZ Bank has cherry picked you can get a special deal on larger loans. What does this mean for the market? What does it mean for you? In todays show we cover : Getting to know postcode-driven lending deals What will the Federal Budget offer for property ? The reality of falli...

The plain vanilla Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) turned the Australian funds management sector on its head. Now, the whole scene is changing again with everything from Bitcoin funds to leveraged products.  In today's show we cover: Everything you need to know about traditional ETFs The pros and cons of index-based funds Why ETFs don't work every time Dividends and CGT - how it works for ETF investors ...

For the first time in the history of The Money Puzzle , James Kirby is off sick. James will be back on Thursday with a new episode, but for now we hope you enjoy his chat from last December with Damon Kitney about the families behind Australia’s biggest companies.   Who are they, and what can we learn from the way they invest?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might seem like only yesterday that rates were supposed to be coming down but the news changes fast: This week's inflation data has already prompted calls for RBA rate rises. One of the loudest calls comes from this week's guest... who should know - he's an expert in fixed income markets. In today's show we cover: Where to now for fixed income and bonds?  The limits of exchange-traded funds Wha...