The Money Doctors

Hosted by Bongiorno Group

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Episodes

133

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Money Doctors is a fortnightly podcast series offering conversations on financial wealth and money matters for Australian medical and dental professionals. This podcast is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group. The general advice in this series has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product.

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60 recent

September 7, 202613 min

The Financial Complexities of Aged Care: A Specialist's View

A mistake families make with aged care planning is waiting until a parent is already in permanent care to seek advice — by then, the decisions can be nearly impossible to walk back. That's according to Shaun Ganguly of Aged Care Financial Planning, who explains the three pillars his team handles for families: facilitation with aged care providers, Centrelink means-testing and entitlements, and financial strategy around the family home, super and other assets. He joins Maddison Price, Head of Wealth at the Bongiorno Group, to unpack why even high-net-worth families who miss out on the age pension can still lose out on valuable entitlements if paperwork isn't lodged correctly, and how working alongside other financial professionals helps take the emotional load off families during one of the most stressful transitions they'll face. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 24, 202621 min

Medico-Legal Work: Opportunities for Today's Doctors

Medico-legal work is no longer just for doctors nearing retirement. Today, it's becoming a flexible, rewarding career path for specialists at every stage of their profession. Justin Bradley, CEO of Melbourne-based Atlas Medicorp, explains to Nick Fennessy, Director at the Bongiorno Group, why demand for medico-legal services is growing and how the industry is changing. Justin explains how technology and AI are streamlining the reporting process, what makes a high-quality medico-legal report, and why more doctors are choosing this work to create greater flexibility, diversify their careers, and boost their income. Atlas Medicorp https://atlasmedicorp.com/ The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 10, 202615 min

Disability Insurance: Getting It Right Before You Need It

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance provides a safety net for medical professionals facing serious injury or illness — but navigating a claim isn't always straightforward. In this episode, Matt Andrews discusses the current TPD claims landscape, key trends insurers are seeing, and what claimants need to know before lodging a claim. Matt Andrews is a Partner and Head of the Superannuation and Insurance practice at Zaparas Lawyers. He is joined by Yanish Geerdharry, Head of Risk Advisory Services at the Bongiorno Group. They discuss the differences between default superannuation cover and tailored retail policies, typical waiting periods before a claim can be made, time limits for disputing a declined claim, and the implications of non-disclosure and misrepresentation at the point of application — including how pre-existing conditions are treated differently across policy types. Zaparas Lawyers https://zaparaslaw.com.au/ The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 27, 202615 min

How a Surgeon Shaped Her Career, Family and Financial Future

Success in medicine is rarely linear. It is shaped by timing, trade-offs and the support systems around you. Bongiorno Group Director Nick Fennessy speaks with orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Tharsa Thillainadesan, about building her career while raising a young family. She reflects on the role of mentors, the realities of balancing competing demands, and the importance of support both at home and professionally. A central theme is financial discipline, asking questions, and seeking specialist advice early, particularly in navigating investments, structuring income and planning ahead. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 13, 202618 min

How to Structure Your Investments PART 2: Individual vs Trust Ownership

In part two of this series on investment structures, the Bongiorno Group’s Ricky Caldow and Mitch McKeown examine company structures and superannuation. Companies can provide asset protection and tax deferral opportunities, while also outlining the limitations, including the absence of capital gains tax discounts and the complexities involved in accessing profits personally. Superannuation, remains one of Australia’s most tax-effective investment environments. They explore contribution strategies, retirement planning, self-managed super funds, and the common mistakes they see from high-income professionals who neglect superannuation during their peak earning years. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 29, 202614 min

How to Structure Your Investments PART 1: Individual vs Trust Ownership

The structure used to hold an investment can have a significant long-term impact on tax, flexibility, asset protection and wealth creation outcomes. Two people can invest in exactly the same asset and achieve very different financial results simply because of how those investments were structured from the beginning. In the first of this two-part series, Ricky Caldow and Mitch McKeown, Directors of the Bongiorno Group, explore two of the most common investment structures: individual ownership and trust structures. They explain how each structure works, the tax implications involved, when trusts may provide greater flexibility, and why early planning is critical before investment portfolios begin to grow. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 15, 202621 min

What Doctors Can and Can’t Claim at Tax Time

Tax time is just around the corner – and so it’s worth understanding ahead of time what you can legitimately claim. And, no, it’s not about maximising deductions at all costs. It’s about being able to clearly justify every expense and ensuring it directly relates to earning your income. The Bongiorno Group’s Director Nick Fennessy and Tax Manager Chantelle Turner unpack the deductions employees and self-employed practitioners commonly misunderstand. They explain the myriad of rules around car travel, conferences, self-education, home office expenses, uniforms, laptops, donations, super contributions and insurance, while highlighting the areas the ATO is increasingly scrutinising. They also examine the differences between employee and sole trader deductions, including instant asset write-offs, business expenses and service fees. They answer common real-world questions that regularly catch taxpayers out and explain why accurate record keeping has never been more important. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 1, 202616 min

Overseas Fellowships, Tax Residency and ATO Obligations

Planning an overseas fellowship can shape a medical career, but poor tax planning can create expensive surprises. From tax residency and worldwide income to investment properties, private health insurance and double tax agreements, the financial implications of working overseas are often misunderstood. The Bongiorno Group’s Directors Ricky Caldow and Mitch McKeown unpack the practical realities doctors face before heading abroad for fellowships. They explain why intention matters so much to the ATO, how residency status is assessed, and why assumptions about avoiding Australian tax are often wrong. For medical professionals considering overseas training, this is essential listening before boarding the plane. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 18, 202623 min

The Hidden Risks of Outdated Insurance Cover

Insurance only works when it evolves with your life. From rising incomes and growing debt to children, career changes and mounting premiums, reviewing your cover regularly can mean the difference between being properly protected and paying for insurance that no longer fits your needs. The Bongiorno Group’s Matt Homewood and Tom Will unpack the key triggers for reviewing income protection, life, trauma and TPD insurance. They explain how changing income, waiting periods, mortgages, school fees and lifestyle shifts should shape your insurance decisions over time. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 202629 min

Federal Budget 2026-27: What It Means For You

The Federal Budget could reshape the financial landscape for doctors, business owners and investors for years to come. While none of the major reforms are law yet, the proposed changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing and discretionary trusts have already sparked urgent conversations across the financial sector. Bongiorno Group directors Nick Fennessy and Mitch McKeown break down the biggest announcements from Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ latest budget and explain what they could mean in practical terms. They unpack the proposed overhaul of discretionary trust taxation, changes to negative gearing for future property purchases, major CGT reforms across all asset classes, and why self-managed super funds may emerge as one of the biggest winners. They also discuss EV tax concessions, private health insurance rebate reductions, instant asset write-offs, and why investors should avoid panic while the legislation process unfolds. The Money Doctors is proudly brought to you by leading financial services organisation the Bongiorno Group, the preferred tax and accounting partner for the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Victorian & Tasmanian Regional Alliance Partner of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. For more information, please call 03 9863 3111 or visit https://bongiorno.com.au/ This general advice has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.