The Money Puzzle

Hosted by The Australian

Business News

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Episodes

670

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Unlock your wealth potential with The Money Puzzle. Featuring two power-packed episodes each week packed with smart money-making strategies, from superannuation to investing in shares, plus in-depth analysis of property markets. Get tips from leading experts and practical tools to help build lasting wealth. Submit your questions at themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au .

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 202629 min

It's time to refinance your loans - here's what to do

Rising rates and falling property prices always trigger a flood of refinancing, but many of the best deals are done in the early phase of the cycle - like right now! Rasti Vaibhav of the Get RARE buyer's agency joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The magic words...Mortgage Discharge Authority...do they still work? Getting the best deal from any bank, including your own lender Exploring refinance alternatives such as lengthening your mortgage period Optimising the offset - Securing your repayments by using the equity you've accumulated See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 5, 202632 min

Special Episode : Listener questions answered

The queue of listener questions at themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au has been building up. It's time to tackle the task with one of the best advisers in the market. Hugh Robertson, CEO of Centaur Financial Services joins Associate Editor, James Kirby on this special episode. In today's show, we cover: Assessing the Anthropic IPO The aftermath of the Bathla collapse CGT post Budget. Too much of a good thing: the listener overloaded with Google shares And much, much more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 3, 202640 min

How much super do you need? Finding 'the sweet spot'

Most people focus on hitting a dollar figure when it comes to super savings, but a closer look at the system shows a 'sweet spot' for pension access that serves as the crucial issue for most Australians. Financial adviser, James Gerrard of www.financialadviser.com.au joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: How much should you have in super Finding the 'sweet spot' for pension access Avoiding 'the worst of all worlds' where you miss out on easy money How to assess 'pension boost' products from the big funds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 29, 202640 min

Death, taxes, and the inevitability of an inheritance tax

As trillions of dollars begin transferring to the next generation, is it only a matter of time before Australia joins other nations to tax an inheritance? Morgan Solomon, Director at Solomon Hollett Lawyers joins Julie-anne Sprague, Wealth Editor in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The rise of testamentary trusts The importance of having a will Estate planning and the great wealth transfer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 27, 202637 min

Bricks vs Shares: Here's how the new tax regime changed the maths

It's the age-old question: is an investment property or shares a better investment? The government's tax changes has blown the debate wide open. As Stockspot founder Chris Brycki explains to The Australian's wealth editor Julie-anne Sprague, the numbers are in. His analysis of a $1m property shows investment property owners need to find an extra $11,000 a year just to stay in the same position as they were before. Read his analysis in The Australian here In today's show, we cover: Strategies in diversification Investing a lump sum or dollar-cost averaging Tech stock alternatives To sign up to The Australian's free wealth newsletter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 22, 202627 min

How to optimise AI as an active investor

The risks and opportunities of AI become clearer each day, but how do you - the investor - optimise AI while minimising your risks? Daniel Gara, founder of Vectatech.com.au joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: How to best use AI as an active investor Securing your data against later use by AI companies Tackling AI questions to get the answers you need Anthropic's Claude for financial advisers explained See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 20, 202626 min

Private credit's 'wake-up' call (with Charlie Viola)

This is the year reality bites for private credit investors: Put simply, it was too good to be true for several years. More recently, just as everyday investors piled into the space, the numbers have turned against it. Charlie Viola of Viola Private Wealth joins Associate Editor, James Kirby, in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Private credit shake-up: The Metrics Credit affair Should we compare private credit to shares or bonds? Keeping an eye on the fallout from the Bathla collapse Passive investing and the problem of poor quality IPOs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 15, 202638 min

FIRE- Finding your magic number for financial independence

The Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement has been re-energised through an offshoot tagged as COAST. It's all about the magic number you need to save, which allows you to ahem coast through the rest of your life without money issues. Would it work for you? Lionel Lee, author of 'Into The Moneyverse' joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: FIRE - What you need to know How the COAST principle works Adapting for the Australian super system Should you save inside or outside super? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 13, 202626 min

'Stock overhang'- Inside the property market's biggest issue

The Spring season's 'stock overhang' will determine the outlook for the property market. It will also provide an early guide on where the bargains will emerge for investors. Angus Moore, senior economist at Realestate.com.au joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Stock overhang - The markets with the most for sale Will vacancy rates stay low if prices drop further? Is Melbourne the value hunter's opportunity? Negative gearing new homes - signs of life inside industry data See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 8, 202621 min

Higher rates, lower returns: Is Australia still investable?

Higher taxes, an aging population and hopeless productivity growth ...is Australia the best place to put your money? In today's show, we cover... What investors can draw from the government's inter-generational report Does the productivity gap with the US explain Wall Street's superior returns? Why rates will be higher for longer Gold takes a step backwards in its forward march Paul Bloxham, chief economist at HSBC Australia, joins Associate Editor James Kirby in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.