The Money Puzzle

How could the sharemarkets possibly repeat the powerful performance of 2024 in the year ahead? It's time to take a look at what the experts are predicting for the leading share markets over the next 12 months and why you are entitled to be (just a little bit) optimistic. Marc Jocum, investment strategist at GlobalX ETFs joins wealth editor James Kirby in this special summer edition of the show. ---------In today's show, we cover:* The outlook for the ASX * 2025 on Wall Street * Megatrends of the coming year * A 'small cap' sunrise  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the FIRE movement and how did it get started? It's not a club or a cult: It doesn't have a headquarters, rather it's a set of investment principles: And it just might be a breakthrough for you in the year ahead. Lionel Lee joins wealth editor James Kirby in the episode  --------In today's show, we cover:  * The key principles of FIRE * Getting the best from what the movement has to offer  * A case study that spans a lifetime * The realities of  'firing up'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Never count your chickens...until the last day of the year: A sober call from US Federal Reserve chair, Jay Powell, has cooled US markets this week while on the ASX the biggest float of the year - DigiCo- has been an initial flop. But, hey, we are still looking at double-digit returns for investors in 2024...and that will do nicely. Financial adviser James Gerrard joins wealth editor James Kirby in the final regular episode of 2024. ---------- In today's show, we cover * A wrap for 2024 on listed investment markets * Cash, gold and Bitcoin - what we learnt * Super returns for 2024 * Why it's time to start thinking about the 'black swan'   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call it key person risk - or perhaps ' key person opportunity': Either way, the personality of the CEO is crucial to the operation of most top stocks on the ASX.The Australian has just released its annual CEO survey - let's hear what the CEOs are saying about the year ahead. Associate editor Business Eric Johnston joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ----------- In today's show, we cover: * "Cautious optimism' - Top CEOs look forward to the coming year *  Banking on lending more - Financial CEOs wait for rate cuts*  Copper Call - Will this future-facing metal matter more than iron ore?*  What just happened at DigCo - and what does it mean for A-REITs  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can the US possibly repeat its bumper returns again in 2025? Well, the pundits tell us that US markets will return at least twice the total return from the ASX next year…so, why not? Tim Mackay of Quantum Financial joins wealth editor in this episode. ------------- In today’s episode, we cover: * The US share market prospects for the Aussie investor* Bond ETFs…maybe this time!* What did you do with your tax cuts? * Getting a better deal on super for a couple   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inbox at themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au is not going to get cleared by Xmas if we don't do something soon!  Here's a collection of our recent correspondence.  Stuart Wemyss of Prosolution Private Clients joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------- In today's show, we cover: * The 40-year mortgage - good news or bad news?  *  Centrelink and gifting a stake in your property  *  Property trusts and the arrival of datacentre float DigiCo *  What defines  a 'distressed property sale'   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Fradley, a leading independent financial advisor in Australia, shares his expert insights on finding a financial advisor in today's shrinking market. He discusses the dramatic drop in available advisors, the potential role of big superannuation firms, and the importance of unbiased advice. The conversation highlights the challenges of navigating debt recycling, capital gains tax during retirement, and the necessity for better training in the financial sector. Fradley emphasizes aligning values for productive advisory meetings in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

It does not take long for distressed sales to appear in a soft property market: In Sydney and Melbourne there is now clear weakness in inner-city apartment markets.But can an investor make money here? Louis Christopher of SQM Research joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------------ In today's show, we cover: * Soft spots in the metropolitan centres * Why Brisbane and Perth may hold up in 2025* Off-the-plan risks reappear * When one-bedroom units make sense  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call it a surprise if you like: But the unexpected, highly irregular, badly drafted new super tax is off the agenda: What's more, it's unlikely to reappear in anything like its current shape.  Then again, a parliamentary logjam has also ensured the big breakthrough on financial advice - where super funds would come into the game in a major way - is also petrified in a political deadlock. At least we can start investing with a teeny bit of certainty from here. Aleks Vickovich of the Conexus Financial group joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. -------- In today's show, we cover * What happened to the new $3m super tax * Financial advice from big funds gets kicked into touch * How paying $5000 a year for financial advice makes sense * Should you be involved in private credit ?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can already use funds from an SMSF to buy an investment property. But what if you could use money from your Big Super fund to buy a home?  It's hardly a radical idea in an economy where you can take money out of super for cosmetic surgery! Simon Jones of HomeSuper joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. --------- In today's show, we cover: * The plan to tap Big Super for home buyers * SMSF opportunities in property * The government's Shared Home Equity scheme is ready to go* Are house prices really falling?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.