

The Money Puzzle
The Australian
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2025 • 33min
The money puzzle wants to HEAR you
One of the most popular features of the Money Puzzle podcast has been listener questions which we read on air: Now we want to hear you asking your questions! We're asking listeners to send in a voice memo from their phone and share it on the show to themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au. Also in today's show, we cover the problem with quirky properties. Buyer's advocate Cate Bakos warns lovers of converted churches and renovated show factories that standing out from the crowd is not always profitable. Bakos explains what makes a property valuable : It appeals to the widest possible audience. ----------------- In today's show, we cover: Irregular properties - quirky can be costly Closed tenders - Good or bad? Tricky tax arrangements around 'granny flats' Why lending rates will keep falling See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 13, 2025 • 40min
Sharemarket sell off : What to do?
It had to happen: Tariffs, recession indicators and an overpriced Wall Street: The sharemarket has taken a tumble. As luck would have it, the Money Puzzle has a top value investor on the show this week and he names three top stocks that can survive just about anything! Roger Montgomery of Montgomery Investment Management joins James Kirby in this episode. -----In today's show, we cover... The sharemarket sell off - why did it happen? Ai and Tech face a new reality Three stocks with a value 'moat' The conditions we need for a positive year on the ASX See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 2025 • 32min
The March 25 budget, standby for surprises
Finally, after much flipping and flopping the government has decided to go ahead with a pre-election budget on March 25: What will it mean for your investment plans? James Gerrard of financialadviser.com.au joins James Kirby in this episode. ----- In today's show, we cover: What's the Coalition deal on tapping super to buy a home? How the ALP plans to offer a 20% discount on student debt Could financial advice be made fully tax deductible? The reality of taking out a reverse mortgage Why advisers are sceptical about annuities See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 6, 2025 • 38min
Rocky share market signals it's time to take out the trash
The US sharemarket has lost all of the gains it racked up since the Trump election and the spectre of a tariff war is casting gloom across global trade. What to do? First of all, give up on those stocks you were hoping would 'turn' and then do a full 'clean out' of your share portfolio. Rudi Filapek-Vandyck of FNArena joins James Kirby in this episode ----In today's show, we cover: Why is confidence seeping out of the US sharemarket Can the ASX hold up if the dividend yield is fading? The reason why CBA is the best bank stock Goodman asks for more retail money - should you come to the party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 4, 2025 • 27min
Top-end property rebounds best after rate cut
The upper end of the market - defined by properties which rank in the 25 per cent of most expensive sales - is the layer that is moving up after the rate cut. And that means the post-rate cut bounce is concentrated in the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. In fact, Melbourne might finally be turning a corner. Property analyst Eliza Owen of Corelogic joins James Kirby in this episode. -----In today's show, we cover... What investors must know about property trends after the rate cut Melbourne manages a one-month rebound..is there more to come? The window for first-time home buyers may be closing Queensland towns notch up remarkable price activity - take a look at Townsville! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2025 • 38min
Key person risk: Musk, White & co…are they worth it?
The superstar CEO is a complex package: You might love what they can do with the share price, but you might equally feel unsure about their behaviour day-to-day. What to do? Author and family office adviser, Jacqui Clarke, joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------ On today’s show, we cover: Passive investing …it’s not what it used to be Wealthy investors are getting cautious about the sharemarket How top investors deal with key person risk Big super funds under pressure on private investments See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 25, 2025 • 31min
Why Queensland units are the future
For many property investors stand-alone homes will always win: Similarly, there is an investor bias towards the metropolitan centres of Sydney and Melbourne.But Hotspotting expert, Terry Ryder, sees the market differently: He offers a fresh view on the prospects for investors in the year ahead and may challenge some cherished assumptions. Terry Ryder, director of the Hotspotting group, joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The powerful forces pushing Queensland higher How units are outperforming stand-alone homes nationwide Signs of a slowdown in the Perth Market Defending 'property pre-nups.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 20, 2025 • 33min
Rate cut tipping point for investors
Every investor needs to digest the changed direction of rates after the first cut in four years from the RBA: The headlines are all about mortgage cost reductions but for many investors the big question is - What to do now that risk-free investing is a fading feature of the market? James Gerrard of financialadviser.com.au joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. -------- In today's show, we cover The alternatives to cash deposits Perfect timing for A-REITs and private credit? The true cost of franked dividends Is super biased against younger Australians? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 18, 2025 • 33min
Property investing and SMSFs - The facts
For some investors a Self Managed Super Fund is their only entry point to the property market: But does it make sense? Stuart Wemyss of ProSolution Private Clients joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover The pros and cons of holding property in a SMSF The compromise: Co-investing with your own fund Property 'pre-nups' - the Bank of Mum and Dad loan agreements Splitting loans to optimise property returns See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 13, 2025 • 35min
Dangers of the Trump trade
Australian investors have never put so much money into the US market: That's largely because Wall Street stocks have been twice as profitable as ASX investments for years.The question now is how long can it last? In short, it can continue...but the composition of those share returns may change. Doug Turek of Minchin Moore Private Wealth joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------In today's show, we cover How to play the next phase of the Trump trade Defending investment in private markets Gold - the forever buffer ? How to replace your bank hybrids See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


