Advertise on podcast: The Money Puzzle

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The removal of negative gearing from existing residential property, coupled with sliding values for investment property, has changed the game for every investor. The new dilemma is whether you invest in your CGT free family home or instead place that money in the long-running bull market for shares. Stuart Wemyss of the Prosolution Private Office joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Running the numbers on the family home versus a share portfolio Gearing into the share market while only paying a mortgage rate of interest The power of Exchange Traded Funds in a geared share portfolio Why foreign currency in a local bank is not guaranteed See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing $175 billion for UniSuper would keep anyone on their toes. It also helps to clarify a clear view on every asset class from US shares to private credit. So what does UniSuper's chief investment officer think will happen next? John Pearce, the chief investment officer at UniSuper joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The outlook for shares Why a 'back to normal' bond market has an upside Keeping clear of AI-linked IPOs The true definition of a 'balanced fund'   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big super funds hedge up to 50 per cent of their offshore investments: The textbooks say you should hedge about one third of any exposure overseas.But the hedging level of most Australian investors, including ETF investors, is generally close to zilch!In today's show, we cover... Should you be hedging that increased offshore share allocation ? Electrified economy - The long-term investment attraction of electrification Second thoughts on bonds...when the tide turns, could they save you? Why gold will pay off longer term Dr Sam Wylie of the Windlestone Education group and the University of Melbourne joins associate editor, James Kirby in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you get a pay rise? Should you join that start-up that promises to go to the moon, or should you simply buy your first home a lot sooner than you had planned?In today's show, we cover: Career Control - The finances of career navigation Catching up - Investment tips for the late starter Your career and your SMSF - Getting business to pay you rent Sweat equity - Deciding if you should jump to a start-up Adviser and author, Jacqui Clarke, joins Associate Editor, James Kirby, in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interest rates are moving higher worldwide, but this time around it's for good reason: The AI boom is fuelling tremendous returns on global share markets.As the game gets riskier, your cash is now returning nearly 5 per cent risk-free; it's getting hard to beatIn today's show, we cover... Why cash is beating total bond returns out the door Investing in a high-rate, high-return market New traps - Private credit is on the wrong side of the rate cycle Infrastructure shines through as rates run higher Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor James Kirby in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't have a Will, that's plain stupid. If you have a Will, you should also consider a Testamentary Discretionary Trust...and if you have done that too, you'd better watch the new Budget reforms because you may have to make changes.In today's edition, we cover... Estate planning - The basics for the everyday investor Testamentary Discretionary Trust - They escaped new taxes, check them out Trust reforms - If your family trust is being restructured, it may affect your Will Tackling the 17 per cent tax on inherited super. Estate planning lawyer, Rachael Rofe,+ joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the biggest investment upsurge we have seen since the LNG gas expansion of more than a decade ago: Data centre construction will make or break investors in the years ahead...how to play it? Emanuel Datt of Datt Capital joins Associate Editor, James Kirby, in this episode.In today's show, we cover:* Your jungle guide to the $150bn data centre boom* The hottest stocks at the centre of the action* "Picks and shovels' - the service companies investors prefer* Proxy bets - how money is raised behind the scenes to fuel the boom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gold price bounced in August, suggesting the yellow metal may soon recommence the rally that enthralled investors across 2025: It might be time to top up....In today's show, we cover The outlook for gold A gold digger's favourite picks Why gold miners so often blow their prospects Raleigh Finlayson - The rise of a gold dynamo Cameron Judd of the Victor Smorgon Partners Resources Gold Fund joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House price falls have some way to go, and now that we have the clear and present danger of more rate hikes, bargain hunters have time to kill.   In today's show, we cover; How the downturn will deepen from here Can the first home market stay unaffected? Housing developer busts - Bathla will not be an isolated case The Spring pile-up - waiting for an avalanche of new listings Cameron Kusher of Kusher Consulting joins Associate Editor James Kirby in this episode  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the hot-button question for so many investors - how to optimise any spare cash they may have on hand. For younger investors it's often the mortgage; for older investors it's often putting the money into super (before it's too late) But which is it for you? Olivia Maragna of Aspire Retire joins Associate Editor, James Kirby in this episode.In today's show, we cover: Super for mortgage...what to do? Did super win or lose in the Budget? Are we close to the peak in the current mortgage cycle The home that negative gearing forgot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.