Advertise on podcast: The Money Doctors

For many junior doctors, the end of internship brings an unwelcome change at tax time. Salary packaging remains one of the most valuable benefits in the public hospital system, but its interaction with HECS-HELP repayments can catch even well-organised doctors off guard.  Matthew Homewood, Financial Consultant at the Bongiorno Group, is joined by Nicolas Pereira, Consultant and Accountant, to explain how reportable fringe benefits lift the income used to calculate HECS-HELP repayments, and why packaging across multiple health networks can leave doctors with a bill at the end of the financial year.    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.

When markets turn, the investors who fare best are not always the boldest. They are often the ones whose portfolios were built around a clear understanding of how much loss they could genuinely afford. That understanding, known as risk capacity, helps shape sound investment decisions.  The Bongiorno Group’s Head of Wealth, Maddison Price, joins Ricky Caldow, Director, to explore how capacity differs from tolerance and why time horizon sits at the heart of it.  Capacity, not comfort, should set the boundaries of any investment strategy. By matching investments to their intended timeframe and holding enough in reserve to ride out a downturn, investors can avoid being forced to sell at the worst possible time. Tolerance then determines where within those boundaries they choose to sit.  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.

Pay disputes rarely stall before the first offer, yet that is the situation facing doctors in Victoria's public hospitals. Despite months of bargaining and escalating industrial action, the State Government has still not tabled a wage offer.  John Ryan, Senior Workplace Relations Adviser with AMA Victoria and Industrial Officer with ASMOF Victoria, joins Anneliese Shortt, Marketing and Communications Director at the Bongiorno Group, to explain how the dispute reached this point.  John outlines why doctors are seeking the same 28 per cent increase granted to nurses, a deal that has left some entry-level nurses earning more than entry-level doctors. He warns of the long-term risks to recruitment and retention, explains why Government funding holds the key to a resolution, and details the four-hour stop-work across 30 health services, including how patient safety will be protected.  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.

Off-market deals now account for up to half of all property sales in Melbourne's most sought-after suburbs, and the way auctions are run is about to change dramatically. Harrison Kelly, Director at HMK Buyer's Advocate, joins the Bongiorno Group’s Matt Homewood and Jack Will to break down the current spring property market.  Since May's budget changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, investor confidence has dropped sharply while stock levels have shrunk, pushing more vendors toward private, off-market sales.  Harrison explains how buyers can access these hidden listings, why auction clearance rates have fallen to historic lows, and what upcoming reforms — including mandatory reserve price disclosure seven days before auction — will mean for transparency. He also shares his read on which Melbourne pockets are thriving, which are struggling, and why both upgraders and first-home buyers may be looking at a rare window of opportunity.  HMK Buyers Advocate https://www.hmkbuyersadvocate.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Strong rental demand and infrastructure investment are reshaping Australia’s property landscape beyond Victoria, but elevated prices and rising optimism warrant caution. Property strategist Julian Muldoon of 1Group and the Bongiorno Group’s Ricky Caldow examine the momentum across Queensland, Sydney’s western corridor, Adelaide and key regional centres. They explore the sustainability of recent growth, the role of major projects such as the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, and where investors may still find balanced opportunities between yield, value and long-term fundamentals.  1Group https://www.1group.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.