Rising property values have left many retirees rich on paper but short on cash, so are there options for those looking to utilise their home equity?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Chris Grice, chief executive of National Seniors Australia, to discuss reverse mortgages, equity releases schemes and the government-run Home Equity Releases Scheme.

00:00 Introduction

00:28 The 'asset rich, cash poor' dilemma

01:24 Exploring reverse mortgages

07:03 Addressing concerns about reverse mortgages

9:24 Equity release schemes

10:11 Introduction to the Home Equity Access Scheme

13:54 Comparing equity release options

16:02 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #chrisgrice #reversemortgages #homeequity

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Ready to start building a deposit towards your first home? The First Home Super Saver Scheme could help you reach your target faster.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Derek Gascoigne, private client adviser at UniSuper, to run through the nuts and bolts of the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS).

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Overview of the First Home Super Saver Scheme

05:40 Eligibility criteria

09:21 How to access your FHSSS contributions

14:36 Planning and important considerations

17:23 Final thoughts and advice

20:15 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #derekgascoigne #superannuation #fhsss

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With the festive season fast approaching it's time to get serious about budgeting, spending and avoiding post-Christmas debt.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Sarah Meggison, personal finance expert at Finder, to run through a survival guide and a host of financial tips for the 2025 festive season.

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Financial hurdles of the festive season

02:14 Black Friday: The perfect time for Christmas shopping?

05:55 Budgeting and planning for Christmas expenses

13:37 Avoiding post-Christmas debt

16:50 Are these festive season scenarios faux pas or fair play?

23:16 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #sarahmegginson #christmas

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In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Michelle Baltazar speaks with Alex Homer, chief customer and brand officer at insurance group TAL, about navigating life and living insurance.

They discuss the importance of insurance for younger people, different types of living insurance, and how superannuation funds can help.

Alex also shares practical tips for young workers and the self-employed on obtaining and managing insurance.

01:19 Defining life and living insurance

01:54 Understanding living insurance types

05:23 Insurance in superannuation funds

11:02 Practical tips for young workers

14:24 Bonus Round: Superannuation payments for gig workers

15:57 Conclusion and final thoughts

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A new wave of superannuation changes is on the horizon, so what could they mean for your retirement?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Shane Hancock, general manager of retirement at AustralianSuper, to unpack proposed changes to higher super balances and the low income super tax offset (LISTO) and provide an update on payday super.

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Tax changes on higher super balances

05:31 Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) explained

10:44 Payday super update

13:40 The importance of staying informed about super

16:40 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #shanehancock #superannuation

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In this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Vanessa Walker, managing editor of Money Magazine, delves into the topic of franking credits with Matthew Gibbs, the author of 'Frankly Speaking' in Money Magazine's October issue.

Matthew explains the concept of franking credits, how they work, and their implications for shareholders in Australia. He discusses the benefits and potential downsides, highlighting the impact of corporate tax rates and providing examples to illustrate these points.

#friendswithmoney #vanessawalker #matthewgibbs #frankingcredits

00:20 Understanding Franking Credits

00:54 Detailed Explanation of Franking Credits

03:56 Tax Implications for Shareholders

07:37 Examples and Calculations

11:52 Potential Changes in Corporate Tax Rates

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One of the great uncertainties in retirement is how long your savings will need to last. So, could annuities provide an answer? 

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Aaron Minney, head of retirement income research at Challenger, to unpack everything annuities.

00:00 Introduction

00:50 What are annuities?

01:33 Understanding how annuities work

04:40 Annuities vs account-based pensions

06:32 Pros and cons of annuities

09:02 Which retirees could annuities suit?

13:23 Sequencing risk and annuities

16:42 Perceptions and awareness

20:20 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #aaronminney #annuities

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From superannuation to digital assets, there’s much more to think about with estate planning than just creating a will.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by William Moore, partner and head of private client advisory at Hall & Wilcox, to run through some of the essential components of estate planning.

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Why you need a will and when to update it

04:51 Power of attorney

08:05 Superannuation and naming beneficiaries

12:17 Digital assets in estate planning

15:04 Tax implications for beneficiaries

18:43 Final Thoughts and Advice

20:28 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #williammoore #estateplanning

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Procrastination is a bad habit at the best of times, but when it comes to our finances, failing to act can have serious consequences.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Shayne Sommer, a private wealth adviser at Shadforth Financial Group, to discuss the topic of financial procrastination and the ways in which it can be tackled.

00:00 Introduction

01:37 Common examples of financial procrastination

04:03 Psychological factors behind it

06:10 The consequences of financial procrastination

09:50 Strategies to combat procrastination

11:51 Imbedding good habits

12:45 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #shaynesommer #financialprocrastination

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Emerging markets have had a strong showing so far in 2025. But is the allure of growth and diversification worth the risk?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Hugh Lam, investment strategist at Betashares, to take a deep dive into the world of emerging markets.

01:24 Defining emerging markets

04:48 Opportunities in emerging markets

07:12 Risks in emerging markets

08:34 The place of emerging markets in a portfolio

12:50 Recent performance of emerging markets

15:30 China and India: Key markets

19:00 Investment options

friendswithmoney #tomwatson #hughlam #investing #emergingmarkets

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