In this week's Friends With Money episode, host Ryan Johnson speaks with financial adviser David Sharpe, chair of the Financial Advice Association Australia FAAA) about how to react to a sudden windfall—from $100,000 to $1 million, $10 million and even $1 billion.

Sharpe advises first confirming the money is real, then slowing down to avoid emotional decisions, and keeping the news private (limited to a spouse and trusted professionals).

They discuss balancing lifestyle spending with long-term goals, and how priorities shift by amount and life stage: using $100,000 for a home deposit or improving retirement cashflow, weighing debt repayment by interest cost (credit cards first; student debt is typically lower-cost), and the tax advantages versus access restrictions of superannuation.

00:38 First steps after a windfall: Verify, pause, and avoid emotional moves

01:53 Who to tell (and who not to): Keeping your windfall private

02:33 Spend vs save: Building a plan that matches what you value

04:00 Windfall playbook: What to do with $100,000

05:05 Debt, HECS and priorities: Paying down the right loans first

06:13 Superannuation trade-offs: Tax benefits vs access to your money

07:30 If the $100k came from selling an investment: Reinvesting and tax

08:05 Scenario two: How $1 million changes the plan

09:43 Mortgage vs shares: Tax smarts, borrowing back and debt recycling

11:43 Inheritance checks: Asset types, CGT and what you actually keep

12:21 Scenario three: $10 million—Financial freedom, purpose and relationships

14:26 Trusts and SMSFs explained: When structures help (and when they don’t)

16:06 Intergenerational wealth transfer: Common estate and entity mistakes

18:00 Just for fun: What to do with $1 billion (and the responsibility)

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ASIC Warns on Super “Health Check” Ads: How Lead Gen Funnels Push Risky Switches | Alan Kirkland

Money Magazine’s Friends With Money podcast host Ryan Johnson speaks with ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland about online “free super health check” sites, quizzes, and social media ads used as lead‑generation funnels that collect contact details, trigger telemarketing, and can pressure people to switch super into riskier, more expensive products.

Kirkland explains ASIC’s review and its transparency list (44 firms so far), noting that listing is not a finding of wrongdoing and the list will be updated while the review continues. He outlines common funnel tactics, investor harms seen in cases like First Guardian and Shield, and why switching into platform products or self‑managed super funds can reduce protections. Key red flags include unsolicited calls, pressure to act quickly, and offers to “find lost super.”

Consumers are directed to ASIC’s MoneySmart website (moneysmart.gov.au) for trusted guidance and complaints.

00:43 What lead generation means

01:42 ASIC transparency list explained

03:52 Who ASIC Is targeting

04:58 Inside the sales funnel

06:52 When marketing breaks laws

08:12 Case study: First Guardian

10:28 APRA vs ASIC and SMSFs

12:51 Red flags for consumers

14:15 Where to get help

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Welcome to another episode of the Friends With Money podcast. Hosted by Ryan Johnson, filling in for Tom Watson. In today’s episode, we unpack the world of IPOs (initial public offerings) with Simon James from HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

We break down why companies choose to list on the ASX, analyse how the IPO market performed in 2025, and look ahead to the sectors and standout companies to watch in 2026 — including major global names like SpaceX, Canva and Guzman y Gomez. Simon also shares expert insights and practical tips for anyone considering investing in IPOs.

00:24 Understanding IPOs: Basics and importance

01:50 2025 IPO market analysis

03:08 Materials sector dominance in iPOs

04:08 Private capital vs public listings

05:31 Top Performers and Future Prospects

09:38 Global IPO landscape

14:13 Investing in IPOs: Practical tips

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Are you looking to buy a new home?

This week on the Friends with Money podcast, Vanessa Walker, managing editor of Money, and journalist Ryan Johnson dive deep into the home buying process for first-time buyers.

They discuss the essential steps from initial research, engaging with mortgage brokers and financial advisors, to pre-approval, making offers, and the final settlement.

Get practical tips for navigating real estate websites, understanding mortgage pre-approval, and the importance of conveyancers.

#friendswithmoney #vanessawalker #ryanjohnson #homehunting #firsthomebuyers

00:20 First steps for first-time home buyers

01:38 Researching and narrowing down your options

03:05 Engaging with professionals: Mortgage brokers and financial advisors

05:42 Understanding mortgage pre-approval

07:51 Making an offer and preparing for settlement

10:25 Settlement day and moving in

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Should you put extra money into your mortgage, super or personal investments? It’s not always a simple decision.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined Terry Vogiatzis, director of wealth management at Omura Wealth Advisers, to discuss the pros, cons and trade-offs involved with making use of extra funds.

01:11 Why people find the decision tricky

02:11 Factors to consider before diving in

03:50 Assessing extra mortgage contributions

06:33 Superannuation vs other personal investments

11:38 The benefits of seeking financial advice

14:04 Final thoughts and additional tips

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #terryvogiatzis #investing #super #mortgages

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Hundreds of thousands of Australians lose money to scams each year, but there are simple steps everyone can take to better protect their money.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Olivia McArdle, head of payments and deposits at Macquarie Bank, to discuss account safety and scams to watch out for.

01:48 Built-in security features in banking apps

03:39 Basic phone and computer security tips

05:32 Common financial scams to watch out for

07:45 What to do if you've been scammed

09:54 How banks detect and prevent scams

12:12 Future technology in banking security

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #oliviamcardle #banking #scams

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Considering seeking financial advice, but not sure what to expect? We explore the process, the costs involved and what to look for in an advisor.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Sarah Abood, chief executive of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to run through some of the most frequently asked questions about financial advice.

00:00 Introduction

01:09 Benefits of financial advice

05:07 Is advice worth it for younger Australians?

12:14 How much does advice cost?

14:02 Finding the right financial adviser

19:43 What to expect from the financial advice process

25:20 Final thoughts

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #sarahabood #financialadvice

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The Bank of Mum and Dad is booming, but without the right planning a generous gesture can turn into a legal and financial headache.

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 discuss gifts, loans and the potential pitfalls of the Bank of Mum and Dad.

00:00 Introduction

01:47 Family financial support: Trends and options

04:52 Gifts vs loans: Key differences and considerations

10:10 Legal and financial structures for family loans

14:19 Family loans and estate planning

16:46 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #williammoore #property #bankofmumanddad

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Help to Buy is finally here. So how do shared equity schemes work and are they a solution to unlocking homeownership?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Jack Elliott, mortgage broker and national first home buyer specialist at Alcove and First Home Unlocked, to discuss shared equity schemes and the first home buyer market.

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Understanding shared equity schemes

03:27 The federal government's Help to Buy scheme

03:55 Eligibility and key points of Help to Buy

06:43 Considerations and drawbacks of shared equity schemes

13:35 Market insights for first home buyers

16:19 Final words of advice

18:03 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #jackelliott #property #sharedequity

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After a turbulent 12 months for markets, how are Australian stocks shaping up heading into 2026?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Jun Bei Liu, co-founder and lead portfolio manager at Ten Cap, to discuss the key factors likely to influence local markets in the year ahead and the sectors worth watching.

00:00 Introduction

01:19 Reflecting on the surprises and volatility of 2025

04:11 Previewing 2026: Key themes for Australian equities

10:01 Sector and company insights for 2026

11:01 US equities outlook

13:38 Final thoughts on the year ahead

15:00 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #junbeiliu #investing #shares

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