Friends With Money

From technology to fixed income, ETF investors have been putting their money to work in a range of different ways. But which ETFs have delivered the strongest returns?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Chris Brycki, founder and chief executive of Stockspot, to unpack the latest ETF trends and what they mean for Australian investors.

00:00 Introduction

01:55 The pull of AI and semiconductors

03:16 Resources, energy and emerging markets

04:20 Why investors are adding fixed income ETFs

06:00 The standout ETF performers of the last 12 months

10:00 Gold and cryptocurrency volatility

12:38 Outlook for ETFs in 2027

16:14 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #chrisbrycki #investing #etfsPodcast Links:

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Investors spend plenty of time agonising over buying shares, but knowing when to sell can be just as crucial.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Dale Gillham, chief investment analyst at Wealth Within, to discuss the art of selling shares and the factors investors should consider before hitting the sell button.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Why selling shares is harder than buying

08:00 The importance of having an exit strategy before you buy

13:00 Signs that it's time to sell up

16:00 Should you sell after big gains?

20:00 How tax should affect your selling decisions

22:40 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #dalegillham #shares

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Planning an overseas holiday? Once you've booked your flights and accommodation, travel insurance should probably be next on your checklist.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Natalie Smith, travel insurance expert and head of marketing at Comparetravelinsurance.com.au, to run through what travel insurance really covers and the common mistakes travellers make.

00:00 Introduction

01:44 When should you buy travel insurance?

03:13 Basic vs comprehensive travel insurance

03:38 How much does travel insurance cost?

05:23 Does travel insurance cover adventure activities?

07:00 Can you rely on credit card travel insurance?

09:00 The most common travel insurance mistakes

10:20 Natalie’s top travel insurance tip

11:14 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #nataliesmith #travelinsurance

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With interest rates at their highest level in years, could homeowners be doing more to keep their mortgage costs down?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Richard Whitten, money and home loans expert at Finder, to discuss the outlook for rates and the practical steps borrowers can take to cut their home loan costs.

00:00 Introduction

02:01 Are lenders passing on the latest rate rise?

03:08 What does the latest hike mean for borrowers?

04:22 Will there be another rate rise this year?

05:44 First steps to reduce your mortgage costs

08:00 How to negotiate a lower rate with your lender

10:00 When refinancing makes sense and what to watch for

12:00 Why refinancing may be harder right now

13:23 Richard's top tip for homeowners facing higher repayments

14:34 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #richardwhitten #homeloans #rbaPodcast Links:

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✈️ Are frequent flyer points still worth it after the rewards shake-up?

❓Question:

With banks reducing rewards and changes to card surcharges coming into effect, should Australians still be chasing frequent flyer points?

✅ Short Answer:

Yes, but only if you play the game strategically. Frequent flyer points can still deliver significant value, particularly for travel, but the rules are changing. According to points expert David Moloney, Australians need to focus on earning points efficiently, avoiding interest charges, and redeeming points before they lose value.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• New RBA rules are reducing the amount banks earn from credit card transactions, which means some rewards programs are becoming less generous.
• Around 35% of credit card payments are linked to frequent flyer programs, meaning millions of Australians could be affected by changes to rewards schemes.
• Two-thirds of Qantas Frequent Flyer points are now earned on the ground rather than in the air through shopping, credit cards and loyalty partnerships.
• Simple strategies such as linking supermarket rewards programs, using airline shopping portals and pooling family points can boost balances with little extra effort.
• The most valuable points collectors focus on the highest return for the lowest level of effort, rather than chasing every available promotion.

🚨 Watch Out For:

• Never carry credit card debt just to earn points. Interest charges can wipe out any rewards value.
• Credit card annual fees only make sense if the value of the points and benefits exceeds the cost.
• Paying card surcharges that are greater than the value of points earned can leave you worse off.
• Avoid making unnecessary purchases simply to earn points. The points should be a bonus, not the reason for spending.
• Redeem points regularly rather than hoarding them for years, as airlines and loyalty schemes can devalue points over time.

🎯 Who This Matters To:

This episode is for travellers, credit card users, frequent flyer members and anyone looking to get more value from everyday spending. If you collect Qantas Points, Velocity Points or other loyalty rewards, you'll learn practical ways to maximise your rewards while avoiding costly mistakes.

📚 Resources & Links:

• Points: Mastering the Game of Frequent Flyers by David Moloney
• Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
• Reserve Bank of Australia payments and surcharge reforms discussed in the episode

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 How the new RBA rules are changing rewards programs

02:10 Why Australians should still collect points

03:05 Why most points are now earned on the ground

04:13 The "highest return for lowest effort" strategy

05:45 Three easy ways to earn more points

07:29 Are points really free?

08:00 The dangers of credit card debt and rewards chasing

09:11 The hidden "lazy tax" points collectors pay

10:37 Why you should redeem points before they lose value

11:00 Final thoughts

Podcast links:

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Financial advice can be valuable, but for plenty of Australians, the cost puts it out of reach. So could super funds hold the key to closing the advice gap?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Rudy Leong, senior private wealth adviser at UniSuper, to discuss the type of financial advice members can currently access through their super funds and how that could change in the future.

00:00 Introduction

01:56 What is the financial advice gap?

04:00 What advice can super funds currently provide?

06:10 Does advice through a super fund cost money?

07:42 Overview of the financial advice reforms

10:00 What the reforms could mean for super fund members

11:49 The opportunities and risk of AI in financial advice

14:34 One question everyone should ask their super fund

15:46 ConclusionPodcast Links:

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From October, card surcharges will become a thing of the past. But while the change promises savings for cardholders, it could have ripple effects beyond the checkout.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Adele Eliseo, founder of The Champagne Mile, to explain what's changing, who's likely to benefit and why credit cardholders need to pay close attention.

00:00 Introduction

01:34 What happens to card surcharges from October?

03:42 Why are card surcharges being banned?

04:40 How much are consumers likely to save?

05:32 The impact on rewards credit cards

07:03 How banks are already changing rewards programs

08:27 What rewards card holders should do now

10:10 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #adeleeliseo #creditcardsPodcast Links:

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Australia's sharemarket may be dominated by a handful of large miners and banks, but there are plenty of opportunities beyond the heavyweights.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Jamie Hannah, deputy head of investments and capital markets at VanEck, to discuss the risks and rewards offered with small caps and mid caps.

00:00 Introduction

01:17 What are small caps and mid caps?

03:33 Behavioural differences

05:07 The mid cap sweet spot

06:18 How have small and mid caps performed?

08:36 The investment case for smaller companies

11:21 How much should investors allocate to small and mid caps?

13:19 The key risks of investing in smaller companies

15:30 Options for gaining exposure to small and mid caps

16:31 Local and international ETF opportunities

19:25 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #jamiehannah #investing #smallcaps #midcapsPodcast

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💰 The retirement revolution: Why working longer isn't the real retirement plan

❓ Question:

How is retirement changing in Australia, why are so many people worried about running out of money, and what practical steps can Australians take now to improve their chances of a comfortable retirement?

✅ Answer:

According to journalist Nina Hendy, retirement is no longer a fixed destination reached at a particular age. More Australians are gradually transitioning into retirement through part-time work, flexible arrangements and second careers rather than stopping work completely. At the same time, many people are worried they won't have enough money to retire comfortably, despite having access to more retirement tools, guidance and income solutions than ever before. The challenge isn't a shortage of information. It's that many Australians remain disengaged from their superannuation until they're close to retirement.

💡 Retirement is becoming more flexible

The traditional model of working full-time until retirement age and then leaving the workforce entirely is fading. Many older Australians are reducing their hours gradually, changing careers or continuing to work beyond traditional retirement age. For some, it provides purpose and social connection. For others, it's simply a financial necessity.

💡 You may not need $1 million to retire comfortably

One of the biggest misconceptions discussed in the episode is the amount needed to retire. While many Australians believe they need more than $1 million in super, the figures cited suggest a comfortable retirement may require around $730,000 for couples and $630,000 for singles, assuming they own their home outright.

A comfortable retirement lifestyle is estimated to require annual spending of approximately $78,000 for couples and $55,000 for singles. This includes private health insurance, maintaining a car, home repairs and everyday comforts without excessive financial stress.

💡 Fear of Running Out is becoming a major retirement concern

A growing number of Australians are experiencing FORO, the Fear Of Running Out of money. The prospect of no longer earning a regular income creates anxiety for many people approaching retirement. Concerns about rising healthcare costs, unexpected expenses and increasing longevity can leave retirees reluctant to spend the money they've spent decades accumulating.

💡 New retirement income products are helping address longevity risk

Super funds are increasingly introducing retirement income products designed to provide greater certainty. These include lifetime income streams and annuity-style products that offer guaranteed ongoing payments. The aim is to reduce the risk of retirees outliving their savings while making it easier to convert accumulated super into reliable retirement income.

💡 Super funds now offer more tools and guidance

Recent regulatory changes have encouraged super funds to provide more support to members approaching retirement. Many funds now offer calculators, retirement projections and guidance that can help people better understand how long their savings may last and how super can work alongside the Age Pension.

🚩 Australians are living longer than ever

Retirement planning has become more important because Australians are living significantly longer. According to the discussion, men are living around 13 years longer than they were 50 years ago, while women are living around 11 years longer. Longer life expectancy means retirement savings may need to last for 25 to 30 years or more.

🚩 Cost-of-living pressures are fuelling retirement anxiety

Households are facing higher grocery bills, petrol prices and energy costs, leading many people to assume retirement will require significantly more money than previous generations needed. Inflation and financial uncertainty are contributing to growing concerns about retirement preparedness.

🚩 Supporting adult children is affecting retirement plans

Many parents are continuing to provide financial support to adult children for living expenses, university costs and housing deposits. While understandable, this generosity can place additional pressure on retirement savings and make it harder to build the nest egg needed for later life.

⚠️ Women continue to face bigger retirement challenges

Women frequently retire with lower super balances than men due to time spent out of the workforce raising children and caring for family members. As a result, women are more likely to report retirement-related stress and concerns about financial security in later life.

⚠️ Too many Australians still ignore their super

Despite superannuation being one of the largest assets many Australians will ever own, many people rarely review their balance, check fees or understand how their money is invested. Hendy argues that greater engagement is often the simplest and most effective way to improve retirement outcomes.

🏦 Five simple ways to boost your retirement outlook

• Consolidate multiple super funds into one account to reduce fees.
• Check whether your super fund is performing well.
• Review fees, costs and insurance attached to your account.
• Consider making additional contributions, even small amounts.
• Log in every six months to ensure you're on track and receiving the correct employer contributions.

📈 Why it matters:

For many Australians, superannuation is their second-largest asset after their family home, yet it often receives far less attention than other financial decisions. As Australians live longer, retirement becomes more flexible and new retirement income products emerge, actively engaging with your super can have a significant impact on your financial future. Small actions taken today can improve confidence, increase retirement savings and help ensure greater financial freedom later in life.

🎙️ Sources:

Nina Hendy, journalist and author of The retirement revolution

Vanessa Walker, Managing Editor, Money magazine

Money magazine September cover story: The retirement revolution

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the Retirement Revolution

00:41 – Why retirement is becoming more flexible

02:15 – Why Australians worry but don't take action

04:00 – How much money do you really need to retire?

06:12 – Understanding the Fear Of Running Out (FORO)

07:42 – New retirement income products and lifetime income solutions

09:30 – Longevity and the challenge of longer retirements

10:07 – How cost-of-living pressures are affecting retirement planning

11:15 – The most important retirement lessons for Australians

13:21 – Final takeaways and practical retirement tips

Podcast Links:

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With interest rates near their highest levels in years, many savers will be taking a fresh look at term deposits. But are they the right home for your cash?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Olivia McArdle, head of deposits and payments at Macquarie Bank, to unpack everything savers need to know about term deposits.

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Term deposits versus savings accounts

04:10 Are higher rates making term deposits more attractive?

05:50 How banks determine term deposit rates

08:15 Common mistakes savers make with term deposits

10:50 Can you access your money early?

13:10 Term deposits and the Financial Claims Scheme

14:20 Conclusion

Podcast Links:

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