Friends With Money

REITs explained - A property expert explains the next investment hotspots

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's editor-in -chief Michelle Baltazar speaks with Justin Blaess, principal and portfolio manager at REIT specialist Quay Global Investors, to explain real estate investment trusts (REITs) and how investors can earn investment income through them.

They discuss REITs as listed businesses that owns buildings and collect rent, how the sector has evolved since the late 1990s and the GFC, and new opportunities beyond traditional retail, office, and industrial.

01:05 What Is a REIT?

01:48 How REIT investing evolved

03:29 Investment hotspots: data centres, storage and senior living

05:59 Expected returns basics

09:34 Interest rates myth

12:43 How to start investing

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Summary: Thinking of helping your kids buy their first home? Discover the potential risks to your retirement & explore smart strategies like the First home super saver scheme

Want to help your kids buy their first home? Learn how it could pose a risk to your retirement plans and the smarter ways to help.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Michelle Baltazar speaks with Aware Super's Kate Rolfe about new research showing most parents and grandparents are willing to help younger family members buy a first home, often by gifting cash, reducing their mortgages or offering low to no-interest loans, but how their good intentions could potentially put their retirement savings at risk.

They discuss how giving financial support without proper planning can affect tax outcomes and Centrelink age pension eligibility, including potential consequences such as losing access to their benefits for years.

Rolfe recommends getting professional financial advice before money changes hands, considering whether to gift the funds or to structure it as a loan, and weighing lump sum versus drawdown payments.

01:09 How families can help

02:45 Retirement and pension risks

05:26 Tax advice and structuring gifts

06:43 First home super saver explained

08:32 Lump sum vs drawdown

11:09 Where to start

Links: First home super savers scheme

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Disclaimer

“To find out more from Aware Super, go to aware.com.au/member/what-we-offer

General advice only. Consider your objectives, financial situation or needs, which have not been accounted for in this information, and read the relevant PDS and TMD before deciding to acquire, or continue to hold, any financial product.

Consider if Aware Super is right for you and access the PDS and TMD on their website, aware.com.au/firsthomebuyer

Advice provided by Aware Financial Services Australia Limited (ABN 86 003 742 756, AFSL 238430), wholly owned by Aware Super.

Aware Super’s research involved a national online survey of 1,094 Australians aged 45 and over who indicated they were open to financially supporting younger family members. Fieldwork was completed in December 2025. All research was carried out in accordance with ISO 20252:2019 and ISO 27001:2013 quality and data-security standards.”

Tax Time Shake-Up: What Every Aussie Needs to Know for 2026–27!

Tax time is just around the corner, with a number of changes set to kick in from July 1. So what do you need to know and how can you prepare?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Mark Chapman, director of tax communications at H&R Block, to break down the key updates and the moves to make before and after June 30.

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Federal budget tax changes overview

01:36 What’s changing with negative gearing?

03:09 Capital gains tax overhaul

04:50 Family trusts and the 30% minimum tax

06:22 $1,000 instant deduction

08:24 Working Australians Tax Offset

09:51 Lower income tax rates and super changes

11:42 Who the ATO is targeting this year

14:49 EOFY checklist: practical steps to take now

17:10 — Common mistakes when preparing a tax return

18:30 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #markchapman #tax

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Market Madness: The Stocks Flying and Failing

It’s been a volatile start to 2026 for the Australian share market, with some stocks surging and others struggling.

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 standout stocks, underperformers and what investors should look for in the months ahead.

00:00 Introduction

01:52 A tale of two markets

04:24 Macro forces and the market

07:09 Resource sector shines

10:02 CSL slump and other underperformers

12:33 Investor playbook for the second half of 2026

16:15 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #dalegillham #shares #investing

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Two million households are expected to consider downsizing in the next five years — but is it always the right move financially or emotionally?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Catriona Graham, financial planner at Bridges Financial Services, to explore the costs, trade-offs and timing of downsizing, and what Australians should consider before making a move.

00:00 Introduction

01:19 What is downsizing?

02:56 Key benefits and motivations

04:38 Hidden costs and risks

05:50 Downsizer super contributions

Clarification: To be eligible to make downsizer contributions from the sale of your home, your home must have been owned by you and/or your spouse for at least ten years before the sale. The sale must also qualify for the main residence capital gains tax exemption – either fully (e.g. you’ve lived in it the whole time) or partially (you’ve both lived in it and rented it out). 

07:50 Downsizing and the Age Pension

08:53 The importance of timing

10:33 Lifestyle options and retirement living

11:23 Final tips

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #catrionagraham #downsizing

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Federal Budget 2026: CGT discount ends, negative gearing tightens & new tax offsets explained

From major tax changes to new housing initiatives, the 2026 federal budget was packed with measures set to shape Australians’ finances.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, managing editor Vanessa Walker is joined by senior journalist Tom Watson to break down the key financial measures outlined in the budget and what they mean for your money.

00:36 CGT discount overhaul

01:46 New CGT rules explained

03:20 Negative gearing shakeup

04:33 Housing Supply Measures

07:03 Working tax offset

08:43 Instant $1000 deduction

09:40 Trust tax minimum rate

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Romance Scams: ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe on Red Flags, AI Risks & How to Protect Yourself | Friends With Money

Romance scams are evolving fast, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission wants Australians to recognise the warning signs earlier.

On this week’s Friends With Money podcast, managing editor Vanessa Walker speaks with ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe about the regulator’s romance scam awareness campaign and why these crimes cause serious financial loss and long‑lasting emotional harm.

Lowe explains that romance scams involve fake relationships designed to steal money and personal data. They often start on dating apps or social platforms before quickly moving to encrypted messaging services. She outlines two common scam models, fast investment pitches and long‑running “slow burn” requests, and reveals Australians reported more than $28.6 million in losses to Scamwatch through 2025.

The episode also explores the ACCC’s taskforce approach, a new online relationship health check tool, the incoming scams prevention framework for banks, telcos and digital platforms, the role of organised crime and trafficking, and how AI could help ddefeat reverse image searches.

Links: ACCC Scamwatch

00:30 What are romance scams?

02:42 How big the losses are

04:45 How scams move online

06:18 Industry crackdown tools

07:49 Scams prevention framework

11:13 Who runs these rings

13:47 AI and future scams

16:08 Who Is most at risk

19:02 Warning signs and next steps

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Should You Switch to an EV? Fuel shortages, charging costs & best electric cars in Australia

The war in Iran and resulting oil shortages are driving petrol and diesel supply anxiety in Australia, while more EVs from Asia, better home charging options, and typical fuel savings of $1200–$2000 per year are boosting interest in electric vehicle sales.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's managing editor, Vanessa Walker, is joined by motoring contributor Matt Campbell to discuss the pros and cons of buying an EV.

Campbell explains the main barriers that held Australians back — price, range anxiety, resale and battery concerns, fit-for-purpose models, and charging infrastructure — then outlines what has changed, including emissions rules, improved plug-in hybrid and EV ranges, and growing price parity.

They cover economical charging (EV plans, solar and home batteries), insurance and resale considerations, suggested EV models across sizes, and why faster charging speeds are the next major battleground.

01:38 Why Aussies hesitated

03:14 Policy shifts and better range

05:23 Charging network bottlenecks

08:04 Cheapest ways to charge

09:19 Affordable EV price points

12:07 Must-have features vs gimmicks

13:46 Hidden costs insurance and resale

16:01 Top picks small to large

18:27 Future faster charging tech

Links:

Matt's Youtube channel

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Family Trusts Explained (Australia): Tax Flexibility, Asset Protection & Who They’re For | Friends With Money

This week on The Friends With Money podcast, Money Magazine’s Ryan Johnson speaks with licensed Australian financial adviser and author Helen Baker to explain family trusts in plain english and challenge the idea they’re only for the ultra-wealthy.

They break down how a family trust is its own entity, the roles of beneficiaries, trustees and the appointor (who holds ultimate power), and why separation of control matters for potential asset protection.

Helen clarifies that the trust owns the assets and beneficiaries generally have rights to income or capital distributions, not ownership, and discusses when a trust may be worth considering (often with significant funds, varying household incomes, or positive income/capital), how tax flexibility works via distributing income across beneficiaries, the need to distribute to avoid the trust being taxed at the top rate, costs to set up and run, risks of poor management, and why investment suitability and liquidity matter.

00:00 Family trusts explained

02:03 Trust roles breakdown

05:12 Who owns what

06:13 When trusts make sense

08:23 Tax flexibility in action

10:25 Your advisory team

11:57 Risks and penalties

12:56 Costs to run and unwind

14:55 Choosing investments

16:49 Who trusts are for

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Retirement Planning in Australia: What to Do 5 Years Out, 1 Year Out & On Retirement Day

This week on Friends With Money, Money Magazine host Ryan Johnson speaks with financial adviser Nick Bruining (Netplan) about preparing for retirement from five years out through to “R-day.”

They cover assessing family arrangements, assets and cash flow, likely lifestyle spending, and creating a wishlist while prioritising paying off non-deductible debt. Nick explains why life insurance often becomes less necessary as assets grow, and how to reduce investment risk in super as retirement nears while still keeping some growth for a 20–30 year retirement.

They discuss boosting super via salary sacrifice, personal deductible contributions, carry-forward concessional rules for balances under $500,000, and debunk the “million-dollar myth,” noting Centrelink can meaningfully top up income. The episode also covers downsizer contributions, part pension rules while working, concession cards, and applying via myGov within 13 weeks.

00:57 Five years out checklist

03:25 Rethinking life insurance

05:24 Super strategy and risk

08:54 One year out planning

11:28 Boosting super smartly

14:35 Downsizing and centrelink

17:10 Purpose and part pension

21:10 Applying for pension cards

23:55 Retirement day logistics

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