Friends With Money

By Money MagazineBusiness Entrepreneurship Investing

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Typical duration
16 min
per episode

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Friends With Money episodes

April 07 Gold fever
The story of gold: Why it’s valuable, how it shaped Australia, and how to invest today
This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money Magazine managing editor Vanessa Walker speaks with journalist Ryan Johnson about his April feature “The Story of Gold,” exploring why gold—an outer-space metal delivered by meteorites—became a durable, portable, and a widely accepted form of money.
They discuss gold’s key advantages over other elements, how much exists (about 219,000 tonnes ever mined), and its role in Australia’s history from the 1851 gold rush through to the establishment of the Sydney and Perth mints and the Eureka Stockade.
They explore how currencies were once pegged to gold, why the link ended during the depression and why central banks still buy gold, including the RBA’s 80 tonnes largely stored in London.
01:19 Why gold works
02:57 How much gold exists
03:35 Australia gold rush
05:01 Gold standard ends
06:21 Central Bank gold
07:53 Gold price outlook
09:00 Selling physical gold
10:41 Investing with ETFs
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13 min
March 31 Defence shares rally
Defence stocks explained: ETFs, cyclical risks, and ethical investing | Friends With Money
In this week's Friends With Money, editor-in-chief Michelle Baltazar speaks with Alex Jamieson of Jamieson Private Wealth about why defence shares have rallied amid widening Middle East conflict, disrupted shipping lanes, and higher oil prices.
Jamieson explains how “defence” now spans drones, robotics, AI, cybersecurity, and software, and argues rising geopolitical risk and NATO catch-up spending make it a longer-term structural theme, though stocks can be cyclical and require active rebalancing and profit-taking.
01:30 What counts as defence stocks
02:22 Why defence stocks are rallying
04:02 Do you already have exposure
05:46 Cyclical stocks and profit-taking
07:49 Fear trade or structural trend?
09:58 Defence ETFs to consider
11:53 Stock spotlight: DroneShield
13:21 Ethics of defence investing
Podcast Links:
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18 min
March 24 Kmart chaos: The rise of third-party sellers
Third-Party Marketplaces on Woolworths, Big W, Kmart & Bunnings: What Australian Shoppers Need to Know
In this Friends With Money Podcast episode, Money Magazine managing editor Vanessa Walker speaks with journalist Ryan Johnson about the rise of third-party marketplaces and why Australians are often confused when trusted retailers like Woolworths, BigW, Bunnings, Kmart and others sell items supplied by third-party sellers.
They discuss how widespread online shopping is in Australia, how marketplaces benefit retailers through rapid range expansion without holding inventory, and what consumers gain—and risk—through wider product choice.
Ryan shares an example of a BigW marketplace return dispute and outlines common issues such as inconsistent delivery, extra fees, and return complications, plus concerns about lower-quality or unsafe products.
They also explain that Australian Consumer Law guarantees still apply, but shoppers should check who the seller is and escalate unresolved disputes to fair trading agencies or the ACCC.
01:20 How many Australians shop online
02:01 Why shoppers get confused
04:34 Why retailers love it
05:31 Consumer upsides and tradeoffs
06:17 Hidden traps and returns
08:01 Safety and trust risks
09:00 Your rights under ACL
10:04 How to protect yourself
Podcast Links:
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12 min
March 17 How debt recycling can make you money
Debt recycling explained: how Australians turn home equity into investments
In this Friends With Money episode from Money magazine, host Ryan Johnson chats with mortgage broker Joseph Daoud (It’s Simple Finance) to unpack debt recycling in plain English. They explain how splitting your home loan or using a line of credit lets you access equity to invest in property, shares or a business, with potential tax benefits from deductible interest and investment expenses. They work through a $1 million home example, outline who this suits (often higher-income earners and many self-employed borrowers), and step through setup essentials: pick the right lender and structure (often interest-only), team up with a good broker and accountant, and keep the investment purpose clear. They also flag the big risks—bad advice, risky assets, rising rates, thin buffers—and why retirees or lower-income earners can be overexposed without a solid exit plan.
Timestamps
00:00 What debt recycling is
01:09 How the structure works
02:38 Who it suits
04:33 Goals and tax benefits
05:35 A real case study
08:02 Setting up the loan split
11:23 Choosing investments
12:13 Risks and rate rises
16:38 Which pros to call
17:34 Who should avoid it
20:43 Three rules and wrap
Podcast Links:
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23 min
March 10 From $100k to 10M: Your windfall game plan!
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)
Podcast Links:
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Money Website
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Email Us: [email protected]
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21 min
March 03 Super switching: Are you being misled?
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
Podcast Links:
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Money Website
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Email Us: [email protected]

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17 min
February 24 IPOs to watch in 2026
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
Podcast Links:
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Money Website
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Email Us: [email protected]
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17 min
February 17 From savings to settlement: First-time buyer's roadmap
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

Podcast Links:
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Money Website
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Email Us: [email protected]

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12 min
February 10 Spare cash: Mortgage, super or shares?
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

Podcast Links:
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Listen on Spotify
Money Website
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Email Us: [email protected]
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18 min
February 03 Scam alert: How to keep your cash secure
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

Podcast Links:
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Money Website
YouTube Podcast Playlist
Email Us: [email protected]

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16 min