Cryptocurrency has piqued the interest of many Australians in recent years. So for those looking to access the likes of Bitcoin, is there any advantage to using ETFs over buying directly?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Marc Jocum, senior investment strategist at Global X ETFs, to dig into cryptocurrency exchange traded funds and what they are all about. They discuss:  

• Crypto ETFs versus buying directly
• The crypto assets available through ETFs
• How crypto ETFs actually work
• The recent performance of cryptocurrency
• What the future could hold for crypto ETFs

friendswithmoney #tomwatson #marcjocum #cryptocurrency #ETFs

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In this bonus episode of the Friends With Money Podcast, hosted by Michelle Baltazar, editor-in-chief at Money Magazine, the focus is on the impact of recent US tariff policies, referred to as 'Liberation Day' by Donald Trump.

This week's guest, Tim Harcourt, chief economist at the University of Technology Sydney, discusses the adverse effects these tariffs will likely have on American workers and farmers, despite Trump's intentions to bolster the US economy.

For Australian investors, Harcourt advises a cautious 'wait-and-see' approach and emphasises the long-term strengths of the Australian market. 

#friendswithmoney #michellebaltazar #timharcourt #trumptariffs

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In this episode of the Friends With Money Podcast, Vanessa Walker, managing editor of Money Magazine, discusses insurance with journalist Ryan Johnson.

They explore why insurance premiums are rising, ways to find the best value policies, and the inner workings of the insurance industry. They also highlight the winners of the Life Insurance 2025 Awards in various categories.

Tune in for valuable insights and tips to help you make informed insurance decisions:

00:00 Introduction to Friends With Money Podcast

00:53 Understanding Insurance Deals

03:16 How Insurance Works

06:44 Rising Insurance Premiums

08:15 Life Insurance Awards 2025

10:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#friendswithmoney #vanessawalker #ryanjohnson #insurance

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What are the top 5 mistakes people make regarding retirement?

Did you know, for example, that you need to start planning for retirement a decade beforehand?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Vanessa Walker sits down in the studio with Money's super columnist Vita Palestrant to chat about the top do's and don'ts when heading into retirement.

• What's the biggest mistake that people make?
• Why is super such a great investment and tax strategy, no matter what age?
• Should you be worried about the risks?
• What strategies are there if you don't have enough?

#friendswithmoney #vanessawalker #vitapalestrant #retirementmistakes

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The price of gold has gone from strength to strength in recent years, but can it continue on its upward trajectory?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Chris Brycki, the founder and chief executive of Stockspot, to provide an update on gold prices and dig into the role gold can play in investment portfolios.

• How have gold prices changed in recent years?
• What’s driven the rise in gold prices?
• What role can gold play in an investment portfolio?
• Is there a recommended portfolio allocation for gold?
• Could people be missing out on gold in their superannuation?

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #chrisbrycki #gold

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Interest rates are beginning to fall, so could now be a prime time to take stock of your mortgage and consider switching lenders?

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, to discuss the latest interest rate movements and the ins and outs of refinancing a home loan.

• How have banks reacted to the recent RBA cut?
• What are the lowest mortgage rates on the market?
• Can negotiating with your current lender actually work?
• When can switching home loans be a good or bad option?
• How does refinancing alone differ from using a broker?

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #grahamcooke #mortgages #refinancing

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Like the idea of giving your superannuation balance a bump up, but don’t know where to start? The good news is that there’s no shortage of tactics to employ.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Rebecca Cheevers and Sophie McRae of TelstraSuper Financial Planning to run through the steps Australians can take in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s to put themselves in a better position come retirement.

They discuss:

• The impact that investment options and salary sacrificing can have
• Whether insurance is a necessity for everyone in their 20s
• How couples can utilise contribution splitting
• Making the most of catch-up concessional contributions
• Using downsizer contributions as retirement nears

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #rebeccacheevers #sophiemcrae #superannuation

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*This episode is proudly brought to you by Telstra Super.

Rebecca Cheevers and Sophie McRae are financial advisers with Telstra Super Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 74 097 777 725 AFS Licence No. 218705. TelstraSuper Financial Planning provides financial planning services to members of TelstraSuper ABN 85 502 108 833. Telstra Super Pty Ltd ABN 86 007 422 522 is the trustee of TelstraSuper and wholly owns TelstraSuper Financial Planning. Advice that Rebecca and Sophie give is of a general nature and does not take into account the particular circumstances or needs of any specific person and because of that, you should consider your own circumstances before acting on any advice. If you are considering acquiring a financial product from TelstraSuper you should read the relevant product disclosure statement and target market determination before making a decision which are available at www.telstrasuper.com.au.

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Technological innovations are reshaping our lives, from the way we shower and sleep to how we go about purchasing property and holding assets.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s managing editor Vanessa Walker is joined by senior journalist Tom Watson to delve into the cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of finance. They discuss:

• The latest gadgets at home
• Artificial intelligence in property investment
• Fractional share trading
• Asset tokenisation
• Green cryptocurrency

#friendswithmoney #vanessawalker #tomwatson #finance #innovation

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Buying a property for the first time can be hard enough as it is, let alone with all the myths and misconceptions out there.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Emily Wallace, founder and director of buyers agency Wallace Advocates, to shine a light on five major misconceptions that surround the home buying process.

• Is buying an apartment a smart move?
• Are all body corporates poorly run?
• Can breaking into the market really be done?
• Are spare rooms a ‘must have’ feature?
• Is it worth paying less to avoid stamp duty?

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #emilywallace #property

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Trillions of dollars are set to be inherited over the next decade as part of a huge intergenerational wealth transfer. So what are the tax implications for those involved?  

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communications at H&R Block, to run through some of the major questions surrounding inheritance and tax.

• Does Australia have an inheritance tax?
• What are the tax implications for inherited property?
• Will inherited shares, cash or super be subject to tax?
• Does CGT apply to inherited collectibles?
• Which professionals can provide advice on the subject?  

friendswithmoney #tomwatson #markchapman #inheritance #tax

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