#gotmoney?

For our last show of the year Elizabeth talks with regular guest Nicki Hutley, Partner at Deloitte Access Economics and, recently appointed member of the Climate Council, about her passion for using ‘the dark arts’ of econometrics to help people understand how a proactive approach to climate change makes good economic sense. Nicki also summarises the resilience of the Australian economy during the 2020 pandemic and how that puts us in a good place to enjoy some economic sunshine in 2021.

Regular guests Cate Bakos, Independent Property Buyers Advocate and Hayley Mitchell Director, Geelong Property Management are back to talk about the current post lockdown situation for renters, buyers and sellers and what is likely to happen in 2021. Spoiler: everyone is going to be busy!!!

Melanie Heffernan of SE Lawyers joins Elizabeth to discuss and explain the latest changes made by the Federal Government to the Homebuilder grants program. In a nutshell the overall timeframes for the program have been extended with a reduction in the amount of the grant available for people who sign up between 1January and 31 March 2021. They also discuss savings on stamp duty currently being offered by the Victorian Government and other changes under consideration to support the building industry well into 2021.

The tables are turned this week and Elizabeth becomes the interviewee in this Looking Under the Hood podcast produced and presented by Scott Malcolm from Money Mechanics. Scott talks to Elizabeth about her early money influences; tips for first homebuyers and her approach to the real estate business which includes gems such as “Surprises are for Birthday Parties not Property Transactions”

This week Elizabeth talks with her local café owner about the highs and lows of steering a small business through the Covid19 rapids.  Boosa is the third modern Middle Eastern café opened by Tammy and Eitam Brami, so they know a bit about the business, but when Covid hit it was all about the unknowns. Tammy talks to Elizabeth about the overnight decision to totally change their business plan, how the first lockdown was a challenge but the second was emotionally tough; the strength and resilience of their relationships with customers and staff and how the practical support of local businesses (big shout out to K.G. Electronics, Moorabbin) helped them not only to survive but to fast forward their vision and put in place improvements they didn’t have time for pre Covid.

Regular guest Melanie Heffernan (Principal, SE Lawyers) returns this week to give Elizabeth an update on legal issues arising from the continuing impact of Covid19. Key areas where she is seeing changes in activity are Commercial Real Estate rental issues; Debt Recovery and Partner Separations being put on hold due to financial uncertainty. They also discuss how mental health issues are affecting small businesses after the long lockdown.

Elizabeth’s guest this week is Scott Malcolm, Owner and Director of Money Mechanics, a team of specialist financial life planners, who provide tailored solutions based on educating and empowering clients to match financial planning with their overall life goals. He discusses how the impact of  Covid19 on people’s life goals is on-going with no end point yet; redundancies in the education and airline industries; the importance of being emotionally ready for retirement; how to put a decision making framework around your money and where new investment opportunities are beginning to emerge.

Louise Staley, Victorian Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Economic Development and Liberal Member for Ripon returns to the program to share with Elizabeth her views on what the Victorian economy needs post Covid19 and the likely economic impact of the federal budget. For Louise the path forward needs to provide hope for every Victorian that things will improve; an acknowledgement of the mistakes that have been made and recognition of the lessons learnt.

There’s a lot of talk about unemployment due to Covid19, but what about jobs?

This week Elizabeth talks to two job experts: Stephen Tuffley, Director, Sales and Service, SEEK  Australia and Austin Blackburne, Regional Director, Hays, Melbourne. They discuss job vacancy numbers; lockdowns and border closures; soft skills and upskilling; new employment growth areas and how to get your CV noticed in the new work environment.

In the second of our podcasts on financial abuse Elizabeth talks to Jessica Stott, A/CEO of WIRE, a free support,and information service for all Victorian women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people (https://www.wire.org.au/). They discuss the increase in financial abuse during Covid19 and the services WIRE provides to the LGBTIQ+ community through an empowering intersectional feminist framework.

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