Our listener Maddie sent in a question:

"Thanks so much for your podcast, am learning a lot already

I don’t really understand how interest works – can you please explain what it is and how it works?”

In explaining the cost of credit card interest in this episode we mention 2 online interest calculators:

We encourage you to click the link and plug in some of your own numbers - maybe from your credit card statement.

Credit card calculator:

https://moneysmart.gov.au/credit-cards/credit-card-calculator

Compound interest calculator:

https://moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/compound-interest-calculator

We love the "magic of compound interest" - it's not really magic, it's pure maths! and it absolutely works! Check out the Compound interest calculator ... 

It its never too late to start building wealth with compound interest

Are you enjoying this podcast ? Please leave us a review wherever you are listening. Thank you. It truly helps others find the show

If you have any questions or suggestions please email us at:

[email protected]

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

What is your most valuable asset?

How do you ensure that you have the right insurance for your most valuable asset?

In this episode we look at the 4 different types of personal risk insurances:

1. Life insurance - which most people have heard of - with life insurance your estate receives a lump sum in the event of your death. Most policies will also pay out early if you can prove you have less than 12 months to live

2. Total and Permanent Disability insurance (TPD) - which pays you a lump sum if you are permanently disabled

3. Income Protection insurance  - which replaces your income if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury

4. and finally, one not so many people will have heard of, which is Trauma or Critical Illness insurance that pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific injury or illness such as cancer or a heart attack.

What are the key considerations regarding these insurances?

The cost of insurance premiums is on the rise - we offer 3 suggestions for 3 ways to reduce those premiums

We answer 2 listener questions:

From Bridgette: 

"Hi, I’m enjoying your podcasts.

What information could you provide on protecting income? I.e insurance. It’s very expensive insurance and could go onto the mortgage but is it needed??"

From Tania:

“Great podcast. My question is about mortgage protection insurance. Is this the same as income protection insurance?”

Thanks so much Bridgette and Tania for your questions

If you have any questions or suggestions please email us at:

[email protected]

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

And if you are enjoying our podcast please do leave us a review wherever you are listening 

As at 1 July 2023, the super guarantee rate in Australia is 11%.

The Superannuation Guarantee requires employers to pay 11 per cent of an employee's earnings into their superannuation fund.

Further increases of 0.5% are scheduled each financial year until 2025 when the rate reaches 12%.

As we mentioned in episode 4 one of the most important aspects of superannuation is to make sure all your superannuation money is in one fund - unless you have a specific reason to have more than one fund.

So you have your money in one fund - what next?

We want the money to grow - how does it grow? 

The superannuation fund will invest your money based on your instructions.

Most funds offer a variety of options for you to choose between - Balanced option, Growth option and Conservative option - as well as a DIY option - with some being more risky and some are less risky

What is "risk"?

In finance, risk refers to the degree of uncertainty and/or potential financial loss inherent in an investment decision.

In general, as investment risks rise, investors seek higher returns to compensate themselves for taking such risks.

Jacqui and I talk about the ups and downs of the "risky" options

Depending on your stage of career and life and depending on your natural "risk profile" will influence how you choose to invest your superannuation

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. It is information based on our many years of working in money and finance 

You can contact us on [email protected]

In this episode we go even more into superannuation and explain different ways it can help you - help you to build wealth and prepare you financially for your retirement. 

Many people truly do not understand what super is and how it works and why it is important

In Australia it is compulsory for all employers to contribute super for all employees - from 1 July 2023 the amount is 11 % of your salary or wage

Jacqui and Ingrid talk about a few key steps to ensuring you make the most of your superannuation 

One of the most important actions to take from this podcast episode - make sure you have only 1 super fund. 

It is very easy for people in Australia  to have multiple super funds and this happens for a few different reasons - multiple jobs, moving or changing jobs and/ or old funds from jobs a long time ago

Jacqui and Ingrid talk about the importance of putting a Binding Death Nomination into place - to make sure that your superannuation monies are paid into your estate 

Ingrid and Jacqui answer 2 listener questions:

I am a 56 year old woman nearing retirement and want to save more. I have put together a budget that I am going to try and stick to. This shows I will have a small surplus of around $200 every month. How can I make sure I don’t fritter this away? 

and 

Carol (aged 63 and retired) has a son who wants a loan to help pay the legal fees for his divorce. She asks “How can I make sure he pays me back as I don’t have a lot of savings?”

We share a couple of listener tips for not spending money

If you have any questions or suggestions please email us at:

[email protected]

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

Building Wealth for Retirement

Statistics show that most people in Australia want to retire at about age 65 - the reality is that  the majority of people actually retire - stop working - at age 55, and for a variety of reasons.

In Australia you are only able to apply for the Aged pension from age 67

If this was you, what would you do for money to live on between age 55 and 67??

Remember in the intro episode we mentioned that by 2030 (in just 7 years time) one in three people - 1 out of every 3 people - will be over 55 years of age - Astonishing!

In this episode we look at some of the ways that you can build your wealth - and some of them might not be what you expect

We provide answers to these listener questions we received:

“I am aged 54, divorced and hoping to retire by 60. I have a small house and was thinking of renting out my spare room for extra cash. Do you think this is a good idea? What do you think Jacqui?”

“Last week you were talking about having a cash reserve. I don’t have one and it really worries me. I work and at the moment my expenses eat up all of my salary. How can I build up a cash reserve?”

If you have any questions or suggestions please email us at:

[email protected]

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

Do you know how much money you earn every week, month, year? 

How much lands in your bank account every week, month, year?

These numbers might be quite different to each other

Where does your money come from? 

In the previous episode we looked at how to calculate how much you need to maintain your lifestyle and in this episode we’re all about how you pay for what you need

Once you know how much money you have coming in - what next? 

Saving and investing - it’s never too late to get started with your savings

How can you increase your income? 

Your ability to earn income is your most valuable asset - how do you protect that asset?

How do you keep your skills relevant ?

How do you ask for a pay rise? 

This is a rich 20 minute conversation where Jacqui and Ingrid build on the previous episode by looking at where does your money come from and where is it going ?

The 2 building blocks of your money equation

Setting you up for the next episode - a deep dive into building wealth for retirement

email us on:

[email protected]

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

Do your eyes glaze over when you hear someone talking about calculating how much it costs you to live - we promise our approach will help make this easier for you

We know that many people avoid doing this and in this episode we are here to encourage you to take the time to do this - truly you only need to do this once and then afterwards only need to tweak when things change

We give practical examples to help you see how simple it can be to calculate your expenditure and costs 

The first step to saving and building your wealth happens when you know what you realistically are able to save rather than just pulling a figure out of the air and not achieving it and giving up. When you know how much you need to live then you can calculate how much to save

Once you know what it costs you to live, this is such a powerful piece of information, and it truly is the key to all your financial planning decisions going forward into the future and for your retirement. 

Your task: make a start on calculating how much it costs you to live and if you need any help, let us know

email us on:

[email protected]

We mentioned:

Money smart - the ASIC website mentioned, including spreadsheet

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.

Did you know that by 2030 - in just 7 years time - one on three Australians will be over the age of 55 years

This is astonishing

In this Intro episode of Midlife Money Matters podcast, Jacqui Irwin and Ingrid Thomspon introduce themselves and outline “Why this podcast?” and “Why now?”

We need to make it clear that we do NOT provide specific financial advice on this show, it is just general advice and discussion. If you want advice specific to your situation you need to go and see a financial adviser or financial professional.