Shares for Beginners

By Philip Muscatello - Australian Investor EducationBusiness Education Investing How To

Shares for Beginners episodes

July 16, 2025 Why Small Caps Matter - Vince Scully | Life Sherpa
Can Australian small caps turbocharge your investment portfolio? Vince Scully from LifeSherpa explores the risks and rewards of small cap investing. More information about the Life Sherpa ETF based portfolios available here.

This conversation was based on a recent video that you can watch here.
Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/vince-scully-small-cap
Watch on YouTube

Life Sherpa Invest helps beginners start with confidence. Choose from four ready-made diversified portfolios matched to different investing styles. Not sure where you fit? InvestBot helps you understand who you are as an investor so you can choose well and stay the course. Start hassle-free investing now:

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min
July 09, 2025 What is the Stock Market? Elio D'Amato Classic Episode!
In this episode I'm joined by Elio D'Amato from to unravel the mysteries of investing and ask the fundamental questions: What is a stock market? Why does it exist? And how can you, as an investor, navigate its complexities? I've had a busy couple of weeks and was running out of feed for the hungry podcast beast. This is a repeat episode from October 2024. But Elio is always a great guest with many colourful analogies. The lessons bear repeating. New episodes return next week.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/what-is-the-stock-market

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
45 min
July 01, 2025 All-Weather Portfolio - Rudi Filapek-Vandyck | FNArena
In this episode I'm joined by Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, the editor of FN Arena Investing Newsletter, to talk deep market insights, his All-Weather Model Portfolio and the strategies that have shaped his approach to investing in quality growth stocks. Rudi shared his journey, lessons learned, and why he’s challenging the traditional value investing narrative.

This conversation was based on a recent article from Rudi which you can download here.
Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/fnarena-all-weather
Watch on YouTube

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
45 min
June 28, 2025 Steven Boland - Acrow Limited (ASX:ACF)
🚧💡 Get an inside look at Acrow Limited's innovative approach to Formwork, Scaffolding and Industrial Access. CEO Steven Boland discusses their growth, engineering expertise, and exciting projects on the horizon.

Watch on YouTube
The guest or company has contributed to the cost of production of this episode.

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 min
June 25, 2025 Attack the Ball Not Your Wealth - Slava Platkov | Dimensional Fund Advisors
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Slava Platkov, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors’ Sydney office to talk about his journey from Ukraine to Australia, his semi-professional football days, and to explain factor-based investing.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/slava-platkov-dimensional
Watch on YouTube

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 min
June 17, 2025 Hedge Fund Strategies for Beginners - Bob Elliott | Unlimited Funds
In this episode I'm joined by Bob Elliott the co-founder and CEO of Unlimited Funds, for an eye-opening exploration of hedge funds and their role in modern investing. With years of experience as a macro investor at Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates, Bob brings a wealth of knowledge, breaking down complex concepts into actionable insights for investors of all levels.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/bob-elliot-unlimited
Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/Um6WUcGp8Ss

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
41 min
June 10, 2025 From Glassy to Guru | Geoff Wilson - Wilson Asset Management
In this episode I sit down with Geoff Wilson, the founder, chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of Wilson Asset Management. He has over 45 years of experience in investment markets, managing over $5.8 billion for more than 130,000 retail investors through nine listed investment companies (LICs) and two unlisted funds. We chatted about his journey from working as a “glassy” at a rough Melbourne pub to founding one of Australia's leading investment firms.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/geoff-wilson-wam

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 2 min
June 04, 2025 The NZX - Small But Perfectly Formed | Oliver Mander from NZSA
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Oliver Mander, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Shareholders Association (NZSA). As someone who’s passionate about investing and governance, Oliver offered a fascinating deep dive into the world of investing in New Zealand, a market that’s small but mighty.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/oliver-mander-NZSA

Level up your investing with Sharesight, Investopedia’s #1 portfolio tracker for DIY investors. Track 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Ditch the chaos, track like a pro! Sharesight makes investing easy. Get 4 months free on an annual premium plan at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 min
May 27, 2025 Four Inches Into The Future - Andrew Page | Strawman
In this episode I welcome back Andrew Page, the founder of Strawman.com, an online investment club for investors to exchange ideas and debate on buying companies on the ASX. Andrew attempts to uncover hidden gems in the Australian small and mid-cap sharemarket, blending meticulous research with a community-driven approach. His latest blog post, Four Inches into the Future, was inspired by a quip from former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein. It discusses the value of focusing on what’s “reasonably knowable.”

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/andrew-page-four-inches

Portfolio tracker Sharesight tracks your trades, shows your true performance, and saves you time and money at tax time. Sharesight automatically tracks price, performance and dividends from 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Get 4 months free at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min
May 20, 2025 Embrace The Uncertainty - Jeff Sarti | Morton Wealth
My guest this week is Jeff Sarti, CEO of Morton Wealth. Jeff is a CFA charterholder managing over $3 billion in assets, and the author of the Healthy Skeptic newsletter where he challenges conventional investing wisdom. We talked about true diversification, the risks of outdated strategies, and why alternative assets are stealing the spotlight.

Blog post available at: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/blog/jeff-sarti-morton-wealth

Portfolio tracker Sharesight tracks your trades, shows your true performance, and saves you time and money at tax time. Sharesight automatically tracks price, performance and dividends from 240,000+ global stocks, crypto, ETFs and funds. Add cash accounts and property to get the full picture of your portfolio – all in one place. Get 4 months free at https://www.sharesight.com/sharesforbeginners

Tony Kynaston is a multi-millionaire professional investor thanks to his QAV checklist. Tony's knowledge and calm analysis takes the guesswork out of share market investing. Use the coupon code SFB for a 20% discount on QAV Club plans or SFBLIGHT for a free month of QAV Light. Here's the link to sign up: https://qavpodcast.com.au/register-3/

Disclosure: The links provided are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase. You will receive a discount by using these links/coupon codes. I only recommend products and services that I use and trust myself or where I have interviewed and/or met the founders and have assured myself that they’re offering something of value.
Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min

About Shares for Beginners

From the publisher's feed

We're all investors in the share market, either directly or through our superannuation. We're handing over management of our assets to financial advisors and fund managers. The best will look after…

our interests and make us wealthier. But how can we know for sure? Where do you go if you're completely new but want to start learning about investing in the markets yourself. The jargon is dense and it can feel like we're being kept deliberately in the dark. In Shares for Beginners, you'll hear from people in the finance industry and together we'll explain key concepts of investing in the ASX, the NASDAQ, S&P500, FTSE and Dow. More importantly, they have insights that allow us to look under the hood of the stock market, explaining how it works and what to look out for. We have to be smart. We have to be diversified and we have to have good risk management strategies if we want to invest for the long term.

For more Information go to: https://www.sharesforbeginners.com/

How is your superannuation linked to the Australian & US stock markets? It's crucial to understand the fundamentals of stocks and shares, and recommend reading "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham.

I explore the basics - what a share is and how to buy one, and delve into the world of value investing, exploring strategies to identify undervalued stocks. I cover key terms like ASX (Australian Securities Exchange), CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange), ASX200 (Australian Securities Exchange 200 Index), ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), LICs (Listed Investment Companies), Managed Funds, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), as well as the difference between passive and active investing.

There are many traps for beginner investors and it's good to be aware of the role and risks of options, warrants, CFDs (Contracts for Difference), day trading, bonds, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and the difference between fundamental and technical analysis.

Tracking your investments is essential, and it's important to know about watchlists, understand dividends and dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs), while exploring robo-investing, fixed income, index funds, and micro-investing.

I cover topics like trading and buying shares, making money from shares, and understanding the Australian stock exchange. What is the role of stockbrokers and online brokers and how to buy and sell shares.

I've interviewed industry experts and collaborated with Superhero, Stockspot, Caleb Silver Investopedia, Spencer Jakab from The Wall Street Journal, Pearler, Sharesight, Magellan, Saxo, Morningstar, QAV, Equity Mates, Owen Rask, Strawman, Motley Fool, Stockopedia, Betashares, Vanguard, Van Eck, Roger Montgomery, Tony Kynaston, Gemma Dale, Betsy Westcott, Molly Benjamin, Liz Tian, Andrew Baxter, Simon Ree, Wisr, Ladies Finance Club, Strong Money Australia, Captain Fi, Fred Schebesta, Kylie Purcell, Australian Shareholders' Association, Jessica Amir, Jordan Eliseo, Shani Jayamanne, Vic Jokovic, Scott Phillips, Mark Monfort, Andrew Page, and Claude Walker.

Shares for Beginners is a production of Finpods Pty Ltd. The advice shared on Shares for Beginners is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. Shares for Beginners exists purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Philip Muscatello and Finpods Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289. Moneysherpa is home to Life Sherpa Australia's most affordable financial advice service.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.