Talk Investing Podcast

$80,000 a year, tax-free, just to live “comfortably” after work? That headline number can feel like a punch in the guts, especially when you open your super statement and realise you’re not close. We sit down with superannuation specialist Marco Millardo to break down what sits behind the ASFA Retirement Standard, why the cost of a comfortable retirement is rising with inflation, and how those annual spending targets translate into the lump sums people talk about (around $730,000 for couples and $630,000 for singles under common assumptions).

From there, we get practical. We walk through how to build a retirement budget that actually matches your life, using your current spending as the base, then checking it against tools on the ASFA site and the government’s MoneySmart calculators. We also talk about the “retirement spending curve”: why the first five to ten years can be the biggest spending window, why many retirees underspend out of fear, and how planning in stages can reduce anxiety without cutting joy.

We answer listener questions on transition to retirement, including the 10% annual draw cap and the easy-to-miss tax detail that it’s not automatically in a tax-free environment. We also tackle the big issues that change everything: renting versus owning, mortgage pay-down versus investing, aged care and nursing home costs, and how the age pension can affect the gap you need to fund.

If you’re 50+ and doing the mental maths right now, this is a calm, numbers-based reset. Subscribe, share with someone who’s planning their retirement, and leave us a review so more Australians can find the help they need.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Prices keep climbing, the news feels shaky, and yet pay rises and growth do not seem to be keeping up. That uncomfortable mix has a name: stagflation. We sit down with our superannuation specialist Marco Melado to unpack what stagflation means in real life, why it can trigger job insecurity and cautious spending, and how that cycle can weigh on the broader economy.

From there, we get practical about investing in Australia when inflation stays high. We talk about “preserving purchasing power” and why simply holding the same number of dollars is not the same as maintaining what your money can actually buy. Marco explains how different assets can behave when the usual economic tailwind disappears, including the role commodities can play as inflation hedges, why gold is often treated as a store of value, and what you should consider if you are looking at gold bullion versus gold mining shares.

We also move into the decisions people are making inside superannuation and retirement planning right now: whether shifting to cash really helps, why your time frame after retirement can still be 20 to 30 years, and how to think about portfolio changes without jumping in and out of the market. We answer listener questions on switching a super pension back to accumulation, contribution caps and deductions, and improving the quality of your investments by leaning into more defensive shares such as consumer staples, healthcare and utilities.

If you want a clear-headed guide to stagflation, inflation risk, superannuation strategy and staying diversified through volatility, hit play. Subscribe for more, share this with a mate who is worried about the cost of living, and leave us a review with your biggest question about investing right now.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Your super balance drops in a fortnight and suddenly every headline feels louder. We sit with that gut-level anxiety and break down what’s actually happening when markets wobble, whether it’s conflict-driven fear, tech disruption, or the messy overlap of both. Then we slow the whole thing down and rebuild the decision-making from first principles: markets fall sometimes, recoveries can arrive quickly, and your time horizon matters more than today’s number on the screen. 

We talk practical investor strategy for market volatility without pretending there’s one perfect move. We walk through what a “balanced” portfolio tends to experience versus an all-shares approach, why diversification across cash, term deposits, bonds and other defensive assets can soften the ride, and how an all-weather portfolio is designed to behave when things go bad. If you’re using a super fund option, we explain what you’re relying on the fund to do. If you’re advised, we outline what your adviser should already have built in. 

From there we lay out three clear pathways when you feel uneasy: hold tight with quality holdings, reduce risk by selling the weakest positions in stages, or upgrade portfolio quality while staying invested. A caller shares a smarter way to review performance across 12 months and five years, plus how dollar cost averaging can turn volatility into a calmer contribution plan. We also cover sequencing risk for people approaching retirement, and finish with a crucial superannuation question about nominated beneficiaries, estates, and the tax treatment of death benefits. 

If this helped you think more clearly about your next move, subscribe, share it with a mate who’s stressing about their super, and leave a review. What’s the one rule you wish you’d learned earlier about investing through market shocks?

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Retirement doesn’t sneak up all at once, then politely wait for you to be ready. One day you realise your “someday” plan needs actual numbers, and that’s where a retirement plan audit earns its keep. We walk through how we go from a retirement vision to a realistic retirement budget, then work backwards to check if you’re on track, using practical tools like the ASFA Retirement Standard and the retirement calculators on major super fund websites.

We also talk about the limits of most online superannuation calculators, especially if you’ve got assets outside super like shares, cash, term deposits, or investment property. From there we get into the real-world decisions people face: how to avoid having all your eggs in one basket, how to respond if you feel behind at 50 or 60, and why tiny savings hacks rarely move the needle compared to the bigger levers like contributions, time in the market, and your retirement date.

The conversation goes deeper into the risks retirees actually worry about, including illness and medical costs that Medicare may not cover. We explain why liquidity matters, how a cash buffer and lower-volatility assets can stabilise a portfolio, and what to watch for with Centrelink and the Age Pension, including what counts as an asset, how home contents are valued, and the five-year gifting rule that can catch families off guard. If you want clearer next steps for retirement planning in Australia, hit subscribe, share this with someone who’s avoiding their numbers, and leave us a review with the question you want answered next.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

You can feel “close to retirement” and still have no clear idea whether your plan holds up. We put a spotlight on the big gaps people miss by running a Retirement Plan Audit, a simple checklist that turns vague intention into practical steps you can action today.

We start where the pressure usually sits: debt. If a home loan or other non-deductible debt stretches into retirement, it can quietly drain your cash flow and limit choices later. We also unpack what happens if you die with a mortgage, why the debt becomes an estate issue, and why wills and powers of attorney belong in the same conversation as superannuation and investing.

From there we shift into lifestyle and spending, because your retirement income target is really about how you want to live. We talk through how to picture retirement in a realistic way, why a spending range is more useful than a perfect budget, and how modelling your capital (super, shares, cash, property) with conservative assumptions can reduce the fear of running out of money. Listener calls bring the rules to life: how ASFA defines “comfortable”, what to do if you receive money after 75, the quirks of super contribution deadlines and mandated employer contributions, the Centrelink gifting rules when helping family, and the key contribution caps that matter when an inheritance lands.

If you want retirement planning advice that’s grounded in Australian super rules, Age Pension realities, and clear next steps, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s putting it off, and leave a review with the one retirement question you want answered next.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

$700,000 to retire comfortably as a couple? For plenty of Australians that number sounds either reassuring or impossible, and the truth depends on the assumptions hiding underneath it. We break down the ASFA Retirement Standard and translate it into the everyday costs retirees actually face, from groceries and utilities to cars, holidays, and the difference between a modest retirement and a comfortable one. 

We also tackle the question people ask when they’re over work: what if I want to retire at 60, not 67? We talk through the “gap years” before the Age Pension kicks in, and the practical ways to fund them, including easing into retirement, using a transition to retirement pension, or drawing on super earlier with a clear plan. Along the way we cover the boring-but-critical foundations like clearing debt, creating surplus cash flow, and building two buckets of wealth inside and outside superannuation. 

Listener questions take us into the details that can save you real money: tax-deductible concessional contributions, what’s actually refundable for low-income earners, and whether it makes sense to live off cash first and preserve super. We also dig into the big emotional one: property and retirement planning, including when holding an investment property helps, when selling and contributing to super might improve long-term income, and why SMSF property borrowing can be complicated with small balances. 

If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with someone planning retirement, and leave us a review so more Australians can find the show. What’s the one decision you’re stuck on right now: your retirement age, your super balance, or your property plan?

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

In this follow-up episode, Marco Mellado continues the conversation around superannuation risks, failed investments, and the hidden dangers that can impact retirement savings. He explores what happens when things go wrong, who is responsible, and the key steps investors can take to better understand their super and protect their financial future.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

In this episode, Marco Mellado breaks down superannuation risks, investment collapses, and the red flags investors need to watch for. Learn how to identify misleading advice, protect your retirement savings, and make smarter super decisions.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

A rate cut can feel like a simple story: cheaper mortgages, happy households, end of problem. But if you’re trying to live off savings, build an income portfolio, or decide whether shares are “too expensive”, the real story is messier and far more useful. We’re joined by share market specialist Remo Greco to unpack what a likely Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate cut actually means, and why the market often moves long before the RBA does.

We start with the macro signals the RBA watches, including inflation back around the 2–3% target band, sticky living costs like insurance and rent, and employment data that’s harder to read in a world of shifting migration. From there we look at how rate cuts can affect the Australian dollar, why the impact differs depending on what’s happening in the US and Europe, and what that means if you’re travelling or investing globally.

Then we get practical for everyday investors. We talk about the flood of “income” products that show up when term deposit rates slide, and the one question that cuts through the marketing: what is the underlying asset? We break down term deposits and reinvestment risk, compare government bonds with riskier credit, and explain residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and how RMBS ETFs make this corner of fixed income more accessible. We also tackle the nerves around investing when markets are at all time highs, the difference between a correction and a crash, and what retirees can do to protect purchasing power when inflation returns.

If you want clearer thinking on Australian interest rates, fixed income, term deposits, ETFs, RMBS and retirement investing, hit subscribe, share this with a mate who’s chasing yield, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

July can feel like a clean slate, but your superannuation does not reset itself. We walk through the practical steps we use to get your super “house” in order for the new financial year, starting with concessional contributions: the employer 12% Super Guarantee, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions. We explain why these are taxed at 15% inside super, how the concessional cap works, and how to avoid the nasty surprise of going over it.

We then get specific about the moves that people often miss. Carry forward concessional contributions can let you use up to five years of unused cap space, which matters if you have a higher income year, a bonus, or a big capital gain and need a larger deduction. If you are making a personal contribution and claiming it, we spell out the critical admin step: lodging a Notice of Intent with your fund and getting the acknowledgement back before you lodge your tax return. We also cover MyGov as the hub for checking super details, and we unpack the government co contribution so you understand the eligibility rules and the trade-off between receiving the co contribution and claiming a deduction.

Listener questions take us into the real life decisions: keeping two super funds to hold onto valuable insurance, whether it is worth contributing early versus end of June, and what the downsizer contribution really allows when you sell a home. We finish by clarifying how property sales and small business proceeds interact with super contribution caps, plus the basics on unpaid super and rolling from an SMSF to an industry super fund. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a mate who is sorting retirement, and leave us a review so more Australians can find the guidance.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show