Talk Investing Podcast

Blue chip shares are supposed to be the “sleep at night” part of your portfolio, so what do you do when two market darlings suddenly look ordinary? We kick off by unpacking the wobble in CSL and Macquarie Bank, and why a flat share price over several years doesn’t automatically mean the business is broken. We talk about what we actually mean by blue chip stocks in Australia today: not just size or brand recognition, but a track record of steady leadership, a culture that doesn’t blow itself up, and the ability to keep compounding through ugly periods.

From there we get practical. With AGM season rolling through, we share what we listen for as shareholders: cost blowouts, wage pressure, whether revenue growth is genuine or just inflation, and the small tells that hint at pricing power. Then we turn to a topic that makes a lot of investors uneasy for good reason: identity theft and share stealing. We explain how your shares can be targeted, why paper mail can be a weak link, and how CHESS sponsorship plus a simple routine of checking your sponsored holdings can add real protection.

Listener questions take us into the weeds where money is won or lost: what a delisting can mean if a company moves overseas, why long trading halts can be a red flag, how dividends and ex-dividend dates move share prices, and what the 45-day rule means for franking credits. We also touch on lithium stocks versus copper as long-term electrification themes, and why company bonds start looking attractive when yields lift with interest rates.

If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a mate who’s watching the market, and leave a review so more Australians can find the show. What’s the one investing risk you’re paying more attention to 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

Climate headlines can feel distant until they hit your insurance premium or your home’s resale value. We sit down with financial adviser Remo Greco to map the direct line between climate risk and money, including why ASIC and accounting bodies expect companies to spell out climate-related risks in annual reports, and why investors and super funds are paying closer attention than ever. If you’ve never thought about how flooding, bushfires, and heat can flow through to bank balance sheets, this chat will change how you read the business pages. 

We also shift gears to the investing mood right now. Markets have delivered surprisingly strong returns across Australian shares and global equities, yet plenty of everyday investors still feel pessimistic, disillusioned, or simply left out. We unpack what that disconnect does to behaviour, why FOMO can be dangerous after a long grind higher, and how a disciplined, staged investing plan (rather than heroic predictions) can help you stay steady through whatever comes next, including the much-hyped “soft landing”. 

Then we open the floor to your questions on Australian superannuation and retirement planning: putting money into super versus term deposits, what properties you can and cannot hold through super, why “super is a bucket” and fees only make sense in context, how to use calculators to estimate a decent retirement lifestyle, and why getting your documents and binding death nominations sorted can save months of pain later. If you get value from this, please subscribe, share it with a mate, and leave us a review.

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 superannuation balance can look calm on the surface while the assets underneath it are anything but. We take a hard look at commercial real estate, especially office buildings, and why remote working and higher interest rates have made people question whether some valuations still match what those properties are truly worth today. If part of your retirement savings sits in commercial property through an industry or retail super fund, that valuation story can flow straight into your balance when revaluations finally land. 

We also unpack the transparency problem. With an SMSF, you can usually say exactly what you own. With larger funds, you may only see broad categories and a tidy label like “unlisted assets” covering property, infrastructure and private equity. We talk through the practical reality of trying to figure out what sits behind that label, what you can learn from investment option pages and annual reports, and why “top holdings” lists often do not answer the questions you actually have. 

Then we zoom out to the personal side: the risk profile question. Selecting “balanced” or “fast growth” is not a personality quiz, it is a decision about how much volatility you can live with and what return you need to meet your goals. We share a clear way to think about objectives, required rates of return, and what it really means to take risk through assets like equities and property. 

If you want to make smarter super fund choices and feel more confident about what your retirement investing is exposed to, listen now. Subscribe, share it with a mate who never checks their super, and leave a review with the one thing you want super funds to be clearer about.

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

The ATO is waving a big flag at tax time, and it’s not just about rental property deductions and work-related expenses anymore. We dig into the areas that trip up real people: capital gains tax on shares, the fast-growing crypto tax footprint, and why “surely they won’t know” is no longer a strategy when data matching is this strong. If you’ve bought, sold, swapped, or simply forgotten what you did over the year, we walk through the mindset and the record-keeping that makes your numbers easier to defend and your return easier to lodge.

We also get stuck into a mid-year portfolio clean up. Markets have been stronger than the mood music suggests, which is exactly why it’s worth reviewing what you own and why. We talk through the psychology that pushes us to sell winners for a quick win while clinging to losers out of pride, plus how capital losses can be useful if you genuinely need to exit a position. Then we spell out the wash sale problem in plain language: if you sell purely to manufacture a loss and buy back straight away, the ATO may treat it as a no-go.

From listener questions we move through real-world examples and decisions: how ETFs work compared with managed funds, why fees and simplicity matter, and how “more return” almost always means “more risk”. Finally, we tackle a classic superannuation dilemma: moving to cash because a recession feels close, then watching markets jump without you. That’s sequencing risk, and it’s brutal, so we explain how a sensible asset allocation can keep you invested without forcing you to predict the future. If this helped, follow the podcast, share it with a mate who’s stressing about tax time, and leave us a review. What money decision are you second-guessing 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

AI is moving markets, a gold giant is changing hands, and interest rates are making “safe” returns look tempting again. We take listener questions that cut straight to what Australians are dealing with right now: what actually happens in the Newcrest takeover by Newmont, whether you’re taking on new foreign exchange risk, and what you’re really betting on when you own gold shares. 

We then dig into artificial intelligence investing without the starry-eyed sales pitch. A handful of US mega-cap tech stocks have surged on AI optimism, so we talk through sensible ways to get exposure, from buying household-name shares to using low-cost exchange traded funds (ETFs) that spread risk. We also explore the “picks and shovels” angle of AI, including semiconductors and the companies powering the boom behind the scenes, plus why buying the haystack can beat trying to pick the one winning needle. 

From there it’s pure practical money talk: gifting $10,000 to grandkids using diversified ETFs, the trade-offs of borrowing to invest as loan rates rise, and the common capital gains tax cost base approach when inheriting shares (including why pre-CGT details can matter). We finish with the big question many people are asking: when term deposits and bonds start approaching 5–6%, how much sharemarket risk do you really need to take, and is property still psychologically easier to hold than shares when prices move every day? 

If you found this useful, subscribe so you do not miss the next chat, share it with a mate who’s weighing up their options, and leave a quick review with the question you want us to tackle 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

In this episode, Marco Mellado explains how super funds invest in commercial real estate and why property plays an important role in many retirement portfolios. He breaks down how these investments work, the potential benefits and risks involved, and what investors should understand about their exposure to the property market through superannuation.

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 policy tweak can sound tidy on a press conference podium, then get very messy the moment it hits real portfolios. The proposed $3 million superannuation tax change is a perfect example: lifting the concessional tax rate to 30% might look targeted, but the way “earnings” are measured raises a bigger issue for SMSFs and anyone holding property or other illiquid assets. If the calculation captures year-to-year movements in value, you can end up facing tax on unrealised gains, even when you haven’t sold a thing and you don’t have spare cash sitting in the fund.

We talk through what that actually means in practice: how the balance movement is worked out, why a paper increase can trigger a bill, and why “lumpy assets” like farms and investment properties are at the centre of the stress. We also unpack the incentives this creates, from valuation disputes to early restructuring into other vehicles such as a family trust, and why we think it’s premature to make big moves while the legislation and political negotiations are still in flux ahead of 2025.

Then we zoom out to the part that affects almost everyone listening: retirement planning for the other 99.5%. If the goal is stronger self-funded retirement and less reliance on the Age Pension, we argue the contribution caps and Super Guarantee settings deserve at least as much attention as headline taxes on high balances. We finish with market talk on Woodside, dividends, franking credits, and why income strategies inside super may matter more if the rules tighten.

If you found this useful, subscribe so you don’t miss the follow-up, share it with someone sorting their super strategy, and leave a quick 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

The hardest part of helping your parents with money is not the numbers, it’s the emotion. When someone who has “always handled it” starts to drown in paperwork, forget logins, or avoid conversations, stepping in can feel like taking away independence. We unpack how to start that chat with empathy, how to involve the right people, and how to make support feel like relief rather than control.

We get practical about simplifying financial administration in Australia: consolidating records, reducing mail chaos, and considering an administration service through an accountant, lawyer, or financial adviser so the decisions stay with your parents but the paper burden doesn’t. We also explain why moving issuer sponsored shares to CHESS sponsorship can make life easier for address changes, reporting, and future estate administration. On the tech side, we talk internet banking for seniors, building confidence with a supportive bank appointment, using a password manager, and why learning the app can actually help protect against scams.

Listener questions take us into real-world choices: what to think about when balancing HECS debt and indexation against getting a foothold in the property market, how to plan early if you want to give grandkids a meaningful 21st birthday gift, and why updating wills and powers of attorney matters most when incapacity, not death, is the real risk. We finish with a look at commercial property uncertainty, valuations, and the long tail of work-from-home on leases and income.

If this sparked a conversation you’ve been avoiding, share it with a sibling or a parent, subscribe for more, and leave a review so more families can find practical retirement planning and estate planning guidance. What’s the one money admin task you wish your family had sorted earlier?

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, Remo Greco explores the role of gold in an investment portfolio and why it has remained a popular asset throughout history. He discusses the benefits and risks of investing in gold, how it can help during periods of market uncertainty, and what investors should consider before adding gold to their investment strategy.

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

Interest rates don’t jump from near zero to around 4% without consequences and when they do, investors start asking the same urgent question: what breaks first? We talk through the shockwaves from the Silicon Valley Bank deposit run and why governments move fast to protect confidence in the banking system. Then we bring it back home to Australia, where our banks are more tightly regulated and better capitalised, but we’re still tied to global markets and the mood of investors worldwide.

From there, we get practical. We tackle the classic dilemma of whether to pay down your mortgage or invest, especially when rates may be nearing a peak and share markets could stay bumpy for months. We also unpack why bond markets can look “deeply worried” even when equities seem oddly calm, and what that mismatch might mean if you’re nearing retirement and need a more defensive investing approach.

Listener questions take us into real-world choices: using salary sacrificing to manage tax brackets, putting an inheritance into a term deposit, and weighing bank shares with attractive yields against the certainty of a 4% to 4.5% term deposit rate. We also share a straightforward way for younger investors to build exposure to diversified ETFs by averaging in over time, rather than trying to pick the perfect day to buy.

If you found this helpful, subscribe so you don’t miss the next chat, share it with a mate who’s weighing up term deposits versus shares, and leave a review to help more Australians 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