The 2025 Budget managed to squeeze in a few pre-election surprises. A teeny tax cut, a decision to 'do nothing' on pension access (with unchanged deeming rates) and a genuine move to upgrade the government's signature Shared Home Ownership program.
The so-called Help To Buy scheme will be very popular, but what are the risks?

In this episode, Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby.

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In today's show, we cover

* The biggest thing for First Home Buyers in years- Help To Buy
* Why bracket creep undermines all tax cuts 
* Is the $3m super tax dead or alive?
* Should long-term investors be influenced by today's dividend yields? 

 

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The tug of war between property and shares never ends: But for many investors, one area is more attractive. My guest in this episode has spent a lifetime investing - along with commenting on investment markets - and has come to a clear conclusion.You may not agree, but you should definitely hear him out.

 Anthony Keane, personal finance writer for News Corporation joins James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover

• Trouble-free' share market investing versus 'bricks and mortar'
• Why property investing should be kept outside of super
• Holding costs - the swing factor for the everyday investor 
• Should Adelaide really be more expensive than Melbourne? 
  
  

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It now takes more than $600m to even feature on the Australian’s Rich 250:  But what does it take to build a fortune of that size in 2025? Today we get an inside view on the people behind Australia’s greatest fortunes.

John Stensholt, Rich 250 editor joins James Kirby Associate Editor - Wealth in this week’s episode 

 In this episode, we cover

• Rich 250 - The Chemist Warehouse family arrives 
• Rich 250 -  Offshore gambling empires:  A new way to make money
• Billionaires might be impressive, but are they happy?
• Should you listen to ‘wealth coaches’?
  
  
  

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One of the most popular features of the Money Puzzle podcast has been listener questions which we read on air: Now we want to hear you asking your questions! We're asking listeners to send in a voice memo from their phone and share it on the show to themoneypuzzle@theaustralian.com.au.

Also in today's show, we cover the problem with quirky properties. Buyer's advocate Cate Bakos warns lovers of converted churches and renovated show factories that standing out from the crowd is not always profitable. Bakos explains what makes a property valuable : It appeals to the widest possible audience.

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In today's show, we cover:

• Irregular properties - quirky can be costly 
• Closed tenders - Good or bad?
• Tricky tax arrangements around 'granny flats'
• Why lending rates will keep falling 

 

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It had to happen: Tariffs, recession indicators and an overpriced Wall Street: The sharemarket has taken a tumble. As luck would have it, the Money Puzzle has a top value investor on the show this week and he names three top stocks that can survive just about anything!

Roger Montgomery of Montgomery Investment Management joins James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover...

• The sharemarket sell off - why did it happen?
• Ai and Tech face a new reality
• Three stocks with a value 'moat' 
• The conditions we need for a positive year on the ASX
  
  

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Finally, after much flipping and flopping the government has decided to go ahead with a pre-election budget on March 25: What will it mean for your investment plans?

James Gerrard of financialadviser.com.au joins James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover:

• What's the Coalition deal on tapping super to buy a home?
• How the ALP plans to offer a 20% discount on student debt
• Could financial advice be made fully tax deductible?
• The reality of taking out a reverse mortgage
• Why advisers are sceptical about annuities 

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The US sharemarket has lost all of the gains it racked up since the Trump election and the spectre of a tariff war is casting gloom across global trade. What to do? First of all, give up on those stocks you were hoping would 'turn' and then do a full 'clean out' of your share portfolio. 

Rudi Filapek-Vandyck of FNArena joins James Kirby in this episode 

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In today's show, we cover:

• Why is confidence seeping out of the US sharemarket
• Can the ASX hold up if the dividend yield is fading?
• The reason why CBA is the best bank stock
• Goodman asks for more retail money - should you come to the party? 
  
  

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The upper end of the market - defined by properties which rank in the 25 per cent of most expensive sales - is the layer that is moving up after the rate cut. And that means the post-rate cut bounce is concentrated in the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. In fact, Melbourne might finally be turning a corner.

Property analyst Eliza Owen of Corelogic joins James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover...

• What investors must know about property trends after the rate cut
• Melbourne manages a one-month rebound..is there more to come?
• The window for first-time home buyers may be closing
• Queensland towns notch up remarkable price activity - take a look at Townsville!
  
  

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The superstar CEO is a complex package: You might love what they can do with the share price, but you might equally feel unsure about their behaviour day-to-day. What to do? 

Author and family office adviser, Jacqui Clarke, joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode.

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On today’s show, we cover:

• Passive investing …it’s not what it used to be 
• Wealthy investors are getting cautious about the sharemarket
• How top investors deal with key person risk
• Big super funds under pressure on private investments

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For many property investors stand-alone homes will always win: Similarly, there is an investor bias towards the metropolitan centres of Sydney and Melbourne.
But Hotspotting expert, Terry Ryder, sees the market differently: He offers a fresh view on the prospects for investors in the year ahead and may challenge some cherished assumptions.

Terry Ryder, director of the Hotspotting group, joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode.

In today's show, we cover:

• The powerful forces pushing Queensland higher
• How units are outperforming stand-alone homes nationwide
• Signs of a slowdown in the Perth Market
• Defending 'property pre-nups.'

 

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