The Money Puzzle, with James Kirby

When it comes to tax affairs, it's never easy: Many investors believe they do not get a fair deal: But some people clearly suffer financial abuse (which often begins with how a partner has behaved in the past). Sometimes too, the issues don't fit neatly for a financial adviser or a financial counsellor: That’s where the Tax Clinic, an experiment at UNSW, fills the gap.

Ann Kayis-Kumar of the Tax Clinic at UNSW joins Associate...

You can spend half a lifetime working and investing only to hit a financial earthquake with a divorce. But there are ways to ensure the best possible outcome.

Financial adviser Nathan Fradley joins James Kirby, Associate Editor - Wealth in this episode.

In today's episode, we cover:

• What you must know about divorce and money
• The issue of 'valuations'
• How crypto accounts are increasingly relevant to settlements 
• How a...

The markets are wild and cash rates are dropping quickly at the major banks: Investors of every type need cash. Here's a guide for the investor who wants to be ready for the next opportunity.

Liam Shorte of the Sonas Group joins Associate Editor- Wealth James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's episode, we cover:

• Finding the best cash rates 
• Optimising offset accounts
• Reviewing Dividend Reinvestment Plans 
• S...

The bargain hunters are in the market but many big funds and family offices are concentrating more on building cash: That’s because investment markets are more than 'uncertain' just now - in reality they are unfathomable.
Today's guest spot goes to one of the best-known investors (and philanthropists) in Australia, Chris Cuffe.

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In today's episode, we cover:

* Asset allocation in an age of extreme uncertainty ...

Falling interest rates, a wild share market and an election campaign where both parties are falling over each other to throw money at first-home buyers...it's the perfect conditions for a lift in residential prices throughout 2025.

Stuart Wemyss of the Prosolution Private Clients group joins Associate Editor- Wealth, James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover

• Green light for price growth in the re...

Yes, the current market crisis has been 'caused' by the US: You could say the same for the dot.com crash and the GFC. But is that an argument for stepping away from the country which represents more than 60 per cent of the global share market - and hosts the world's most important bond market?

Dr Sam Wylie of the Windlestone Education group joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show,...

The share markets have dropped hard following a severe bout of selling by institutional investors, but share-broker data suggests that everyday investors are bargain hunting.
What's really going on?

Gemma Dale, head of investor behaviour at NABtrade joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show, we cover:

* What bargain hunters are buying 
* Gold drops from the favoured list 

Trump's upending of world trade happens to coincide with challenging times for Big Super: The major funds face weak share markets while battling a range of administrative failures that have put Australian Super and CBUS  in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.It might be time to take control.

Hugh Robertson of Centaur Financial Services joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode.

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In today's show,...

Donald Trump's unleashing of his tariff program through the Liberation Day plan has the share market reeling - and the US market is reeling the most with the weakest numbers so far this year. As Trump's old colleague, Steve Bannon, calls for Liberation Day to be made a public holiday in the US, it's time to take a serious look at Trump and your investments.

Cameron Stewart, Chief International Correspondent of The Australian joins ...

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.

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, ...

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 arri...

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 ...

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...

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 ful...

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 s...

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...

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 t...

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 ep...