Finance Hour On J-air

FH051- Planning Plan B We’re always looking forward to things going well, but what if nothing goes as we hoped? Experiencing the unexpected is part of life, and it’s always a good idea to prepare for them. That’s what author Kylie Parker seeks to get across with her book, Planning Plan B, which is about preparing not just yourself, but those around you for unfortunate events in life. Kylie joins me today to share her thoughts on being prepared in life and the story that served as her inspiration in writing her book. She explains some of life’s most stressful moments as well as provide tips on how you can prepare for them. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share why I think projecting a horse race in the Sydney Opera House, one of the country’s national icons, is a bad idea. As a special offer for this show, Kylie will be giving a copy of the book to 3 lucky readers who we judge to have the best answer to the question ‘How will you be planning for your Plan B as a result of listening t

How do we fix our banks? That’s the question that came to mind after reading the Royal Commission’s Interim Report. And from the looks of the headlines from both online and newspaper outlets, I wasn’t the only one who scratched my head. In today’s episode, my guest Michael Chew and I share our opinions on the report. We discuss some of its highlights, what they mean in context, and how they can affect our financial markets. We try to visualize how this report can affect the way we bank as well as the changes we expect to happen in the near future. We also discuss what the document meant by “culture of greed” in our financial system. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why I think it’s not really wrong to charge dead people money. “The banks are responsible in what information mortgage brokers provide.” This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Our opinions on the recent interim report released by the Royal Commission. The concerns about how the report was created. Is

Some say money makes the world go round and in many ways, it does. This is why it’s imperative to learn how money works and how to grow yours as early as possible. That’s something Yossi Bart, a year-9 student at Leibler Yavneh College, is undertaking. Yossi shares what made him want to learn about money and how he currently applies his knowledge. He discusses some of the lessons he’s learned in school regarding investments and finances. Yossi also describes how he procures funds for his investments and what he plans to achieve with his money when all is said and done. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why it’s terrible for the AFL to sell most of their Grand Finals tickets to corporates. “Compounding interest will ultimately give you more money.” -Yossi Bart This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Yossi’s first experience with money and how it opened his eyes. The kind of financial education he's had at school so far. How he learned about investing and where he i

Watching a movie today can be done by just pushing the right buttons on your remote and making use of streaming services such as Netflix. Despite this convenience, some movie fans want the whole cinematic experience that no streaming service can provide - and that’s where Eddie Tamir comes in. Eddie and Lindy Tamir are the owners of Elsternwick Classic Cinema, a business that’s slowly reviving the long-lost tradition of classic cinemas in Melbourne. Eddie shares what his career was before venturing into the movie-making business and how his passion for reviving cinemas got started. He discusses some of the challenges his company faced as well as some of the lucky moments they had. Eddie also explains how cinemas work, from sourcing the film to splitting profits, as well as the various processes involved in running a big film festival. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why business owners should prevent working themselves out of a job resulting in having too much ti

Episode 47 - The Office.. A guide to commercial property investment with Steve Bennett from Charter Hall Residential properties are all the craze these days and the market’s getting a little cramped for comfort. On the other hands, commercial properties are rarely discussed by mums and dads. My guest this week is the Head of Charter Hall’s direct property business, Steve Bennett. Charter Hall is one of Australia’s leading property groups with over $23.2-billion worth of total managed property. Steve joins me today to discuss the potential of investing in commercial properties. He shares some of its risks and benefits and the returns you can expect as well as the current trends in office work and how it can positively affect commercial property investments. Steve also describes why low-interest rates aren’t always good for the property market. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to banks increasing interest rates and Westpac paying $35-million fine for poor home loan assessment. “P

Episode 46 - You need a criminal lawyer You wouldn’t want yourself or your business to be involved in a crime, but what do you do if you are? That’s when you get a criminal lawyer. My guest this week is Brett Tait a criminal attorney at Tait Lawyers, a general legal practice with over 45 years of service and over 100 years of experience between five lawyers. Brett discusses legal matters pertaining to a variety of criminal offenses. He shares what it was like to work in tax and investment banking and what eventually made him follow his father’s footsteps. He also describes the experience of representing a murderer as well as some of the more ordinary cases he has handled. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the concept of political uncertainty in Canberra and how it is affecting business confidence. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the RecUp app can help you record audio and upload it to Dropbox efficiently. “You’re

Are you worried about Donald Trump’s Twitter tirades and how they might affect your retirement portfolio? My guest this week is Jon Reilly, Chief Investment Officer at Implemented Portfolios, an Australian-based investment management business that’s been operating since 2004. Jon shares his insight on the political and economic fallout of Donald Trump’s presidency for the last 18 months. He dives deep on the current political climate of the United States and how it impacted the international economy and share markets. He explains why the US the economy is on fire right now and whether Donald Trump should be given credit for it. We also discuss the link between the economy and share markets as well as the outlook for the Australian sharemarket. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the Royal Commission’s report on ANZ misselling superannuation. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Smiling Mind app can help you sleep bett

Episode 44 - Where to for the sharemarket? Roger Montgomery is the founder of Montgomery Investment Management, a boutique investment management firm with domestic and international investment portfolios. He has over 20 years of experience in the finance industry, including areas of equity analysis, equity and derivative trading, as well as investment banking. Roger joins me today to share his thoughts on the current state of the share market and how he thinks it will impact Australia in the short and long-term. He also describes the impact of low credit growth on our economy and explains why he believes it will get worse before it gets better. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the Royal Commission finding that HostPlus super fund spending $300,000.00 on tickets to sporting events. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how Calendly can help you remember all of your scheduled meetings. “When you don't have staff excited to

Grant Rheuben is a Senior Finance Broker at Loan Market, one of Australasia’s largest mortgage finance broking companies. He joins me today to share his thoughts on mortgage brokers, how they promote competition in the debt market and shares his advice for taking out a mortgage loan. He discusses what drives people to take on so much debt, why property loans are skyrocketing, and the mindset of someone who wants to obtain a loan for a house. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the recent Productivity Commission Report and why I don’t believe in it. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the LOOM app allows you to quickly and easily record and share videos. “Over the last ten years, mortgage brokers have created the competition and have kept the banks honest and accountable.” - Grant Rheuben This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Are we truly up to our eyeballs in debt? What drives people to create debt. Why do people stre

FH042 - Wake up and smell the coffee. The world of coffee trading with Moshe Tawil Moshe Tawil is the General Manager of Panamerican Coffee Group Pty Ltd and International Coffee Traders, a coffee trading company that develops mutually beneficial relationships with coffee producers and roasters. Having loved coffee from a young age, he became enamored at the thought of working with coffee bean producers as a career. He has traded coffee in many countries and has mastered the art of engaging with various cultures and establishing a network of closely-knit producers and roasters. Moshe joins me today to share the wonderful world of coffee trading. He explains the various processes involved in producing a good cup of coffee, how coffee traders determine the cost of various types of coffee beans and the relationship between buying and selling the commodity in today’s volatile market. He also explains how various countries and culture around the world conduct business differently and how it impacts the way he ne

Episode 41 - Managing career transitions with Kerina Alter Kerina Alter is the founder and Director of Altered Career, a coaching practice dedicated to providing professionals of all ages with the tools, resources, and clarity they need to transition their careers successfully. As an expert career and leadership coach and change consultant, Kerina has helped over 2,000 clients realise their career potential, develop their leadership skills, and create a succession plan for retirement. Kerina joins me today to share her experience with pivoting her career and how it led to her helping others through career transitions. She explains the definition of career success, why it is often more than power or the amount of money you make, and how your version of success should be unique to your personal goals and values. She also explains the importance of up upskilling throughout your career to ensure you stay relevant in today’s ever-changing work environment. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I

Episode 40 -  The only way is up Tim Farrelly is the founder and Principal of Farrelly’s Investment Strategy, an independent investment advisory firm based in Sydney, Australia. Since 2003, his company has helped countless investors create dynamic investment portfolios through their subscription and consultation services. Tim joins me today to discuss why the only way is up regarding interest rates and the potential impact it can have on borrowers and investors. He explains why banks are raising interest rates on interest-only loans, how the “wage-price spiral” impacts the economy, and how borrowers and investors can prepare for interest rate hikes. He also shares how the population’s overall debt impacts the economy’s vulnerability and the impact that very low interest rates can have on investment markets. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rants where I share my thoughts on the recent news of two of Australia’s largest banks, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac Bank, cutting 0.3 percent of interest rat

Jonathan Bell is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with over 20 years of experience. He is the Director and Partner at Narre Warren Physiotherapy Sports and Injury Group, a  physiotherapy clinic focused on providing evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment programs for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions such as migraines, arthritis, chronic pain, and sport-related injuries. Since 2006, he has received several awards including the prestigious Work safe Health Practitioner of The Year award and has become highly regarded in the management of Workcover and TAC patients. Jonathan joins me today to discuss how to keep moving and stay active in a sedentary workplace. He explains the relationship between sitting too long and early mortality, the importance of taking frequent breaks throughout your work day, and how technology has impacted the increase in work-related musculoskeletal injuries. He also shares what it’s like to run a physiotherapy clinic, how mentoring and training new practitioners has evolve

Leah Miller is the owner and Director of Waxed; a personal grooming company focused on helping clients look and feel their best through full-body hair removal, tanning treatments, and lash application services. She has five salon locations across Australia including Windsor, Balaclava, Malvern, Elsternwick, and Bentleigh. Her career initially began in the communications and public relations industry when she decided to pivot her career and begin her journey as an entrepreneur in the beauty and personal care industry. Leah joins me today to share her journey into entrepreneurship. She shares how she successfully built her personal grooming business and how she developed a system that enabled her to expand her service area into multiple market locations. She shares some of the biggest challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur in a highly competitive industry and her strategy for hiring and retaining excellent employees. She also shares how she balances managing and scaling a multiple-location company while r

Yehuda Gottlieb is the General Manager of Investments at Spotlight Group Holdings, LTD., a privately-held commercial holdings company based in South Melbourne, Australia with operations across the country as well as in New Zealand and Asia. He has over a decade of experience in advising and consulting middle-market and publicly listed companies with corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and raising capital. His responsibility at the Spotlight Group includes managing the company’s Family Office, specifically focusing on investment management, private equity, corporate advisory, and corporate strategy. Yehuda joins me today to discuss what family offices are and the various roles that make up a family office. He explains how Family Offices differ from traditional corporate company offices, why ultra-high net worth investors choose to open a family office, and the mindset differences between an average investor and an ultra-high net worth investor. He also explains how the Spotlight Group Holdings Famil

Episode 36 – Art, philanthropy and start-ups with Nathan Cher Art, Philanthropy and start-ups are three of Nathan Cher’s passions and have played a major role in his personal and business journey. According to Nathan the common theme in all three endeavours are: backing individuals, investing money and taking risk, and providing guidance to help the business, artist or charity reach its goals. Nathan has had a fascinating business career from co-founding a tech company in his early 20s and growing it to staff of more than 1400, to investing in multiple start-up companies and helping to bring to Australia a crowdfunding platform to provide every day investors with the same opportunity. Nathan believes strongly in providing ongoing guidance and governance to the businesses he is involved in ; and his views on the role of directors, are relevant to all businesses, regardless of size.  So whether you are interested in art, philanthropy and start-ups, or are looking for a new perspective on business and investi

This week on The Finance Hour podcast, my good friend and Director of Orange Wealth, Michael Chew, joins me to discuss the 2018 federal budget forecast. We share our thoughts on the winning and losing changes taking place this year and discuss our overall impressions of the Federal budget. We discuss how wage growth impacts the economy and our thoughts on the budget reply. We also discuss why we believe tax rates are not a deciding factor regarding a person’s desire to work, the pros and cons of franking credits, and policy changes regarding super funds, business taxes, and social security. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my thoughts on the budget’s forecast for the Australian economy and why I believe we need to see more accountability from government organizations on how their financials have impacted the budget. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn an alternative method of claiming tax deductions on your super contributi

Have you ever helped a love one move into an aged care facility? In the end, we are all going to face this situation and you will need to deal with the complex emotional and financial issues associated with this difficult transition. In this week’s episode I'm joined by by Sara Bell and Noel Carter of Next Direction, a firm that assist families in choosing aged care facilities and make informed decisions about the management of finances. They not only provide valuable advice, but are involved in making it all happen, whether it is financial negotiations with the aged care facilities, completing Centrelink forms or modelling cashflow requirements.  “It is important to have powers of attorney in place before you need them, to avoid the difficulty of going to VCAT.” – Sara Bell We encourage people to be prepared, take advice in advance, well before they need to go into the aged care facility” – Noel Carter “The importance of talking to your family about what you want for yourself. So when the time comes, the

Ever wondered if it is worth installing solar panels on your roof? Then this week’s show is compulsory listening. My guest this week is a Matt Russell of GStore –  a superstore in Malvern East which has a wide range of products including solar power panels, water tanks and  hot water systems designed to make greener, more energy efficient homes. Matt specialises in solar power panels and gives an honest take of the financial and environmental issues associated with this emerging technology . So if you feel as ill as I do when you see your electricity bills or are looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, you are sure to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “The return on investment is probably around 6 years on a good quality solar system depending on how people use power in the home. – Matt Russell “There is still a $3,000 government rebate available and solar technology has halved in price” – Matt Russell  “Energy bills are becoming a larger portion of household expenses, particularly fo

Ever stayed awake at night worrying about whether or not your investment portfolio will expire before you do? Then this week’s show is compulsory listening. My guest this week is a Finance Hour favorite – Tim Farrelly, principal of Farrelly’s investment strategy. Tim guides financial planners like me in putting together long term portfolios for clients to ensure a comfortable retirement. So whether you are retired, thinking about retirement or just want some insight as to how you should invest when interest rates are low and sharemarkets are volatile, you are certain to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “What is sensible will depend on every individual and their risk tolerance. If they can’t cope with volatility and downturns, they may just need to get used to spending less – Tim Farrelly  “When I think about my retirement, I  want to be at least 95% confident that my money is not going to run out” – Tim Farrelly  “Annuities allow you to get a guaranteed income stream over time, which may be us