Finance Hour On J-air

  The customer service experience with Yoni Paluch Customer service is often the most overlooked part of any business. However, industries all over the world are changing their priorities, carefully analyzing customer data and looking to retain as many clients as they can - even if they have to throw ridiculous offers on the table. To explain this change in business mindset is Yoni Paluch, an expert on customer services and complaint management systems. He joins me today to explain how the world is becoming more customer-centric and the steps businesses large and small are taking to improve their customer service. He discusses the financial impact of customer retention and why it’s more practical to customer acquisition. Yoni describes the new ways companies are adapting to social media trends and how their strategies are heavily influenced by tracking customer data. He also explains why businesses should treat customer complaints seriously. “By 2020, customer experience will overtake price and product as

With interest rates at all-time lows and likely to drop further, how do you generate reliable income your portfolio? Many people are looking to the share market.  To help us gain an understanding of the current market, my guest today is Michael O’Neill, Portfolio Manager at Investors Mutual Limited. Investors Mutual Limited is an Australian-based Equities Fund Manager. Michael explains increasing popularity of investment strategies which aim to generate income above the usual dividend stream paid by Australian companies. He also shares his view on the sustainability of the big four bank dividend policy. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I explain why the term “top end of town” has started to grate on me.  And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Get Reminded App can help you settle contracts, policies, and other documents before you get penalised. “Corrections are an inevitable part of the share market.”  -Michael O’Neill This w

FH069 Marketing your business with Joel Fixler You can create the best and most innovative product ever, but no one will buy it if they don’t even know it exists. Making sure consumers know you have something to sell is the essence of marketing. However, not all marketing methods are created equal, and it can be a confusing subject for anyone who isn’t well-versed. That’s where my guest Joel Fixler comes in. Joel is a Strategic Marketing Consultant at Binyan Co., a company that provides niche marketing consultations to large and small companies. Joel shares what Binyan Consulting’s goals are and how they help clients. He discusses the intricacies of digital marketing including the importance of regular marketing promotions, web design, and web content. He also explains why business owners shouldn’t be too hands-off when it comes to their marketing model. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I express my frustration on not securing any politicians in the show despite the upcoming elections.

Other than social activists, there’s another group large companies are constantly hearing from and they are the shareholder activists. What are shareholder activists and how do they affect the market? Jeremy Leibler joins me today to answer that question. Jeremy is a partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler, specialising in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and shareholder activisim. He explains what shareholder activists are, their differences and similarities to social activists, and how much power they hold over large corporations. He discusses the rise of index fund investing and their impact on influencing corporate behaviour. Jeremy also describes what having cultural diversity means in a business setting. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I criticise with the notion that the Labor party just needs to waltz in and ‘assume the position.’ “You need to ensure cultural fit in any organization, but cultural fit doesn't mean everyone has to be the same.”  - Jeremy Leibler This week on The

FH066 - Residential or commercial property The property market can be confusing. Buy and apartment or house? A shop or an office space? Residential or commercial? That’s a question my guest Tim Farrelly will answer today. Tim is the Principal of Farrelly’s Investment Strategy, an investment consulting company. He joins me to share his thoughts on the current state of the Australian market and how it has dramatically affected the property sector. I ask him whether now is a good time to buy for both owner occupiers and investors. Tim also describes the difference between residential and commercial property markets. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I discuss the truth about the Federal Budget surplus claim and why we’re not “back in the black.” “If the states have a big, sharp fall in revenue, the federal government has to make it up.”  - Tim Farrelly This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Why residential markets have been on a continuous decline. The impact of small wage increases on lo

Suffering from hearing loss is by no means a light matter. The way you live your life is affected and the expenses associated with treatments and consultations start to pile up. What if there was a way to streamline the process of seeing an audiologist and choosing the right type of hearing aid in the most cost-effective way possible? That’s what my guest, Noam Korbl along with his partner Akiva Szental, are addressing with Hearing Choices, a company that seeks to help people find the best type of hearing aid for them or their loved ones. Noam shares his inspiration for starting the company. He describes the problem with today’s hearing aid industry and how they want to solve it. He also explains how their process works and cites how a typical transaction would go. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I debunk the idea that share market returns reflect the market economy in the short term. “It's really important that customers see the value and virtue associated with the service component o

Episode 65 - Buy banks or property with Roger Montgomery Let’s say you have only two investment options. Buy bank shares or invest in residential property. Which would you choose? That’s what my returning guest Roger Montgomery will try to answer. In this episode, Roger discusses the recent news coverage on market trends and how analysts and brokers see 2019. He shares why some of them are right and some of them are wrong. He also explains the effects of previous recessions and whether it’ll be just as bad or worse this year as well as describes his overall view on market valuations. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I express my opinion on the Government’s backflip on mortgage broker commission. “Globally - across all markets and all geographies over a 12-month period - there is zero correlation between the stock market and economic performance.”  - Roger Montgomery This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The market fluctuations this year and market predictions. Why market volatility w

FH64 - Going green with Dion Epstein from Gstore Sustainability, energy efficiency, and becoming environmentally-friendly have become a major focus for business owners and individuals alike. Whether it’s due to the financial savings opportunity or their concern for the environment and global warming, many people seek cost-effective ways to “go green.” My guest today is Dion Epstein, the CEO of G-Store, a company that seeks to make houses run on efficient and sustainable energy systems. Dion joins me today to discuss what G-Store is and what drove him to start the company. He explains how government regulations and subsidies have impacted his business and the type of government rebates currently available to encourage consumers to go green. He also explains the financial benefits of investing in green technology from a consumer perspective and shares advice on what to consider when purchasing energy efficient systems.  “Definitely in Victoria, this is a fantastic time for people who want to reduce their elec

Episode 63 - Who will lend us the money Since the release of the Royal Commission report, there has been a lot of outrage within the financial industry - particularly with mortgage brokers. One of which is regarding how consumers will get mortgage loans in the future. My guest today is Grant Rheuben, the Senior Finance Broker at Loan Market. We discuss how the Royal Commission’s recommendations, which suggested banks to stop paying commissions for loan brokers, could impact the local economy. We discuss how this recommendation would inspire an anti-competitive environment and its impact on consumers applying for loans. We also discuss why the liberal and labour parties are supporting brokers and what this could mean for consumers as well as the future of the finance industry. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my concerns regarding the Australian government is using the Royal Commission as a ‘weapon of choice.” “There’s still lobbying to be done, but - all in all - we are going i

Episode 62- The Royal Commission is here The Royal Commission Report finally came out, and as expected it had a lot of points I think are worthy of an extensive discussion. Joining me today to do just that is my friend James Williamson of Millhaven Financial Services. James and I analyse the Royal Commission Report’s take on financial advice and what it means for those of us in the financial sector. We exchange our interpretations on some of the more critical parts, particularly on personal and business relationships with banks. We also discuss some of the risks and regulations business owners will have to revisit as a response to the report.   Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my thoughts on the government’s response to the report and why I believe it is unprecedented and way too politically charged.   “We have to be careful of not letting the compliance allow our fees to be pushed too high.”- James Williamson   This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: James' overview of the

How do you know if your business is running at its best? What changes do you apply if you find out it’s anything but efficient? That’s what Business Optimiser Brett Schwarz wants us to learn in today’s episode. Brett has extensive experience enabling businesses to operate at their best, creating value and growing sustainable profits at the same time. We discuss Brett’s journey; from  life as a student, an accountant, and the moment he realised he could help businesses grow. He compares startups today and startups from years back and explains the changes that enabled them to become prolific in recent years. He also discusses some of the critical aspects of working in someone else’s business and his tips for making a positive impact when you are the new face in a business. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my opinion on Chris Bowen’s politically motivated comments on the Royal Commission’s final report. “There are funds out there. You just got to have the right product and the rig

  What has driven the major increase in share market volatility over the last few month. My guest today is Jon Reilly, the Chief Investment Officer at Implemented Portfolios. Implemented Portfolios is a company that helps financial advisers provide portfolio management solutions to their clients. Jon discusses various international events that can impact the share market volatility, such as the government shutdown in the U.S. the trade wars in China, and the upcoming Australian election. He also explains how these events can have a significant impact on your financial investments. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the statistics we see on the 2019 Australian Open and how these numbers can be misleading. “Try to understand what the current potential catalyst for volatility are and whether they impact how you make decisions about what’s in your portfolio.”- Jon Reilly   This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: How big of a deal is the US government shutdown. How the US governme

Research shows that being in control of your finances is a critical part of your overall wellbeing. In particular, while debt can be used to help move your life forward, it’s also one of the greatest barriers to having financial freedom. How do you achieve financial freedom in a consumerist world? This is what today’s guest, Irit Harris, wants us to learn. Irit is the Founder of F-Empowered, a platform that empowers women to achieve their financial goals. In this episode, Irit discusses the idea of financial fitness. She shares her passion for finance and how she became interested in promoting financial literacy following the birth of her daughter. She explains why women find it difficult to be financially free and shares some of the tools and programs her platforms offers to members as well as a few great tips for startup founders to become financially fit. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my stance on the idea of executives and politicians leaving their posts to spend more time

FH058 - Taming the data beast We collectively send and receive an enormous amount of data every second, and with the way things are going, it doesn’t look like we’ll be stopping anytime soon. While the sheer size does seem intimidating, businesses would do best to know exactly what their data tells them and how they should move forward. For that, they need the help of an expert like Mitch Tomazic, the Business Solutions Director for Unify Services. He describes his job, the services his company offers, and some of the solutions they have discovered for specific businesses. He explains how data has evolved over the years and its effect on today’s marketing practices. Mitch also discusses the systems they supply, the challenges they face, and the future of data services and analytics. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my opinions on Lawyer X, how police should deal with drug dealers, and why we shouldn’t harshly judge the police. “Ultimately, in most businesses, you want to know t

 Episode 57 - Starting a movement with Steve Crawford Financial advice in some form should be accessible to everyone. Whilst we often associate financial advice with investments and managing cashflow, changing behavior around money management and measuring progress towards lifestyle goals, does not receive as much attention as it should. My gest today is Steve Crawford, Advice Leader of The Advice Movement. He sheds light on the importance of financial literacy in today’s constantly shifting economic climate. He discusses his role as the founder of The Advice Movement which is driving change in the way financial advice is provided to the Gen X and Gen Y population. He also shares some of the problems he sees in the financial industry, describes how he and his team seek to solve them and explains how a financial adviser can benefit you regardless of financial status. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my opinion on Julia Banks defecting from the Liberal Party and why I think it’s

Episode 56 - How low can house prices go Has the price of your house fallen by 10%, 15% or even 20%? Who do you believe? The newspaper, your local real estate agent or trusted financial planner? To help shed light on the subject, we have podcast favorite Tim Farrelly. Tim is the owner of Farrelly’s Investment Strategy, a company that provides consulting services to wealth managers. He joins me today to discuss the topic of house prices and just how low they can actually go. Tim shares reliable sources of financial and property data, discusses bank implications on price corrections, and shares his insights on house pricing trends in Australia. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my opinion on whether it’s proper for banks to look at your expenses line by line before approving your loan application. "If everything the government did was sensible, we'd all be better off.” - Tim Farelly This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Tim's views on the recent economic conditions in Australia

In modern times, we’ve come a long way when it comes to gender equality. Yet there still persist, stubborn problems - particularly in the workforce. Gabi Crafti is a barrister specialising in regulatory matters and commercial law and the founder of the Jewish Professional Women’s Network. She joins me to share her thoughts on the various subjects concerning women and the professional world. She discusses pressing matters concerning gender inequality and underrepresentation in the workplace. She describes issues women still experience in the work force, specifically the gender pay gap and sexual harassment. Gabi also suggests ways for men to get involved in fighting for gender equality, even if they’re not feminists themselves. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I describe why big businesses who don’t pay small businesses right away are hurting not just the latter, but the economy too. "You cannot talk about feminism without bringing men into the conversation.” - Gabi Crafti   This week

Episode 54 - The battle for the State of Victoria If you thought the U.S. Elections were hot, then you haven’t experienced the heat of a Victorian State Election which is to be held on the 24th of November. In recognition, I decided to bring on two of the most prominent candidates in this year’s election -  David Southwick is the current state member in the Victorian parliament for the city of Caulfield represents the Liberal Party, and Philip Dalidakis is the state member for Southern Metropolitan Region. They discuss their platforms and projects regarding small businesses and the industries they see as most important for Victoria. They also explain some of the changes they want to implement to further Victoria’s economy and share the steps they will take to make it happen. And, of course, there’s also a bit of good old fashioned political mudslinging between the candidates Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my thoughts on Australian Gambling Tycoon James Packer and the problems

Episode 53 - Where we work Working from home is said to be the most comfortable way to earn money, but the co-working space industry has been slowly and steadily growing at the same time. What’s up with this trend? This is the question my guest Michael Benson will answer in today’s episode. Michael is the CEO at Worskpace365, a business that provides co-working space services. He discusses the current co-working space trend and why work-from-home people are now renting office space. He explains the many benefits of working in an office space, the perks of the rooms they offer, and the factors that drive the demand for this type of business. He also describes the challenges of being in a competitive industry. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my bad experience with my bank lender and the unnecessary interest rate hike they issued. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the LastPass extension can virtually remove any need to

Episode 52.  Start-Up Nation When it comes to business, Australia and Israel share a tightly-knit relationship. What makes Australia such a good place for Israeli companies to expand to? That’s what my guest for today will answer. Harry Kingsley is a partner at Holding Redlich, a law firm that deals with legal matters in the areas of administrative, construction & infrastructure, and competition & consumer laws among many others. Harry discusses in detail on just what makes Australia such a prime country to expand to and why Israeli companies are quite fond of it. He shares his insights on the kind of startup companies that come here and briefly describes the ones that succeed and the ones that fail. He also explains how compliance and regulations play a role in the expansion of Israeli companies. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share why I believe using the excuse “I want to go home” by AFL players that ask for a trade is soft and unprofessional. “Every now and again, you see a com