HECs - what just happened to your bill?

The average HECs bill is now $27,000 and many listeners will have bills that are higher than that: This week the government restructured the entire working of the student debt system - and threw in a universal 20 per cent cut on all existing HECs bills - how will it work? Hugh Robertson of the Centaur Financial Services joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------------- In today's show, we cover: HECs - The new deal Prioritising tax-deductible debt  Why Trump won't help your ASX shares  The ETFs to buy for the new US presidency  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two classes of private investor in Australia: Everyday retail investors and legally certified sophisticated investors (defined by law as having an annual income of at least $250,000 or assets of more than $2.5m),Today we examine the sophisticated investor regime - how it works and whether you would gain anything from making the cut. Ray Tubman of Heirwealth joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode  ------- In today's show, we cover: The great Australian $3.5 trillion wealth transfer The good and bad of becoming a sophisticated investor Property options for the High Net Worth brigade SMSF versus index funds inside Big Super  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO scandals are flooding the share market: Qantas, Wisetech, MinRes...the list keeps growing. The thing is, each of those companies has a board that is paid handsomely for supposedly keeping the CEO under control.What could be done to change this risk?  Fund manager Roger Montgomery joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Coralling the larger-than-life CEO: A proposal The problem with independent company directors Is AI any smarter than a cat? Why can't we get after-tax returns from big funds? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying at auction might seem straightforward, but unfortunately you are likely to become a bunny in the headlights when it comes to the big day. Still, knowing what can go wrong is the first step to enlightenment - and that includes being very careful in choosing a buyer's agent because some of them have so little in the way of credentials...it's alarming. Property educator, Veronica Morgan, joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------In today's show, we cover The problem with buyer's agents How to handle auction day Queensland property black spot Building costs inflation...how bad is it?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week - in 1987 - the ASX fell 25 per cent IN A DAY. Just now the local share market is going gangbusters: In fact, it is testing its all- time valuation peak. But here's the thing: The market will crash again - we just don't know when this will happen or what might trigger the downturn. What was it like to sit through a 25 per cent drop in a matter of hours and what can we learn from it as investors? Alex Moffatt of Joseph Palmer and Sons joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. ------ In today's show, we cover: Lessons from the great crash of 1987 Why markets overheat and how to protect yourself Is the scandal at MinRes a sign of things to come  NextDC - Why this value investor thinks it too hot to handle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every spring property investors are tempted again by the lure of the beach house: This year the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his move with a high-profile $4.3m purchase on the Central Coast. Is a holiday home a good investment? Let's find out... James Gerrard of www.financialadvisor.com.au joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode   In today's show, we cover: *Assessing holiday homes as an investment*Why beach houses often don't work out as planned*Making money from rentals at the beach house *Sub-dividing and CGT exposure   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chances are that your share portfolio is going gangbusters. But a paradox of our bull market on the ASX is that the dividend payouts are sliding: Anyone starting today as a share investor is going to find it much harder to get the sort of dividend income that made our market a standout.What's happening...and what should you do? Don Hamson managing director of the Plato Investment group joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: * Fading dividends - Why dividend yields are shrinking?* Forward with franking - dividend imputation is more important than ever* Could A-REITs be the answer ?* The failings of ETFs which Jack Bogle may not have mentioned  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are now several efforts afoot to use super for home buying: Liberal party politicians are pushing to allow first-home buyers to tap up to  $50,000. Separately, there is a move to allow single and divorced women special access to super to avoid homelessness.Does it all make sense? Unfortunately, due to the skewed nature of our tax system, the case for using super for houses is increasingly compelling. Sarah Petty, property reporter on the Herald Sun joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover; * The attractions of using super to buy your first home* Melbourne's ever-improving relative value * Why it's time to put the 'mortgage buffer' back in its box* Testing Elon Musk's 'boxable' houses  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has no inheritance tax, or so they say: In reality, many people will have most of their life savings in super - and much of that money may be taxed when inherited by the next generation.It's one of the important points made by our special guest today, who's just written a book on the entire subject of wills, death and taxes. Author Noel Whittaker joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: * Why you need a will and you need to review it every four years * The hidden death tax in your super savings * Understanding the enduring power of attorney system* Asked to be the executor of a will? What should you do .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Property tax concessions are highly popular - and widely debated - because they work so well. So why would you water down those concessions by having a property inside a super fund?  Duncan Perkins of Tax Time Accountants joins wealth editor James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Should investment property be inside super? Why the government's home equity access scheme is a winner  If you gear property why don't you gear ETFs The history of the six-year rule for CGT   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.