Is becoming a Sophisticated Investor in your best interest?

It's looking very much like 2025 is going to be the year that Artificial Intelligence changes the investment sector beyond recognition. A hot spot of this change is going to be financial advice. So what can AI offer? Today my guest is Microsoft's 'Co-pilot' AI bot (ably assisted by human financial adviser James Gerrard)  In this episode, we cover: AI for the investment beginner Testing Ai for advanced investment information Where Ai gets it wrong Ai - The IQ is excellent, the EQ not so much! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renting where you live and investing your spare funds to maximise capital growth is steadily becoming a key factor in the residential market - especially for younger buyers. But the key to success in this area is optimising your position as an investor - rather than a homebuyer.  Arjun Paliwal of buyer's agency, InvestorKit joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Perfect Match - How to optimise 'rentvesting' Borderless buying - Overcoming home bias  The data points to monitor for success Will the government's universal first home scheme add risk to prices? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds so good: Sophisticated Investor status is open to all investors who have enough money to get across the line. But did you know a financial adviser is no longer legally bound to act in your 'best interests' if you sign along the dotted line? Three million people now qualify for Sophisticated Investor status but the regime is creaking and it's time for serious overhaul of the rules.  Peter Burgess, CEO of the Self Managed Super Funds Association joins Associate Editor - James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: Sophisticated Investor status- Should you? Why regulators want to lift the $2.5m threshold Dumb money - The case for a knowledge test Where's the legislation? New super tax on hold   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A remarkable 100,000 Australians refinanced their mortgage to a better rate in the three months to June this year. If you have yet to join the party, the pathway to lower mortgage costs is now clear, here's what to do... Mortgage broker, Christian Stevens of the Flint group, joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: How to cut your mortgage rate without moving banks  Reducing mortgage rates by switching banks Long-term interest-only loans for experienced investors Spare Bedroom tax: You cannot be serious! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roger Montgomery is the founder of Montgomery Investment Management. While he is into adventure sports, when it comes to investing he's acutely focused on managing risk. From working at a fish and chip shop to managing $1.5bn in funds, he offers his advice on wealth creation for those in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.  In this bonus episode of The Money Puzzle, Sydney fund manager Roger Montgomery sits down with The Australian's Wealth Editor, Julie-anne Sprague to chat about how he learnt to invest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investment scams empowered by AI are going to get worse in the years ahead - and no amount of regulation is going to stop 'bad actors' inside finance.  Self-defence in the form of financial literacy is the answer: investors need it, kids in school need it, but the government has put the issue on the back burner. It’s time for a change. Tracey West, financial education manager at Ecstra, the financial literacy foundation joins Associate Editor - James Kirby in this episode.   In today's episode, we cover: Scam watch - What investors need to know  Why the First Guardian scandal is a taste of things to come Should schools make financial literacy mandatory? How AI 'fakes' will drive a new wave of investment fraud See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal government is pushing big super funds into the housing market: That market is currently dominated by 'mum and dad' investors - Would big funds do better? Overseas experience of major institutional ownership of housing shows that rents rise when big funds buy into housing because they need a higher running yield. In turn, traditional buyers get priced out. Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at Ray White joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's show, we cover: The risk of letting big funds into housing Universal 5 per cent Home Deposit to launch early Investors monitor accelerated housing incentives  Good news for renovators - the replacement cost is back to normal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's economic summit coincided with a surprise move by the Albanese government to lift the deeming rate for the first time in four years: The measure reduces access to the pension for wealthier Australians. Moreover, it's exactly the sort of change that advisers have warned are set to come down the line as Treasurer Jim Chalmers exerts his influence in the second term government. Will Hamilton of Hamilton Wealth Partners joins Associate Editor - Wealth James Kirby in this episode. In today's episode we cover Deeming rate lift -The first move? Super tax confirmed unchanged   CGT and negative gearing - Key risks Save the super performance tests  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immigration numbers were meant to float lower this year but a surprise pick up in numbers over the last few months coincides with a tightening of the rental vacancy rates across the market. For renters it means any short-term easing in pressure is now off the table, but for property investors it signals a return to rising rental income. Pete Wargent of the AllenWargent Property Buyers joins Associate Editor - Wealth, James Kirby in this episode. In today's episode, we cover The 'you can rent anything market' returns Investors respond to stronger outlook for rental returns The gap between residential and office vacancy rates tells a WFH story Should older property investors change their habits?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new super tax may dominate the headlines, but for most investors with less than $3m in super, a bigger headache is navigating increasingly risky marketing promotions in finance.Off the back of the recent First Guardian scandal - where some investors were offered 'free super reviews' - today we take a hard look at booming business of luring people into switching super funds. Liam Shorte of the Sonas Wealth Group joins Associate Editor - Wealth James Kirby in today's episode. In today's episode, we cover:  New super tax facing delays ‘Free Super Reviews’ could turn out expensive An easy way to check if your fund is doing well  Optimising tax-free income outside super  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.