Self-managed super funds now hold more than $1 trillion in assets, yet many Australians still aren't sure how they work or whether they could be an option worth considering.

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Marisa Broome, certified financial planner and principal of wealthadvice.com.au, to explain the mechanics, benefits and risks of self-managed super funds (SMSFs).

00:00 Introduction

01:45 What an SMSF is and how it differs from retail and industry funds

03:25 Why fees and asset allocation matter

05:00 Why people choose SMSFs

06:20 Who SMSFs are best suited to (and who should avoid them)

08:45 How much money you should have before starting an SMSF

10:00 The practical steps involved in setting up a fund

15:00 Why investors should do their homework before setting up an SMSF

16:15 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #marisabroome #super #smsf

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Debt can help fund life's big purchases. But for some, it can become a major source of financial stress. So where should people start if they want to get on top of it?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money's Tom Watson is joined by Deb Shroot, financial counsellor and Financial Counselling Australia sector advocate, to discuss prioritising debt, freeing up cash flow and working towards becoming debt free.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Rising debt stress: mortgages, credit cards and utilities

03:00 First steps when debt feels overwhelming

04:30 How to prioritise multiple debts

07:00 The danger of the debt spiral

08:00 Common debt repayment mistakes and hardship options

09:00 Where to find extra money in a tight budget

12:00 Why you should seek help before reaching breaking point

14:00 Building healthy financial habits that last

15:00 Seeking trustworthy financial advice

16:05 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #debshroot #debt

Podcast Links:

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Email Us: podcast@moneymag.com.au

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Live where you want, buy where you can – that’s been the idea behind rentvesting. But are policy tweaks and market swings changing the equation?

On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Arjun Paliwal, founder and chief executive of InvestorKit, to discuss the latest rentvesting developments.

00:00 Introduction

02:43 Who is rentvesting used by?

04:15 The tax changes impacting rentvesting

06:02 Is rentvesting still worth it?

06:27 Sydney case study and numbers

12:04 The rentvesting decision checklist

15:34 How investors should adapt to policy changes

19:49 Final lessons for long-term investors

22:05 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #arjunpaliwal #property #rentvesting

Podcast Links:

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Money Website

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Email Us: podcast@moneymag.com.au

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