Welcome back to Talking Returns!

After a week of birdwatching and time by the water (Anna) and a soul time with friends (Ray), we're back to make sense of a busy fortnight here at home and overseas in money matters.

Oil prices are climbing again. Fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia have put supply under pressure, and fuel prices could soon hit their highest level in six months - that's the prediction anyway.

In this episode:

🌍 What in the World

• France and Global Bonds: The latest on French government bonds since we last checked in, who's watching and what to look out for. It sounds dry, but this beautiful country could be in financial trouble! (And how it could affect us here in Australia?)
• Share markets: Are share markets in correction territory? And is a correction a good thing, or a polite way of saying things are about to get real (bad)?
• News from Mexico: We finish on a high with the "dry canal", Mexico's Interoceanic Corridor across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. We look at what it is, the ingenuity and its' impact on supply chains in the area.

🤓 Griffinomics is back! Ray brings back Griffinomics, and this week he's talking about one of the most-watched signals in finance: the yield curve. It sounds like something from a Pilates class, but this one line on a chart can say a lot about where the economy is heading. We cover:

• Ray's love of graphs - he's pulled numbers from one of the big four banks this morning, fresh off the press and straight into a chart!*
• What the yield curve is and what's actually on the chart.
• The three shapes (normal, flat and inverted) and what each one says about the economy.
• Why an inverted curve is spicy.
• What it means for mortgages, term deposits and business lending in Australia.
• *We'll chuck Ray's graphs on the socials for your enjoyment.

Get in touch We'd love to hear from you. Find us on our website, Instagram and Facebook, or email hello@talkingreturns.com

Disclaimer: Remember Returners - this podcast is general information only. It is not financial advice. For advice tailored to your needs, and the consumer protections that come with it, speak to a qualified financial professional.

Welcome back, Returners!

We've been busy - riding motorcycles (Ray), hosting events (Anna), drinking coffee (everyone)... lots to look forward to on today's ep of Talking Returns.

This week's Dear Raymond comes from Natalie in Melbourne, a recent Returner who has been happily binge-listening her way through the show. (Thanks Nat!) She's asking something plenty of us have wondered but maybe never said out loud: How do you find the right financial adviser for you? Chatter including:

• Speed dating qualified fin advisors.
• What should you look for?
• What should you ask?
• What to know about fees and reporting?
• How do you know you've picked the right person (or not)?

It's about trust, it's about money, and Ray has some thoughts.

Then, pull out your globe... it's What in the World. Since we last caught up:

• America has put its interest rates up, the first rise there since 2023.
• Oil is stuck above US$100 a barrel as the Iran war drags on.
• Our own Reserve Bank (at time of recording) was about to decide on rates, and its recent comments had been preparing us for another rise (Anna will eat her hat* if they don't! *maybe)

Ray and Anna chat on:

• Why the RBA has been unusually vocal lately, including Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser's 7.30 interview after his return from the US.
• Latest action from the US bond market (and why it matters far beyond 'Merica).
• Oil supply issues continue, fuel costs keep heading north (and not for the holidays).
• What a global slowdown could mean for our exports: resources, agriculture, education and tourism etc etc etc etc etc (all the etc's)
• The R-word. Is a recession coming, and can we talk about it without it becoming a self-fullfilling prophecy?

Get in touch!

We'd love to hear from you, our Returners.

Send us your thoughts, musings, feedback, or your own Dear Raymond dilemma. 📧 hello@talkingreturns.com 🌐 talkingreturns.com 📸 Instagram: @talkingreturnspod 👍 Facebook: Talking Returns The Podcast

Resources:

ASIC's Financial Advisor's Register: https://www.asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/financial-advice/financial-advisers-register

The fine print: Everything in this episode is general information, NOT financial or investment advice for you (nor for your brother, your mother and your dog groomer too). Everyone's situation is different, so please talk to a qualified professional adviser before you act on anything you hear.

Welcome back to Talking Returns!

This week is chockas! The pod has well and truly gone international (well sort of!) We give a shout out to our wonderful overseas listeners - and read our first international correspondence! You might be surprised to hear who is tuning in... hello, CIA is that you??

First up, the bond market has been making headlines again. Markets have been anything but quiet since our last episode, so Ray breaks down what's been happening, why investors are paying attention, and what it all means in plain English.

Then it's time for a triple dose of Dear Raymond.

Our first question comes all the way from Ireland. Madge has been listening from overseas and wants to understand one of those financial terms that gets thrown around a lot: hedged investments. What are they, why do investors use them, and how can currency movements affect investment returns? (Hedge trimmers needed, or no?!)

Next, listener Kate asks a question that seems to resonate with many of our Returners:

Why aren't we taught more about money and how to manage it, during our schooling?

From budgeting and saving, to emergency funds and superannuation, we touch on some of the financial lessons that many Australians feel they had to learn the hard way, and the money fundamentals every young person should understand as they begin earning and managing their own income.

Finally, we tackle one of life's biggest financial questions:

To retire or not to retire?

'Returner' Ange raises concerns many Australians share. With rising living costs, longer life expectancies, and uncertainty about the future, how can anyone confidently prepare financially for retirement?

Ray shares some practical thinking around retirement planning, income needs, and the importance of balancing today's lifestyle with tomorrow's goals.

Along the way, we also talk motorcycling, attempt Irish accents, candid photos and much more!

Resources:

• MoneySmart Retirement Calculator: https://moneysmart.gov.au

Say 'bonjour' or 'aloha'! Let us know where you're tuning in from - in Australia or anywhere in the world - we'd love to get a note from you.

Do you have something you'd like to get our read on for Dear Raymond?

Send it through to:

📧 hello@talkingreturns.com

Or connect with us online:

🌐 talkingreturns.com

📱 @talkingreturnspod on Insta!