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 the key brand differentiator.” - Yoni Paluch This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Yoni's academic background and how he started in customer service. His thoughts on online data security and privacy. How personal data tracking can benefit consumers. How Telstra structured its customer service channels through outsourcing. What they did to make their services more customer-centric. How the "omnichannel" strategy can enhance the customer experience. What to expect from marketing strategies aimed at customer experience in the future. Why retaining customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. His current line of work and why he left Telstra. Why companies should embrace customers who complain. Yoni Paluch’s top 3 tips for businesses looking to enhance their customer experience Embrace customer feedback. Keep aligned to the custom. Know your customer. Connect with Yoni Paluch: LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The average rates for traditional low-risk sources of income. Are the dividends paid in the past going to be sustainable? How the banks will react to the current state of the market. Mitigating risks despite high market valuations. Why the majority of markets are trading on noise. Investors Mutual Limited’s business model and how they choose investments. Why the Australian market is unique compared to the rest of the world. High-risk and low-risk markets and where the average investor is exposed Resources Mentioned: Get Reminded App Covered Call definition Connect with Michael O’Neill: Investors Mutual Limited LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Zoom app can streamline your online team meetings. “The more you remove yourself from being involved in your marketing, the connection to your company is also removed.”  - Joel Fixler This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What Binyan Co. is all about and their target clients. How he started working in the industry and their business model. The challenges they encountered as a startup and how they got around the red tape. Consumer engagement and how a business can improve its numbers. The importance of product distribution and marketing. The difference between marketing and “pounding the pavement.” Common mistakes large and small companies make in their marketing efforts. Web development and the different web platforms you can use. Joel’s suggestions on improving the podcast’s website and content. The amount of involvement a business owner should have in marketing. The top 3 tips for businesses to jumpstart their marketing Differentiate yourself Just pick a metric and understand it Try and have a go regularly   Resources Mentioned: Zoom Wix Wordpress Connect with Joel Fixler: Binyan Consulting LinkedIn   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Finance Hour Podcast: What the term shareholder activism actually means and its difference from investors. How social activism affects shareholders and companies. The index funds in Australia and how they compare to those in the USA. Why many are moving their assets in index funds. Explaining the "two strikes rule" and how it can be used. What it means to have cultural diversity in a company. Why shareholder activism is a positive force in Australia. Resources Mentioned: Shareholder activism definition Solly Lew Myer article Perpetual Brickworks article Connect with Jeremy Leibler: Arnold Bloch Leibler LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 loans and interest rates. What negative gearing is and how it affects market prices. The relationship between consumption numbers and housing prices. The fundamental difference between residential and commercial property. The difference in return if you buy for long term and buying for the next 12 months. The better bet between residential and commercial property. Connect with Tim Farrelly Farrelly’s Investment Strategy LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favourite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of being fitted with hearing aids.”  - Noam Korbl This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What Hearing Choices is all about and why Noam and Akiva wanted to start this company. How they plan their marketing and lead generation strategies. The services they offer and how it would work in an actual transaction. Where they modeled their business regarding branding and advertising. The biggest challenges they've faced while growing this type of business. Managing your staff and making sure they're converting the right numbers. Why you don't want to just buy hearing aids from any online retail store. What's in store for their company in the future? Top 3 Tips for Starting a Tech Business: Make sure you choose your business partner wisely. Wait to concentrate on your business full-time for when you can start to justify a wage for yourself. Choose an office close to home. Resources Mentioned:  Government Rebate for Hearing Aids  Connect with Noam Korbl: Hearing Choices Akiva Szental LinkedIn Noam Korbl LinkedIn   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 will be high in the coming months. Why Roger thinks that residential property prices are only going to keep falling this year. Roger’s outlook on short and long term market performance. Comparing previous recessions and the possibility of it being worse this year. Where he sees overall valuations at the moment. Resources Mentioned: Keeping Tabs On Property Connect with Roger Montgomery: Roger Montgomery official website LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 electricity or their gas costs.”  - Dion Epstein This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What G-Store is, why he started it, and their business focus. His inspiration in pursuing a career in environmental science and business. What his company looked when it was just starting and how it has evolved. How much money can the average consumer save with solar energy? Where they source their materials and how much it costs them. Their market predictions in their type of industry. Contingency plans in trying new ideas and when to get out of high-risk situations. Top 3 Tips for Retail & Service-Based Entrepreneurs: Be committed to a very high level of customer service. Hire the best people. Make sure you listen to your staff, listen to yourself, and keep innovating in a rapidly changing environment. Dion Epstein’s Rule of Thumb when Going Green: Look for a six to seven year payback period. Resources Mentioned: Victoria Government Sustainable Energy Rebate Solar Victoria Connect with Dion Epstein: G-Store LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 in the right direction.” - Grant Rheuben This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Grant’s initial response to the new Royal Commission’s recommendation for banks to ban all commissions to loan brokers. Why the liberal and labour parties are supporting brokers. How the Royal Commission’s recommendations would create an anti-competitive environment and lead to higher interest rates and fees. Why Grant believes consumers will still have a choice between using a bank or using a broker. How the criteria for consumers to get a loan has changed since the Royal Commission report was released. What is the Housing Affordability Measure is? How banks and brokers conduct forensic analysis on a consumer’s spending to determine their loan affordability. Resources Mentioned: What the changes to mortgage brokers mean for you and your home loan -com article Labor proposes fixed-rate commission for mortgage brokers -The Guardian Connect with Grant Rheuben: Loan Market LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favourite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Royal Commission report. Some of the more noticeable changes in the report regarding financial advice. The effect of the report on people's relationships with their banks. The questions the report raised and what the people should expect. Businesses that should be worried about what the report states. Why this report might trigger a decrease in competition in the mortgage industry. Why the report plays into the upcoming elections. The significance and concerns in reducing commissions to zero. The risks and regulations businesses need to revisit after reading the report. Disclosing the lack of independence for financial planners.   Resource Mentioned Government’s Response to Royal Commission Mortgage Brokers and the Royal Commission Royal Commission Report   Connect with James Williamson: Millhaven Financial Services   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favourite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 right service.”- Brett Schwarz This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Brett's academic background and why he chose to become an accountant. His early career and the companies he worked with. His opinion on FinTech companies and how they get their funding. The joys of being a public company and some of its drawbacks. The startup community today compared to a decade ago. What it's like starting and running your own startup. The impact you should leave in any company you work with. The lessons and skills he learned in his professional career. Changes and technologies they applied to make business more efficient. Resource Mentioned Ramler BlueChiip Surfaces by Hynes Connect with Brett Schwarz: Business Optimization - Transforming Business LinkedIn Phone: 0419 367590 Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favourite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  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 government shutdown is impacting paycheck-dependent Americans. How the economic conditions impact investment markets, share market, and the world. Is there more volatility now than there is in the past? Deciding whether to put your money in the bank or invest in shares. How Jon measures the attractiveness of various share markets. How much Apple lost in share price falls in less than six months. The big things that people should be watching for. The fluctuation of economic growth in the US that makes President Trump more erratic.   Resource Mentioned US Government Shutdown   Connect with Jon Reilly: Implemented Portfolios LinkedIn   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favourite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 with their families. “Financial fitness is the person's ability to make confident money decisions resulting in financial security for now and the future.” - Irit Harris This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Irit Harris' academic background and how she ended up in the financial industry. Why credit cards are costing Australians their financial freedom. How she defines financial fitness and financial empowerment. Irit’s financial literacy projects and goals for the future. The tools and programs F-Empowered offer her members. Her experience with being her own boss, its benefits and its drawbacks. How she makes the best decisions for her start-up. Irit Harris’s Top 3 Tips for startup founders: Get over your sunk-cost bias and listen to your data and what customers tell you. Seek mentors who can support you. Have the courage to make a difference. Irit Harris’s Top 3 Tips to be financially fit: Be the driver of your money. Unintentionally save intentionally. Be prepared for the unexpected and inevitable. Resources mentioned: Raiz FirstStep Acorns The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape Connect with Irit Harris: F-Empowered LinkedIn Facebook Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the right ratio of staff to customers at any particular time.” - Mitch Tomazic This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What Mitch does and how their company interprets and analyzes data. The types of data that are the most complex for businesses. Examples of how they interpret data sets and their use. Why retail is a great place to find efficiencies and improvements in business. Knowing what's wrong when your marketing is not converting. The three different systems they supply, depending on what their clients require. How do telecommunication companies analyze customer data? Why there is no value in report creation. Their team, their individual functions, and their responsibilities. The future of internet connectivity and how it will affect data services. Mitch Tomazic’s Top 3 Tips for businesses to make better use of the data: Don't bite off more than you can chew. Don't lose focus of why you're actually doing this. You can start for free, right now. Connect with Mitch Tomazic: Unify Services LinkedIn Phone: 1300 864 397 Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer!  Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 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 not right. “The fear of making the wrong decision sort of keeps everybody thinking they need to stay inside the system and dependent on it. We’re really just trying to break that right from the outset.” - Steve Crawford   This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What drove Steve to start the Advice Movement? His thoughts on what the financial industry is today and who it serves. Why the industry is set up to keep everybody confused. The percentage of licenses in the country owned by four banks. Problems in the financial industry today and the solutions he proposes. How the industry changed over the past ten years. His thoughts on industry disruptors and how you can prepare for it. What the Advice Movements looks like right now and where it is headed.   Connect with Steve Crawford The Advice Movement Experience Wealth Facebook LinkedIn Twitter #LTMA19 event   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Interest rates and the implications for borrowers. The big driver of bank profit growth in the past few years. His expectations regarding loan growth in the short-term. A reliable on-line source for property prices. How the real estate industry makes the law of supply and demand complicated. Possible short and long-term scenarios on the effects of interest rate fluctuations. Is there more uncertainty today than there was in the past? His concerns regarding the growth of the Chinese economy. Resources Mentioned: CoreLogic Connect with Tim Farrelly: LinkedIn Farrelly’s Investment Strategy Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 on The Finance Hour Podcast: Gabi's professional career and the inspiration behind the Jewish Professionals Women's Network. Distinctions between female representation on boards and in professions. Why women are treated differently when they take a break from work. The representation problems the Liberal Party has and what they can do to solve them. Her thoughts on the gender pay gap issue and the #MeToo movement. Why women find it difficult to complain about sexual harassment in the workplace. How she encourages people to come forward regarding sexual harassment. The role men should play in the #MeToo movement. Projects their group are currently working on.   Gabi Crafti’s Top 3 Tips For Women Managing Their Career: Run your own race. Find a sponsor. Be brave.   Resources Mentioned: Lean In book by Sheryl Sandberg Male Champions of Change   Connect with Gabi Crafti: Jewish Professional Women’s Network Facebook LinkedIn Gabi’s LinkedIn Vicbar Profile   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 he faced with too much debt. "One of the things our government needs to do is to stop making it harder for businesses." - David Southwick “Businesses need to be able to compete with each other. That's the fundamental tenet of our private sector.” - Philip Dalidakis  This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: David's and Philip’s proposals to help small businesses. The industries that offer the biggest opportunities for growth. How the Liberal party plans to solve the problem of urban congestion. The enormous opportunities for usage of the Caulfield racecourse. Reforms and policies David's party want to implement when elected. Philip's thoughts on energy costs and coal plants. How vulnerable is the budget to a drop in property price and transactions? What the electorate can look forward to regarding trading in Victoria. How Philip actively promotes the digital economy in Victoria. Resources Mentioned Victoria Electoral Commission Connect with David Southwick: David Southwick official website Connect with Philip Dalidakis: Philip Dalidakis official website Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 remember any password for any website you browse without sacrificing security. “It just makes perfect sense to be in a flexible work environment.’” - Michael Benson This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The company motto and how it translates to what they do as a company. What their offices look like and what they offer clients - beyond just desks. How they meet the specific needs of each client. The number of people each office can house. Factors driving the current demand for co-working spaces. How the costs stack up between clients renting and getting their own space. The number of people needed to manage this kind of business. The challenges of running a co-working space business. Virtual office spaces and whether they're still relevant. Michael Benson’s Top 3 Tips When Considering Shared Office Spaces: Choose a space with a wide meeting room. Good air conditioning. Pleasant staff and great reception. Connect with Michael Benson: Workspace365 Facebook LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 company and you think ‘Wow, I've never seen anything like this before.’” - Harry Kingsley   This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What his role is now and how he got to where he is today. The kind of companies that come to Australia and why. Israeli companies that have thrived in Australia. Similarities and differences between Australia and Israel from a business perspective. The changes Israeli companies need to make to become successful in Australia. Backdoor listed companies and how they affect the Australian market. His insights on what makes Australian businesses tick.   Resources Mentioned: Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Start-Up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer   Connect with Harry Kingsley: Holding Redlich Harry Kingsley on LinkedIn   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FH051- Planning Plan B We’re always looking forward to things going well, but what if nothing goes as we hoped? Experiencing the unexpected is part of life, and it’s always a good idea to prepare for them. That’s what author Kylie Parker seeks to get across with her book, Planning Plan B, which is about preparing not just yourself, but those around you for unfortunate events in life. Kylie joins me today to share her thoughts on being prepared in life and the story that served as her inspiration in writing her book. She explains some of life’s most stressful moments as well as provide tips on how you can prepare for them. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share why I think projecting a horse race in the Sydney Opera House, one of the country’s national icons, is a bad idea. As a special offer for this show, Kylie will be giving a copy of the book to 3 lucky readers who we judge to have the best answer to the question ‘How will you be planning for your Plan B as a result of listening to the podcast’?  Please leave your answer in the comments section at the end of the post in the website. Click here for the podcast and here for a copy of the transcript “If you don’t have the right conversations today - should something unfortunate occur - it’s going to be a much harder situation to deal with.” - Kylie Parker This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The inspiration that drove Kylie to write her book. Her personal story regarding tragic events and how she got past them. The business risks today that we didn't have a decade ago. What her book aims to tell the reader. The various types of stress and their corresponding grades according to a stress scale. The big role of insurance in planning Plan B. Kylie Parker’s Top 3 Tips for Planning Plan B: Plan for unexpected events. Store the information wisely. Communicate what you would like to do if something happens to you. Resources Mentioned: Now Sorted Connect with Kylie Parker: Planning Plan B LinkedIn As a special offer for this show, Kylie will be giving a copy of the book to 3 lucky readers who we judge to have the best answer to the question ‘How will you be planning for your Plan B as a result of listening to the podcast’?  Please leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom of the screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we fix our banks? That’s the question that came to mind after reading the Royal Commission’s Interim Report. And from the looks of the headlines from both online and newspaper outlets, I wasn’t the only one who scratched my head. In today’s episode, my guest Michael Chew and I share our opinions on the report. We discuss some of its highlights, what they mean in context, and how they can affect our financial markets. We try to visualize how this report can affect the way we bank as well as the changes we expect to happen in the near future. We also discuss what the document meant by “culture of greed” in our financial system. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why I think it’s not really wrong to charge dead people money. “The banks are responsible in what information mortgage brokers provide.” This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Our opinions on the recent interim report released by the Royal Commission. The concerns about how the report was created. Is there a risk to people's overall buying capacity? The risks for mortgage brokers and why banks should get involved. Why more laws can't always translate to better regulatory practices. What the Royal Commission should implement in the near future. How the stock market may be affected by what the Royal Commission changes. What we expect to happen to the financial market and its advisors. Resources Mentioned: Royal Commission Interim Report ‘A day of shame’: banking royal commission interim report delivered - as it happened - The Guardian Banking royal commission interim report released; blames greed for misconduct - ABC Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some say money makes the world go round and in many ways, it does. This is why it’s imperative to learn how money works and how to grow yours as early as possible. That’s something Yossi Bart, a year-9 student at Leibler Yavneh College, is undertaking. Yossi shares what made him want to learn about money and how he currently applies his knowledge. He discusses some of the lessons he’s learned in school regarding investments and finances. Yossi also describes how he procures funds for his investments and what he plans to achieve with his money when all is said and done. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why it’s terrible for the AFL to sell most of their Grand Finals tickets to corporates. “Compounding interest will ultimately give you more money.” -Yossi Bart This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Yossi’s first experience with money and how it opened his eyes. The kind of financial education he's had at school so far. How he learned about investing and where he invests his money today. Tips on how to grow your money in the stock market. His investing strategy and where he gets funds for his investments. Resources Mentioned: Leibler Yavneh College Raiz Invest ESSI Money The Big Short Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watching a movie today can be done by just pushing the right buttons on your remote and making use of streaming services such as Netflix. Despite this convenience, some movie fans want the whole cinematic experience that no streaming service can provide - and that’s where Eddie Tamir comes in. Eddie and Lindy Tamir are the owners of Elsternwick Classic Cinema, a business that’s slowly reviving the long-lost tradition of classic cinemas in Melbourne. Eddie shares what his career was before venturing into the movie-making business and how his passion for reviving cinemas got started. He discusses some of the challenges his company faced as well as some of the lucky moments they had. Eddie also explains how cinemas work, from sourcing the film to splitting profits, as well as the various processes involved in running a big film festival. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I provide commentary on why business owners should prevent working themselves out of a job resulting in having too much time on their hands. “Film festivals work. They are the curation; they cut through the noise.” - Eddie Tamir This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Eddie’s career before he ventured to filmmaking and his transition. How he adapted to the trends and technological changes in the movie industry. How the business of sourcing movies work. The setbacks he experienced while growing his business. The operational aspects of running a cinema. How film festivals are run and what happens behind the curtains. How they manage their business in today's "Netflix" world. The big headline movies they will launch within the next few weeks. Connect with Eddie Tamir: Jewish International Film Festival Elsternwick Classic Cameo Belgrave Lido Cinemas Email: lindy@jiff.com.au Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 47 - The Office.. A guide to commercial property investment with Steve Bennett from Charter Hall Residential properties are all the craze these days and the market’s getting a little cramped for comfort. On the other hands, commercial properties are rarely discussed by mums and dads. My guest this week is the Head of Charter Hall’s direct property business, Steve Bennett. Charter Hall is one of Australia’s leading property groups with over $23.2-billion worth of total managed property. Steve joins me today to discuss the potential of investing in commercial properties. He shares some of its risks and benefits and the returns you can expect as well as the current trends in office work and how it can positively affect commercial property investments. Steve also describes why low-interest rates aren’t always good for the property market. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to banks increasing interest rates and Westpac paying $35-million fine for poor home loan assessment. “People don't think commercial property is a sector they can get involved in.” - Steve Bennett This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The benefits of owning commercial property. What Charter Hall is, how it operates, and his function and responsibilities. The different types of commercial property and why it's not well invested in. The kind of returns you can expect from owning commercial property. Current trends in the work-from-home industry. How to get access to commercial property investments. The type of funds their company offers to new investors. What you need to know before investing in commercial properties. Why low-interest rates are not always good. Steven Bennett’s Tips for investing in commercial property: Go with a reputable manager. Buy quality assets and bet on long-term returns. Do not overdo your investment. Connect with Steven Bennett Charter Hall LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 46 - You need a criminal lawyer You wouldn’t want yourself or your business to be involved in a crime, but what do you do if you are? That’s when you get a criminal lawyer. My guest this week is Brett Tait a criminal attorney at Tait Lawyers, a general legal practice with over 45 years of service and over 100 years of experience between five lawyers. Brett discusses legal matters pertaining to a variety of criminal offenses. He shares what it was like to work in tax and investment banking and what eventually made him follow his father’s footsteps. He also describes the experience of representing a murderer as well as some of the more ordinary cases he has handled. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the concept of political uncertainty in Canberra and how it is affecting business confidence. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the RecUp app can help you record audio and upload it to Dropbox efficiently. “You’re not going to come across monsters that kill for fun. Most crimes of violence are perpetrated in circumstances that are spontaneous.” - Brett Tait “The media reports things terribly and in an incredibly biased and sensationalist way”- Brett Tait This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: How Brett started his career as a lawyer. The accident that led Brett to follow in his father's footsteps. How their firm runs and the services they offer. How Brett transitioned from being a corporate lawyer to a suburban legal practice. What it’s like to represent a murderer. Some of the cases and clients Brett has handled and worked with. His pet peeves with the law. Brett Tait ’s Words of Wisdom: 95% of most criminal matters resolve with a plea of guilty. Office politics is not just limited to the big companies. Connect with Brett Tait: Tait Lawyers LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you worried about Donald Trump’s Twitter tirades and how they might affect your retirement portfolio? My guest this week is Jon Reilly, Chief Investment Officer at Implemented Portfolios, an Australian-based investment management business that’s been operating since 2004. Jon shares his insight on the political and economic fallout of Donald Trump’s presidency for the last 18 months. He dives deep on the current political climate of the United States and how it impacted the international economy and share markets. He explains why the US the economy is on fire right now and whether Donald Trump should be given credit for it. We also discuss the link between the economy and share markets as well as the outlook for the Australian sharemarket. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the Royal Commission’s report on ANZ misselling superannuation. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Smiling Mind app can help you sleep better and reduce stress. “The quote in the campaign was  ‘I could walk into the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot someone and my poll numbers wouldn’t be affected’ And I think he is right.”  - Jon Reilly This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The current political and economic effect of Donald Trump's administration. Why the trade deficit will always get wider. Jon’s thoughts on Trump's Twitter tirades and relationship with foreign leaders. Should Donald Trump get credit for America's good economy? Is there a link between the economy and share markets? The risk of investing when interest rates are low. Jon’s thoughts on the valuation of the Australian market. Conservative investments and their current interest rates.   Jon Reilly ’s Top 3 Tips for Creating an Investment Portfolio: Sell when prices are up, buy when prices are down. Make sure your defensive assets are going to be defensive when you need them to be defensive. Just be patient.   Connect with Jon Reilly: Implemented Portfolios Jon’s LinkedIn   Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 44 - Where to for the sharemarket? Roger Montgomery is the founder of Montgomery Investment Management, a boutique investment management firm with domestic and international investment portfolios. He has over 20 years of experience in the finance industry, including areas of equity analysis, equity and derivative trading, as well as investment banking. Roger joins me today to share his thoughts on the current state of the share market and how he thinks it will impact Australia in the short and long-term. He also describes the impact of low credit growth on our economy and explains why he believes it will get worse before it gets better. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the Royal Commission finding that HostPlus super fund spending $300,000.00 on tickets to sporting events. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how Calendly can help you remember all of your scheduled meetings. “When you don't have staff excited to be involved with the company, it's very difficult to grow that company.” - Roger Montgomery This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What is the state of the current share market? What we currently know regarding the problems in the real estate industry. Why Warren Buffett is holding so much cash in Berkshire Hathaway The changing way in which banks are assessing loans. His thoughts on the current value of Telstra. His perspective on the future of AMP and banking in general. Roger Montgomery’s Top 3 Tips for Investing in the Current Market Conditions: Keep an eye on short-term treasury rates in the United States. Be cautious between now and November when the US mid-term elections begin. See low prices in the market as an opportunity instead of a risk. Connect with Roger Montgomery: Montgomery Investment Management LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Rheuben is a Senior Finance Broker at Loan Market, one of Australasia’s largest mortgage finance broking companies. He joins me today to share his thoughts on mortgage brokers, how they promote competition in the debt market and shares his advice for taking out a mortgage loan. He discusses what drives people to take on so much debt, why property loans are skyrocketing, and the mindset of someone who wants to obtain a loan for a house. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I react to the recent Productivity Commission Report and why I don’t believe in it. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the LOOM app allows you to quickly and easily record and share videos. “Over the last ten years, mortgage brokers have created the competition and have kept the banks honest and accountable.” - Grant Rheuben This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Are we truly up to our eyeballs in debt? What drives people to create debt. Why do people stretch their house borrowing so much? How things have recently radically changed regarding bank lending. Is there no competition among banks? Why mortgage brokers promote competition. How smaller banks survive despite only being responsible for a small percentage of loans. The perks and risks of getting a loan from small businesses. Grant Rheuben’s Top 3 Tips for People Considering a Bank Loan: Be Prepared. Get your papers ready when applying. Choose between a broker and a bank. You have to be aware of the outcome you want to achieve. Links mentioned in podcast: Loan Market Grant’s LinkedIn profile Productivity Commission Report into Australian Financial System Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FH042 - Wake up and smell the coffee. The world of coffee trading with Moshe Tawil Moshe Tawil is the General Manager of Panamerican Coffee Group Pty Ltd and International Coffee Traders, a coffee trading company that develops mutually beneficial relationships with coffee producers and roasters. Having loved coffee from a young age, he became enamored at the thought of working with coffee bean producers as a career. He has traded coffee in many countries and has mastered the art of engaging with various cultures and establishing a network of closely-knit producers and roasters. Moshe joins me today to share the wonderful world of coffee trading. He explains the various processes involved in producing a good cup of coffee, how coffee traders determine the cost of various types of coffee beans and the relationship between buying and selling the commodity in today’s volatile market. He also explains how various countries and culture around the world conduct business differently and how it impacts the way he negotiates trades. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share a recent bad online shopping experience. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Buffer app allows you to track your social media accounts efficiently. “At the end of the day, trading coffee is really about working with sound principles of trade, like any other form of commerce.” - Moshe Tawil This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The responsibilities of a coffee trader. How his company sources coffee around the world and why they do not source within Australia. The benefits of having a good relationship with coffee suppliers. The difference between commercial coffee brands and boutiques. How the roasting process impacts the way coffee tastes. How the trading cost of a coffee bean determined. How he copes with working with different cultures in different countries. The most challenging part of trading coffee as well as what he enjoys the most about working in the coffee trading industry. Moshe Tawil’s Top 3 Tips for Conducting Business: Put your heart into what you do. Work with your integrity and your credibility - not for the money.    In a team, everybody is equal. You can only eat one steak a day. Don't be greedy. Connect with Moshe Tawil: International Coffee Traders LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 41 - Managing career transitions with Kerina Alter Kerina Alter is the founder and Director of Altered Career, a coaching practice dedicated to providing professionals of all ages with the tools, resources, and clarity they need to transition their careers successfully. As an expert career and leadership coach and change consultant, Kerina has helped over 2,000 clients realise their career potential, develop their leadership skills, and create a succession plan for retirement. Kerina joins me today to share her experience with pivoting her career and how it led to her helping others through career transitions. She explains the definition of career success, why it is often more than power or the amount of money you make, and how your version of success should be unique to your personal goals and values. She also explains the importance of up upskilling throughout your career to ensure you stay relevant in today’s ever-changing work environment. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my thoughts on the newly introduced My Health Record and why I believe it’s a helpful resource for our society. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn how the Voxer app helps me communicate with my staff. “Success and impact are not just about your career or the job that you are paid to do.” - Kerina Alter This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What career coaching is and how it can help you achieve your career The mental and emotional impact of feeling stuck and unmotivated in your career. The importance of up improving your skills as you advance your career. The four models of career success and why the definition of career success is unique to each individual. Factors to consider when making a career transition. Overcoming challenges and obstacles regarding career gaps, re-entering the workforce, and identifying the new soft skills you’ve developed. How leadership and people management training can help executive leaders better understand their employees needs following a career gap. Why technology and today’s remote-work environment has blurred the lines between work and leisure. How the gig economy and remote work has impacted the global workforce regarding job security. How Kerina helps older individuals transition from a full-time career to retirement. Kerina Alter’s Top 3 Tips for Managing a Career Transition: Have career resilience - the ability to be open and ready for a change. Stay skilled. Up level your skills. Stay networked. Resources Mentioned: When book by Daniel Pink The Five Hour Workweek book by Tim Ferriss Connect with Kerina Alter: Altered Career Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 40 -  The only way is up Tim Farrelly is the founder and Principal of Farrelly’s Investment Strategy, an independent investment advisory firm based in Sydney, Australia. Since 2003, his company has helped countless investors create dynamic investment portfolios through their subscription and consultation services. Tim joins me today to discuss why the only way is up regarding interest rates and the potential impact it can have on borrowers and investors. He explains why banks are raising interest rates on interest-only loans, how the “wage-price spiral” impacts the economy, and how borrowers and investors can prepare for interest rate hikes. He also shares how the population’s overall debt impacts the economy’s vulnerability and the impact that very low interest rates can have on investment markets. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rants where I share my thoughts on the recent news of two of Australia’s largest banks, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac Bank, cutting 0.3 percent of interest rates on their online saver accounts, dropping rates down to a whopping 0.5 percent. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn strategies to maximize your deductions on your tax returns. “Interest rates will probably go up, but not very much. We may even see one more rate cut before they go back up.” - Tim Farrelly This week on The Finance Hour Podcast Why Tim believes interest rates will eventually go up - but not very much. Why the cost of banks funding themselves have gone up and how it is impacting interest rates. Why banks are raising interest rates on interest-only loans. What are prudential requirements? What the “wage-price spiral” is and how it impacts the economy, inflation, and interest rates. How to prepare for the increase in interest rates. The pros and cons of offset accounts. How the level of debt people have impacts the economy’s overall vulnerability. The impact of very low interest rates on various investment markets. Tim Farrelly’s Top Tips for Preparing for Interest Rate Hikes: For borrowers: Prepare yourself for an increase in interest rates of up to 2 percent. For investors: In the secure part of your portfolio, work out how much you need now and how much can be put away for a little bit. Look for the best opportunities that are completely secure and will give you a much better return. Resources Mentioned: Reserve Bank of Australia - 2018 Interest Rate Decisions Connect with Tim Farrelly: Tim Farrelly on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Bell is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with over 20 years of experience. He is the Director and Partner at Narre Warren Physiotherapy Sports and Injury Group, a  physiotherapy clinic focused on providing evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment programs for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions such as migraines, arthritis, chronic pain, and sport-related injuries. Since 2006, he has received several awards including the prestigious Work safe Health Practitioner of The Year award and has become highly regarded in the management of Workcover and TAC patients. Jonathan joins me today to discuss how to keep moving and stay active in a sedentary workplace. He explains the relationship between sitting too long and early mortality, the importance of taking frequent breaks throughout your work day, and how technology has impacted the increase in work-related musculoskeletal injuries. He also shares what it’s like to run a physiotherapy clinic, how mentoring and training new practitioners has evolved over the years, and the biggest challenges many physiotherapy practices face regarding hiring and maintaining new practitioners. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rants where I share my thoughts on the Australian Optus’ issues with streaming the World Cup and why I believe the Optus needs to get their act together. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn more about my favorite transcription and dictation service, Rev.com, and how I use it in my business to transcribe my recorded client meetings. “Moving from healing to moving well to being stronger is really your best journey in order to be able to perform.” - Jonathan Bell  This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: The key to optimising your physical performance. How work-related injuries vary from industry to industry. The benefits of standing desks, taking breaks and changing positions during your work hours. How technology has impacted the increase in musculoskeletal conditions. Using ergonomic keyboards, mouse pads, and trackpads to reduce the risk of muscle fatigue and work-related injuries. The reality of how age impacts the likelihood of increased musculoskeletal injuries. Behind-the-scenes of his physiotherapy group clinic. How mentoring and training new physiotherapists has evolved over the years. How the group uses technology and software to collaborate and improve productivity. The biggest challenges regarding running a physiotherapy practice. Resources Mentioned: eNoteFile Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams book by Matthew Walker Jonathan Bell’s Top 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Physical Health: Avoid sitting for too long. Every 90-minutes, take a break to move around. Good habits are much better than good will-power. Find an exercise you enjoy. Make time. Make it non-negotiable, even if it’s only once per week. Try to get 8 hours of sleep as often as you can. Connect with Jonathan Bell: Narre Warren Physiotherapy Sports and Injury Group Jonathan Bell on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leah Miller is the owner and Director of Waxed; a personal grooming company focused on helping clients look and feel their best through full-body hair removal, tanning treatments, and lash application services. She has five salon locations across Australia including Windsor, Balaclava, Malvern, Elsternwick, and Bentleigh. Her career initially began in the communications and public relations industry when she decided to pivot her career and begin her journey as an entrepreneur in the beauty and personal care industry. Leah joins me today to share her journey into entrepreneurship. She shares how she successfully built her personal grooming business and how she developed a system that enabled her to expand her service area into multiple market locations. She shares some of the biggest challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur in a highly competitive industry and her strategy for hiring and retaining excellent employees. She also shares how she balances managing and scaling a multiple-location company while raising a family. And of course, don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rants where I share my thoughts on ASIC canceling the Australian Financial Services Licensing of Dover and what it means for the Dover Financial Advisors and their clients. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn about my favorite app, Receipt Bank, and how it helps entrepreneurs and small business owners keep track, manage, and organize their expense receipts. “Work-life balance is what you make of it. You’ve got to make your business work how you want it. You’ve got to work hard, but you have to realize that you have a life.” - Leah Miller This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Leah’s career journey and what inspired her to build a personal grooming company. How she determined the location of her first tanning studio. How she developed the policies, procedures, systems, and processes that enabled her to open multiple salon locations. Why she developed a training program for her employees and the types of training she offers. The marketing strategies she uses to promote her business and how they have evolved. Challenges associated with ending a long-term business partnership. How she manages her time while running her business and raising a family. Leah Miller’s Top 3 Tips for Starting & Scaling a Business: Start a business with a business partner that shares your vision and compliments your skills. Have a transparent agreement with your business partner to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication issues. Ensure you are completely comfortable with the way your business is running before you scale up. Ensure you are confident - even if you have to “fake it ‘til you make it.” Connect with Leah Miller: Waxed Lovers of the Lash Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer!Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yehuda Gottlieb is the General Manager of Investments at Spotlight Group Holdings, LTD., a privately-held commercial holdings company based in South Melbourne, Australia with operations across the country as well as in New Zealand and Asia. He has over a decade of experience in advising and consulting middle-market and publicly listed companies with corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and raising capital. His responsibility at the Spotlight Group includes managing the company’s Family Office, specifically focusing on investment management, private equity, corporate advisory, and corporate strategy. Yehuda joins me today to discuss what family offices are and the various roles that make up a family office. He explains how Family Offices differ from traditional corporate company offices, why ultra-high net worth investors choose to open a family office, and the mindset differences between an average investor and an ultra-high net worth investor. He also explains how the Spotlight Group Holdings Family Office works with other investors on various deals and how they manage risks when investing in property developments. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rants where I share my thoughts on the latest headlines regarding the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recently prosecuting six of the nation’s most senior bankers. “Always have an understanding of what you want to get out of the deal and what you are trying to do and achieve.” - Yehuda Gottlieb This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: What is a Family Office? How the Spotlight Group’s Family Office is different from their company’s office. How Family Offices are helping other successful family investors through services and consulting. The difference between single-family offices and multi-family offices. How the Spotlight Family Office is working with other investors. How investors can mitigate risks when investing and trading stocks. The challenge of securing loans through banks due to the increased pressure on Royal Commission with banks. How the Spotlight Family Office began. Lessons investors can learn from ultra-high net worth families. How Spotlight Family Office structures the decision-making process of negotiating and investing in deals. How Family Offices help ultra-high net worth investors preserve their wealth for future generations. The pros and cons of diversifying versus concentrating on a niche market. Separating Charitable Trusts from Family Offices. How the Spotlight Family Offices handles short-term lending deals. Managing risks while funding property developments. Yehuda Gottlieb’s Top 3 Tips for Evaluating Investment Decisions: Consider your alignment of interests. Be clear on your goals and objectives. Ensure the risk-reward is appropriate. Connect with Yehuda Gottlieb: Spotlight Group Holdings, LTD Valara Capital Yahuda Gottlieb on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 36 – Art, philanthropy and start-ups with Nathan Cher Art, Philanthropy and start-ups are three of Nathan Cher’s passions and have played a major role in his personal and business journey. According to Nathan the common theme in all three endeavours are: backing individuals, investing money and taking risk, and providing guidance to help the business, artist or charity reach its goals. Nathan has had a fascinating business career from co-founding a tech company in his early 20s and growing it to staff of more than 1400, to investing in multiple start-up companies and helping to bring to Australia a crowdfunding platform to provide every day investors with the same opportunity. Nathan believes strongly in providing ongoing guidance and governance to the businesses he is involved in ; and his views on the role of directors, are relevant to all businesses, regardless of size.  So whether you are interested in art, philanthropy and start-ups, or are looking for a new perspective on business and investing, you are sure to enjoy listening to this week’s show. “If you are a young entrepreneur make sure the problem your enterprise is solving is a real and big problem”. – Nathan Cher “You need to prepare to work really hard. A young business can be like a highly dependent child”.  - Nathan Cher “Be realistic about your research and  forecasts and be pragmatic and conservative.  There is nothing worse than feeling of being half undressed when someone interrogates your numbers until they confess something that you should have known better ” – Nathan Cher Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: Nathan’s first computing experience as a teenager with a clone of an Apple2E. The four movies which influenced the direction of Nathan’s career (hint: Ferris Bueller’s day off is one of them!) How Nathan co-founded Com Tech (later to become Dimension data) in his early 20s during the 1980s and grew the business to a staff of more than 1400 people before selling the company. The culture of the business remains intact to this day.  Nathan’s investment in ‘Moula Money’ which is taking on the big banks by leveraging technology to provide loans quickly and efficiently to small businesses. How Tonic Health Media uses the dead time in the waiting rooms of Doctors and Dentists to provide targeted advertising. Nathan’s 3 tips for people embarking on a business start-up. And be sure to listen to my “Propellerhead of the week” where I talk about a fantastic way to plan your tax-deductible giving using a Public Ancillary Fund Mentioned Resources: Nathan’s LinkedIn profile Moula Money OurCrowd Tonic Health Media Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Finance Hour podcast, my good friend and Director of Orange Wealth, Michael Chew, joins me to discuss the 2018 federal budget forecast. We share our thoughts on the winning and losing changes taking place this year and discuss our overall impressions of the Federal budget. We discuss how wage growth impacts the economy and our thoughts on the budget reply. We also discuss why we believe tax rates are not a deciding factor regarding a person’s desire to work, the pros and cons of franking credits, and policy changes regarding super funds, business taxes, and social security. Don’t miss this week’s segment of Reuben’s Rant where I share my thoughts on the budget’s forecast for the Australian economy and why I believe we need to see more accountability from government organizations on how their financials have impacted the budget. And stay tuned to the end of the episode for my Propellerhead of the Week segment to learn an alternative method of claiming tax deductions on your super contributions. This week on The Finance Hour Podcast: Why the government predicts an increase in income over the next five Tax cuts proposed by the Australian government. Predictions regarding abolishing the 37% tax rate in 2024. Changes regarding super funds, insurance, and approved number of super fund members. The pros and cons of franking credits. Business taxes: the benefits of instant asset write-offs for small and large businesses. The new changes regarding business tax penalties. The changes to the limitations regarding social security, pension work bonuses, and pension loan schemes. The changes to the government policies regarding childcare. Resources Mentioned: Budget 2018-19 Key Takeaways: The economy is doing better which is generating more income for the government. There is a bit of money to be spent. This budget doesn’t represent all of that. We need a balance across low-income earners, middle-income earners, and high-income earners, but we need it also to drive the economy - which benefits everybody. The government is trying to increase the ability of older Australians to put money into superannuation. Subscribe to The Finance Hour Podcast with Reuben Zelwer!  Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Finance Hour Podcast with your host, Reuben Zelwer! If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to iTunes to leave us a rate and review. Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues. To learn more about Adapt Wealth Management and to connect with Reuben, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever helped a love one move into an aged care facility? In the end, we are all going to face this situation and you will need to deal with the complex emotional and financial issues associated with this difficult transition. In this week’s episode I'm joined by by Sara Bell and Noel Carter of Next Direction, a firm that assist families in choosing aged care facilities and make informed decisions about the management of finances. They not only provide valuable advice, but are involved in making it all happen, whether it is financial negotiations with the aged care facilities, completing Centrelink forms or modelling cashflow requirements.  “It is important to have powers of attorney in place before you need them, to avoid the difficulty of going to VCAT.” – Sara Bell We encourage people to be prepared, take advice in advance, well before they need to go into the aged care facility” – Noel Carter “The importance of talking to your family about what you want for yourself. So when the time comes, they know what your preferences are” – Sara Bell Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: We explain the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and different options for how it can be funded. The three types of ongoing fees associated with aged care accommodation. The important factors to be considered in deciding whether to keep or sell the family home. The complex Centrelink forms which need to be completed for all aged care residents (not only those receiving the Age Pension). Sara and Noel’s 3 top tips for planning a moved into aged care accommodation. In my rant of the week, I talk about an astounding phone call I had with TPG as I arranged internet services in my new offices. And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for my “Propellerhead of the week” where I talk about superannuation contribution benefits for low income earners which are important to take advantage of well before June 30. To contact Sara Bell from Next Direction call 0439 952 311 Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered if it is worth installing solar panels on your roof? Then this week’s show is compulsory listening. My guest this week is a Matt Russell of GStore –  a superstore in Malvern East which has a wide range of products including solar power panels, water tanks and  hot water systems designed to make greener, more energy efficient homes. Matt specialises in solar power panels and gives an honest take of the financial and environmental issues associated with this emerging technology . So if you feel as ill as I do when you see your electricity bills or are looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, you are sure to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “The return on investment is probably around 6 years on a good quality solar system depending on how people use power in the home. – Matt Russell “There is still a $3,000 government rebate available and solar technology has halved in price” – Matt Russell  “Energy bills are becoming a larger portion of household expenses, particularly for retirees” – Reuben Zelwer  Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: The motivation for people installing solar panels, environmental, financial or both? Why you need to be conscious of when you use your power (day or night) in order to maximise the benefits of solar panels. The importance of  due diligence as to where and how your panels are manufactured. How you can sell your excess power back to the grid. Why you need careful advice of where to position the solar panels on your roof. Matt’s 3 tips for managing electricity bills. And be sure to listen to my “Propellerhead of the week” which is about an underutilised alternative to Foxtel, Netflix and Stan. Mentioned Resources: Gstore Dion Epstein Linked In profile SBS on Demand Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever stayed awake at night worrying about whether or not your investment portfolio will expire before you do? Then this week’s show is compulsory listening. My guest this week is a Finance Hour favorite – Tim Farrelly, principal of Farrelly’s investment strategy. Tim guides financial planners like me in putting together long term portfolios for clients to ensure a comfortable retirement. So whether you are retired, thinking about retirement or just want some insight as to how you should invest when interest rates are low and sharemarkets are volatile, you are certain to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “What is sensible will depend on every individual and their risk tolerance. If they can’t cope with volatility and downturns, they may just need to get used to spending less – Tim Farrelly  “When I think about my retirement, I  want to be at least 95% confident that my money is not going to run out” – Tim Farrelly  “Annuities allow you to get a guaranteed income stream over time, which may be useful for securing at least your basic income requirements ” – Reuben Zelwer  Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: In “Reuben’s Rant”, I give my take on Facebook data breach. What the standard expenditure benchmarks are for a modest and comfortable retirement. Tim tells us why it is important to have a high confidence level (up to 95%)of meeting your retirement income needs. How a ‘spending policy’ can be useful in reviewing your spending options in retirement. The relationship between market valuations, risk tolerance and starting point in charting your retirement course. The role of the Age Pension and annuities in providing a secure baseline for retirement income. The perverse incentives of the Age Pension asset test. And be sure to listen to my “Propellerhead of the week” which is about the importance of the free financial counselling service to assist people who get into financial difficulty. Mentioned Resources: Farrellys ASFA retirement standard Challenger Annuities Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered about how businesses attract customers in the on-line world? Mystified by  SEO, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pay per click? Then today’s show is a must-hear.  My guest is Joel Gerschman, managing director of the Change Coach. Joel cuts through the noise and guides his clients in harnessing digital marketing to attract potential customers. The result? A reliable funnel of new prospects eager to buy your product or services. So whether you’re contemplating a digital marketing strategy or you are a consumer wanting to get insight into the strategies companies use to attract your business, you are certain to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “If you are willing to be innovative and forward thinking as a business owner, there is always opportunity for growth” – Joel Gerschman  “On-line marketing can enable you to get ahead despite some of the complexities and challenges of the current market.” – Joel Gerschman “Despite the amount of material out there on the web, personal financial advice will always have a role in applying this information  for a client’s personal circumstances ” – Reuben Zelwer  Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: In “Reuben’s Rant”, I give my take on Labor’s proposal to exempt pensioners from the bank on franking credit refund. Joel discussed the key growth drivers for businesses. How traditional and on-line marketing tools can work together. The role of content marketing in generating Why the digital marketing journey shouldn’t end once a customer buys your service or product. How to stand out in a cluttered digital world. A new way of asking for referrals. Joel’s 3 tips for businesses embarking on a digital marketing strategy. And be sure to listen all the way to the end of the show for my “Propellerhead of the week” which is about why your Accountant and Financial Planner need to get on. Mentioned Resources: Joel Gerschman’s LinkedIn profile The mindful entrepreneur Google Adwords Facebook Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 30– Who moved my cheese? Is Bill Shorten’s announcement about getting rid of franking credit refunds akin to a cat moving a mouse’s cheese? Is it necessary to repair the budget repair or thievery from retirees and self-managed superannuation funds? In this week’s episode we go straight to the top to get the answers.  I interview John Maroney who is the CEO of the Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Association, which represents both Advisers and Trustees of SMSFs. So whether you will be directly affected by Labor’s proposed changes, or just want some insight into the political process, you are certain to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “There could be several adverse economic impacts if this policy is implemented.” – John Maroney  “Franking credit refunds have been part of the tax framework for 18 years and a lot of people have made their long term investment plans around that system” – John Maroney  The median income that a member of an SMSF is drawing is  around $50,000 and the franking credits are $5,000 so this would cut 10% off the income of people who are generally not getting the age pension at all” - John Maroney  “People who are affected should write their local Member of Parliament. Traditional letter writing has become a lost art” - John Maroney  Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: The two groups that will be most affected if Labor’s proposal becomes law. The unexpected backlash from the announcement. Why John believes that the current system of refunding franking credits was good policy and was originally supported by both parties. How the proposal could affect valuations of Australian shares. What the Self Managed Superannuation Fund association is doing to influence Government. And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for my “Propellerhead of the week” which  is about some strange entries on my credit card statement following from my return home from Israel. Mentioned Resources: SMSF Association John Maroney LinkedIn profile Labor proposal to ditch franking credit rebates Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thought there was no link between physical and financial fitness? Well think again!  My guest this week is Fred Liberatore, who is a master coach, personal trainer, former amateur body builder and owner of Realfit Gym – a boutique gym and personal training studio with two locations in Melbourne I talk to Fred about the surprising impact that a physical training program can have on financial decision making and overall wellbeing.  We also talk about Fred’s journey in starting and managing his business, which includes many lessons for all small business owners. In this episode I also introduce a brand new segment called “Reuben’s Rant” where I give my personal take on happenings in the world of business and finance. So whether you are in small business or contemplating a physical fitness regime, you are certain to benefit from listening to this week’s show. “You need to be uncomfortable in order to be successful” - Fred Liberatore  “Jumping into a business and buying into businesses is no easy feat. You need to plan with your finances as well.” – Fred Liberatore  “A business coach gets you accountable and it’s a really good way to put systems in place” – Fred Liberatore   Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: In “Reuben’s Rant”, I give my take on Bill Shorten’s announcement regarding tax on company dividends. Fred shares his personal journey from a sport obsessed family, to amateur body builder and business owner. The link between physical wellbeing and financial decision making Strategies to change unhealthy habits? The intimate relationship between a personal trainer and their clients The business models for gyms and the advent of the burgeoning 24/7 gym How Fred approaches social media & email marketing in his business Fred’s 3 tips for people embarking on a personal fitness journey And following my recent trip to Israel,  don’t forget to listen all the way to the end of the show for our “Propellerhead of the week” which is about accessing cash whilst travelling overseas. Mentioned Resources: Fred Liberatore’s LinkedIn Realfit Gym Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. No matter how perfect a workplace may look from the outside, conflict is bound to happen one way or another. In this episode you’ll learn how to handle the inevitable complexities of workplace relationships and appreciate the importance of engaging in difficult conversations. Tony and Zandy Fell of the Zalt Group specialise in helping businesses resolve internal conflicts among staff. And when things are beyond repair, they assist in managing the fallout to  minimise the long term damage to the business Today they share with us some real-life stories of conflict and help us better understand the blurred lines between our  business and personal lives. We also hear their take on high profile cases in the media around workplace relationships and alleged inappropriate behaviors.   “You need to be flexible in your approach, your approach is not the only way to do things.” - Tony Fell   “Conflicts are more positive than people think.” - Zandy Fell “Effective workplace relationships are a strategic advantage. If you’ve got good relationships in the workplace, you will be able to achieve what you need to.” - Zandy Fell   Today on the Finance Hour Podcast: How big an issue conflict is in the workplace and its negative impact on the business. How conflict affects business decisions. Why conflicts usually take longer to resolve in large businesses. How Zandy and Tony help businesses determine what is acceptable behavior in the workplace. How the objectives of different business partners may change over time and what to do about it. How to educate employees on the impact of their social media activity on the workplace. Tony and Zandy’s top three tips for managing conflicts at work.   And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for our “Propellerhead of the week” which is about why investors should be looking more closely at principal and interest loans. Mentioned Resources: Zalt Group Tony Fell LinkedIn profile Zandy Fell LinkedIn profile   Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you happy with the returns of your share and property investments over the last few years? Optimistic that things will continue?  Or are you worried about an impending bear market (where shares and property prices start to fall and pessimism persists). On this episode, Tim Farrelly, principal at Farrelly’s Investment Strategy  provided us with some insights about what you can control and when you should be scared of the big bad bear. I also spoke to Sean Herman, a Mortgage Broker from Professional Partners who provides insights into the bank’s attitude towards the property market. “It is definitely a time  to absolutely be focused on the long term.”   Tim Farrelly   “We should always be prepared for a downturn of the order of 10%, 15%, 20%, or even 25%”   Tim Farrelly   Today on the  Finance Hour Podcast: What causes a bear market and why they are inevitable? The two situations which precipitate a big market fall. The impact of tax cuts in the company’s profits. The “chicken and egg” effect of wage growth to the economy. Insights about the emerging share markets like China, Taiwan, Korea, and India Why the US markets look expensive. The key differences between residential and commercial property markets. How bank lending practices influences house prices. And be sure to listen all the way until the end for my “Propellerhead of the week” which is about how you can save money on insurance premiums by adjusting the payment frequency! Mentioned Resources Farrelly’s Professional Partners Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 26 - Remembering Lawrence Shamrakov This episode is dedicated to my dear friend and business partner, Lawrence Shamrakov who passed away tragically as a result of a bike accident two years ago (20 January 2016).  Lawrence’s cousin Gary Voskoboynik joins me today to speak a few people who were close to Lawrence and share their stories to give you an idea what kind of an amazing person he was. This is also for his daughter Maya who will one day listen to this tribute episode when she is old enough. The guests on this week’s episode are: Gary Gorov - Lawrence’s cousin Mikel Guyetsky – friend and work colleague Inge deKoster – client of Lawrence in his role as financial planner at Adapt.   “He was like my little brother, he was a few years younger than me. Everything I did he wanted to do as well” - Gary Voskoboynik “We were more than family, we were more than friends. Our bond ran deeper than any. No-one really understands what we meant to each-other” – Gary Gorov “He was such a special person to a lot of people in a lot of different ways. Every parent would want their child to emulate Lawrence” – Mikel Guyetsky “It is difficult and emotional, but while we are talking, I can’t wipe the smile off my face thinking about him and everything he could do” – Reuben Zelwer Today on the  Finance Hour Podcast: Reuben and Gary V talk about their memories of the day Lawrence passed away and their journey of the last two years Gary V talks about Lawrence’s cheekiness as a child and how he would tinker with family computer settings making it unusable in many occasions. As he got older, he became incredibly tech savvy and became the go to guy for anything IT. Gary G recounts how Lawrence had a strong sense of responsibility to both himself and his family and gives a moving message to Lawrence’s daughter Maya. Mikel Guyetsky, shares his  story on how he met Lawrence and how their close friendship developed. Mikel and Reuben talk about Lawrence’s creative side including his passion for marketing, design photography and  creating websites His combination of both technical and creative skills was truly unique.  Mikel’s message for Lawrence’s daughter Maya Inge de Koster,  a client of Lawrence’s at Adapt Wealth Management tells us what he was like as a financial planner. He was attentive, sensitive and had an amazing memory of what was going on in Inge’s life Gary V and Reuben talk about the programs they are continuing in Lawrence’s memory. Gary is involved in a truck driver bicycle awareness program through Bicycle Network where he will add a personal touch by sharing Lawrence’s story. Reuben and his wife Keren have set up a loan fund in Lawrence’s name at Empower (Jewish Care interest free loans) which will provide funding for young professionals and small business owners to further their careers. And make sure to listen all the way to the end where Reuben shares three important lessons from how Lawrence managed his financial affairs. Resources mentioned Adapt Wealth Management Empower (Jewish Care interest free loans) Wealth Axis (Mikel Guyetsky) Bicycle Network Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder how Uber (valued at roughly $50 billion!) and other private companies rapidly scale its business operation without ever going public and listing on the stock market?  In this episode you’ll learn how private equity enables companies to exponentially scale their businesses and tap new markets.  Simon Feiglin is a Managing Partner and Fund Manager at The Riverside Company. The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm focused on making control and non-control investments in growing businesses valued at up to $400 million. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has invested in more than 490 transactions and the firm's international portfolio includes more than 80 companies.  “If you have good management and a little bit of risk appetite, you'll be successful” - Simon Feiglin  “If you want to scale, you’re gonna need other people in the business so you need to make sure you got the right foundation to support that” - Simon Feiglin  Today on the  Finance Hour Podcast:  What is Private Equity?  Simon’s backstory and how he ended up being a private equity fund manager  What type of growth Riverside plan for when buying into a business  How Riverside finds potential businesses to invest in  Simon’s take on ‘disruptors’ such as Amazon coming in Australia and the role of technology   Simon’s experience with Retail Zoo which includes the well know franchise Boost Juice  Challenges that comes up when investing in a business alongside the original owners  Riverside Company’s source of funds  How you can invest in private equity as an individual    And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for our “Propellerhead of the week” which is about   assessing your level of cover for health insurance!   Mentioned Resources:  Riverside Company  Simon’s Linkedin Profile  Retail Zoo  Boost Juice  Janine Allis     Thanks for tuning in!  Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered if it’s worth setting aside budget for marketing in your small business today? In this episode you’ll learn why there’s no better time to start marketing than now. Timbo Reid who runs the #1 podcast marketing show called Small business, Big marketing shares his tips on how to make your business stand up from other businesses. He also shares his thoughts on how business owners can dedicate the right amount of time in a focused way without getting sidetracked to get the most Return On Investment (ROI) out of content marketing. “Never Stop Learning. Keep your mind open and keep learning” - Timbo Reid “Marketing is everything, everything is marketing.” - Timbo Reid Today on the  Finance Hour Podcast: How to use Google as a free marketing tool. Listen as Timbo Reid debunks small businesses’ marketing myths! Learn the importance of leveraging content marketing for businesses! Timbo Reid’s top three tips that every business owner should know! And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for our “Propellerhead of the week” which is about   using  your internet banking app to its capacity, maximizing its data and reports to help you make better financial decisions. Mentioned Resources: Small Business, Big Marketing website Timbo’s Linkedin Profile Timbo’s twitter Thanks for tuning in!  Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever thought that financial advice is just for the wealthy? Well think again. Technology is making the first steps on the path to financial success easier than ever. In this episode of the Finance Hour, we have an in-depth discussion with Paul Feeney of Mapymplan an on-line program allowing people to set-up a simple, actionable financial strategies without the jargon. We discuss Why financial advice is more than just managed funds and insurance policies. Paul's journey from the finance industry, travelling the world to a start-up financial technology business. How an on-line tool such as mapmyplan can be a great stepping stone to getting advice from a real life, human financial planner! And don't forget to listen all the way until the end for Paul's three top financial tips. Thanks for tuning in!  Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of the The Finance Hour podcast! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more listeners. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on Facebook, or hang out with us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on what’s in store for you!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’ episode is about investing in small and medium size companies. I have a great discussion with Callum Burns who manages the SGH Hiscock ICE fund, Tune in to learn Why investors should diversify away from the big bank and resources stocks despite their high level of franked dividends. Examples of smaller companies which have a competitive edge or a ‘moat’ around their business model. Why you want to invest in a company which an idiot can run (because you can be certain that this will occur one day). Callum’s three tips for making smart investment decisions. And don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for my Propeller Head of the week where  I outline a critical issue for you to be aware of when transferring money between superannuation funds If you are enjoying the Finance Hour, please leave us a review on ITunes. For previous episodes go to our  website  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A black swan event is a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. In this week's episode we discuss. Whether one can ever predict a black swan event? Was the 1987 sharemarket crash a black swan event? What about the GFC? How can investors safegaurd their portfolio in the face of uncertainty? Our interview guest Tim Farrelly has some strong views which are well worth listening to. If you are enjoying the Finance Hour, please leave us a review on Itunes. For previous episodes go to our  website  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.