Australian Retirement Podcast

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth, react to Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Federal Budget bombshell - the biggest shake-up to property and investment tax in a generation.

Negative gearing has been axed for future purchases of established property. The 50% CGT discount is gone, replaced by an inflation indexation model. And for the first time, a 30% minimum CGT rate is being layered in - mirrored by a matching 30% minimum on discretionary trust distributions - aimed squarely at older Australians who'd otherwise pay less tax in retirement.<...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth both spent the holidays in Bright - talking reducing mobility, extending the golden years, and coaching. Plus Grace's bike crash and x-rays.

The government just announced financial advisers will no longer need an approved degree - reversing post-Royal Commission reforms. Pre-2019 it was a diploma, post-RC it was a finance degree, now it's any degree plus required finance knowledge. Why the band-aid solution? Adviser numbers are collapsing: 28,000 in 2018, 22,000 in 2020, just 15,000 in 2026 - an all-time low...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth open with camping vs. vanning debate, optimal camping setups, and serious camping envy. Then the worst retirement advice they've ever heard clients repeat: "Put 100% of my super in crypto in the leadup to retirement," "I'll just invest in income stocks," and "Super is a scam, I'll take it all out and put it in a term deposit."

The Boomer Briefing unpacks Division 296 and the CGT reset, then dives into the massive 1 July 2026 changes forcing employers to pay super...

Industry super funds have been hit by hacking attempts and outages. Should you be worried? Drew Meredith and James O’Reilly break down what’s happening — plus answer your top retirement questions on super access, non-concessional contributions, downsizer rules, and early retirement strategies.

If you enjoyed this Australian Retirement Podcast episode on protecting your super and retirement planning, subscribe for weekly episodes on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Topics covered today:

- Industry super fund hacks and downtime — why it’s worrying

- Can you re...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth open with school holiday money-saving tips, then dive into the private credit boom sweeping retirement portfolios.

Not all private credit funds are equal. Drew and James break down what retirees need to know: illiquidity premiums, fund manager transparency, borrower quality, concentration risk, and whether evergreen funds are worth the hype. What should you actually look for before jumping into private credit?

Then the big question from "Panicking Parents": "My parents...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, we take a close look at the US-Iran war volatility: Should you sell or hold? Did you know, missing the 10 best market days cuts returns in HALF. Plus your week-by-week GFC crash playbook for year 1 retirees.

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth tackle the question terrifying every retiree: with markets down 10%, Iran war escalating, and oil prices spiking - should you SELL or HOLD?

The data is brutal. Research shows...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth expose the "balanced" fund myth. Remember "Compare the Pair"? Two funds both labeled "balanced" can hold 40% vs 80% growth assets. Despite influencing millions of retirement outcomes, "balanced" has NO legal, regulatory, or industry-standard definition. It's marketing, not investment strategy.

James delivers shocking health news: Add 9 years to your life with just 7-8 hours sleep, 40 minutes moderate exercise daily, and a healthy diet. Even baby steps work - UK study of 59,078 participants found adding just 5 minutes sleep, 2...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth open with breaking news: The Greens have rubber-stamped Div 296 - and they're demanding MORE tax reform. James breaks down what just passed, while Drew exposes the terrifying CGT and trust changes on the horizon.

Major tax changes being floated:

- New $135K income threshold with stacking provisions

- Cap gains tax capped at 30% maximum

- CGT discount slashed from 50% to 33%

The Boomer Briefing tackles...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth open with provocative questions: If they had to retire TODAY on only the Age Pension, what's the first lifestyle change? And if a client wanted to blow $200K in year one on a round-the-world trip - backing them or talking them down?

The Boomer Briefing tackles explosive commentary from The Australia Institute, Guardian Australia, and Grattan Institute: Should we scrap super tax concessions entirely and double the Age Pension instead? The math: Super tax concessions...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth tackle two critical developments threatening Australian retirees: escalating Iran conflict and the shocking rise in retirement costs.

ASFA's Retirement Standard just hit all-time highs. You now need $730,000 for a comfortable retirement as a couple (homeowners, retiring at 67), or $630,000 for singles. This is the first increase in three years. Why the jump? Retiree costs are rising faster than general inflation. While CPI rose 3.8%, electricity jumped 21.5% (after subsidies expired), coffee/tea up 15.3%, beef up 10.8%, and domestic travel...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth tackle why CBA and BHP are both crushing it right now, plus the shocking SMSF boom: 42,000 new funds established in FY25, with the average NEW trustee age dropping to just 47 (vs 61 for existing funds). Why are younger Australians rushing to SMSFs, and 80% doing it without advisers?

The Boomer Briefing covers ASIC's major crackdown on dodgy lead generators selling your details to financial advisers, how to spot ethical vs unethical lead generation, and what retirees need to know about...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth open with football season excitement - Saints vs Dogs, tickets locked in for June 21, 2026, and the inevitable complaining about obscene player salaries.

The Boomer Briefing tackles two critical topics:

Q Super's Retirement Bonus - What it is, how it works, eligibility criteria, and whether it's actually worth it or just marketing spin.

Selling down assets: Accumulation vs Pension phase - The massive tax differences that could save or...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth deliver critical updates on tax changes and relationship traps that could cost you thousands.

After quick summer highlights and the CBA share price update (plenty of AI-driven outperformers despite volatility), they dive into the Boomer Briefing's two massive topics:

PROPOSED CGT CHANGES - New proposals threatening the capital gains tax discount could dramatically affect retirement planning and asset sales. Drew and James break down what's being proposed, who's pushing for...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth kick things off with high energy - school drop-offs turning them into unpaid taxi drivers, interest rate movements affecting overseas travel plans, and whether term deposits are finally worth a look again.

The Boomer Briefing tackles two massive stories shaking up the super industry:

First Guardian & Netwealth finally came to a deal. After months of drama, the collapsed super fund scandal has reached resolution. Drew and James break down what happened and what it means for...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth kick things off with Drew's CBA share price bet update. The bet backfired when CBA fell in 2025, costing Drew $150. But he's doubling down - the new bet is whether CBA will finish above or below $150. Will Drew learn his lesson?

The Boomer Briefing tackles a fascinating trend: Why are retirees checking their super balances more than their kids' wellbeing? New data reveals heightened anxiety among retired members, particularly in funds like UniSuper where engagement with...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth break down the complete landscape of retirement income in Australia.

One of the most common questions financial advisers hear is: "Where will my income actually come from in retirement?" The answer isn't simple—and that's actually a good thing. The most successful retirees don't rely on a single income source; they strategically combine multiple streams to create flexibility, tax efficiency, and security.

Drew and James walk through the five main so...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth explain the critical building blocks of a resilient retirement portfolio.

Whether you're just starting to think about retirement or already managing your super, understanding asset allocation is one of the most important investment concepts you'll ever learn. This isn't about picking the next hot stock or timing the market—it's about building a portfolio that can generate returns while managing risk over decades.

Drew and James break down what asset cl...

The Rask 2026 stock market game is live - it's called Stock Genius. Available at stockgenius.com.au, in collaboration with Navexa, the Rask Stock Market is open for you to compete and enjoy with over 1,000 fellow investors.

In this episode, we cover:

- Is AI killing app investing in 2026?

- Are you a stock market genius? Play our game to find out

- How the game works

- Smart tracking for portfolios

- Owen and Navarre’s top picks

Resources for this episode Join the ga...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth continue their back-to-basics summer miniseries by tackling one of the most important decisions in retirement planning: which type of super fund is right for you?

While the super rules are the same for everyone, the differences between industry funds, SMSFs, platforms, and corporate funds can have a huge impact on your retirement outcome. Drew and James break down what really matters when comparing options: control over investments, transparency of holdings, fee structures, flexibility in strategies, and the ability...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth continue their summer miniseries by tackling the complex world of getting money OUT of your super.

They break down the critical concepts of taxable vs tax-free components, preservation age, and the various conditions of release that allow you to access your super. Drew and James explain the difference between lump sum withdrawals and pension payments, and dive into the tax implications - including the infamous 20+ different tax rates that can apply to super (check out...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth kick off their summer miniseries by going back to basics on super contributions. They break down ALL the ways you can get money into super, including concessional contributions (employer, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible), non-concessional contributions, the downsizer scheme, and the often-overlooked CGT retirement exemption that could let you contribute up to $500,000 tax-free. Whether you're just starting out or want to maximize your final years before retirement, this episode gives you the complete playbook - plus one simple tip that...

It's been an incredible year for the Australian Retirement Podcast! As we head into the Christmas break, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth look back at the biggest moments, most important lessons, and most-watched episodes of 2025.

From market volatility and ethical investing debates to government policy changes and real-world retirement strategies, this year has been packed with insights to help you navigate your retirement journey.

In this special highlights episode, Drew and James revisit:

The 20 things every retiree should do – My...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your host Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, sits down with retirement expert and best-selling author Bec Wilson to explore the Epic Retirement Tick - a groundbreaking framework for assessing retirement readiness.

Bec, author of How to Have an Epic Retirement and Prime Time, founder of Epic Retirement and educator, shares insights from her latest initiative addressing a critical gap in Australia's retirement landscape. While we have excellent tools for accumulation, the transition to retirement often leaves Australians feeling uncertain about whether their super fund can truly deliver the retirement they've been...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth tackle one of the most complex parts of Australian retirement planning: the superannuation tax system.

How many different tax rates apply to super? The answer might shock you - it's around 20 different rates, depending on your situation!

Drew and James break down every tax that can hit your superannuation at different stages:

– Contributing to super: From the standard 15% contributions tax to Division 293's extra 15% for hi...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask speaks with Tony Crescenzi, Executive Vice President and Market Strategist at PIMCO, to discuss:

– Why defensiveness is PIMCO’s current strategy

– The lessons from over four decades in markets

– The concept of a new global monetary order

– Where bonds fit for modern Australian investors

If you love learning about macro investing, fixed income or market strategy, subscribe to the Australian Retirement Podcast on ⁠Apple⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠YouTube⁠!

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth tackle a diverse range of retirement topics that matter right now. They kick off with market optimism - CBA is floating around $168, and the hosts ask the provocative question: What if everything goes right? What if Middle East tensions ease, Russia-Ukraine resolves, China stabilizes, and tariff wars end? They also discuss the potential impacts of Australian government policy changes on housing, negative gearing, superannuation, and land tax. The Boomer Briefing covers a crucial development: the ATO is ramping up its...

This episode was originally featured on The Australian Finance Podcast.

In this episode of The Australian Retirement Podcast, Gemma Mitchell is joined by Tahli — educator, retirement specialist and long-time member of the Rask team.

After working with hundreds of Australians approaching retirement, Tahli has seen the same patterns over and over again. Most people feel unprepared. Many feel intimidated by the jargon. And almost everyone worries they’ve “left it too late”. This conversation cuts through the noise and gives listeners a clear, calm starting point for planning the next sta...

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode your host, Owen Rask, chats with PIMCO portfolio manager Rob Mead on how fixed income / bond investing works, why timing matters and reasons to invest right now.

If you like ETF investing, bonds, passive income, managed funds, or the stock market in general, here's what you'll get:

- Rob's lessons from 20 years in bonds- Does timing matter?

- Why 95% of a bond's return is the starting point

- How to understand the 'yield curve' and maturities

- Does Rob think...

In this Australian Investors Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask speaks with Chris Bedingfield of Quay Global Investors about:
– Why real estate is an inefficient market
– How replacement cost drives long-term property value
– Why global REITs offer diversification Australian REITs can’t
– Where today’s best opportunities lie across global property sectors
If you love learning about property, REITs, global markets and income investing, subscribe to the Australian Investors Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube!
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more investing insights.
Topics Covered
– Why most investors use the wrong metr...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners and James O'Reilly from Northeast Wealth discuss the significant changes to Australia's proposed Division 296 superannuation tax legislation. The government has made substantial amendments to the controversial super tax policy, addressing many of the concerns raised by financial advisers, industry groups, and retirees. The most significant change? The removal of tax on unrealised capital gains - a world-first proposal that would have set a dangerous precedent. Drew and James explain what the original proposal entailed, why it was problematic, and what the new changes mean for Australians...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask sits down with David Gardner (co-founder of The Motley Fool and author of Rule Breaker Investing) to discuss:

– Beating the market vs indexing

– The “lose to win” philosophy and position sizing

– The six traits of rule-breaker companies

– Conscious capitalism, purpose and culture

If you love learning about growth investing and finding outliers, subscribe to the Australian Retirement Podcast on ⁠Apple⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠YouTube⁠!

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ for more investing insights.

Topics Covered

In this Australian Retirement Podcast Halloween special, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth share spine-chilling finance horror stories from their years as financial advisers. Happy Halloween! 🎃 While most people are worried about ghosts and ghouls, Drew and James reveal the truly terrifying mistakes they've witnessed in retirement planning. From presenting the wrong portfolios to clients, to $50K call option disasters, property agreements that went wrong, and investors switching to defensive at the market bottom - these real-world horror stories will make you think twice about your own financial decisions. They also tackle the...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your hosts Drew Meredith, from Wattle Partners, and James O'Reilly, from Northeast Wealth expose one of Australia's biggest superannuation scandals and explain what it means for your retirement. With $1.2 billion locked up and nearly 12,000 investors affected, the Shield Master Fund (via Macquarie) and First Guardian (via Netwealth) collapses have sent shockwaves through the industry. Drew and James break down what happened, from aggressive 10-15% return promises and faulty Statements of Advice, to conflicted investment models and "industrial-scale" misconduct. They explain how 'lead generators' and dodgy financial advice referrals drove investments into associated entities...

It’s the Australian Retirement Podcast’s first birthday! Drew Meredith and James O’Reilly look back on a huge year of markets, headlines, and retirement conversations — from Div 296 and global tariffs to the AI investment boom, Japan ending negative rates, and what the return of Trump could mean for investors.

They also answer your most-asked retirement questions: how age gaps affect Age Pension eligibility, what late starters can do to catch up on super, and whether to invest inside or outside super after paying off the home early.

Whether...

In this episode, host Gemma Mitchell is joined by Ben Kingsley, one of Australia’s leading property investment advisers, founder of Empower Wealth, and Chair of the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA). Ben, along with his long-time business partner Bryce Holdaway, has just released their third book, How to Retire on $3,000 a Week. Together, Ben and Bryce have built a reputation for simplifying property investing for everyday Australians. They’re also the co-authors of best-selling titles Make Money Simple Again and The Armchair Guide to Property Investing. While Bryce couldn’t join us today, Ben shares insights from their...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, Drew Meredith from Wattle Partners sits down with best-selling author Bec Wilson to talk about her new book Prime Time, why she wrote it, and the 27 lessons for living well in life’s next stage. They also cover how to think about super funds in retirement, the return of the “tick” test, and why lifestyle planning matters just as much as financial planning for those thinking about retirement.

Topics covered today:

– Prime Time – what it is, and how it differs from Epic Retirement

– The 27 lessons for...

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask sits down with Kanish Chugh (from PIMCO) to discuss: - The hybrid securities market and why APRA is phasing out bank hybrids – What income investors (especially retirees) should consider in 2025 – The outlook for fixed income, bonds and private credit as interest rates fall – PIMCO’s research-backed strategy for income investors post-hybrids Topics Covered – What are hybrid securities and why APRA is shutting them down by 2032 – What this means for income-focused investors and superannuation strategies – How hybrids work compared to bonds and floating rate securities – The impact of falling interest rates on income...

In this episode of the Australian Retirement Podcast, Drew Meredith and James O’Reilly unpack the rise of the Bank of Mum and Dad and the tough decisions facing parents who want to help their kids buy a home. Should you gift cash, go guarantor, or use other strategies? They explore the risks and rewards of each approach, how guarantor loans work, and what it means for your retirement and estate plans. Plus, they cover key retirement questions, including how to get tax back before starting an allocated pension and the basics of how estates work.

In this Australian Retirement Podcast episode, your host Owen Rask sits down with Aaditya Thakur (PIMCO) to discuss: – What a bond fund manager actually does – The role of macroeconomic forecasting in fixed income – PIMCO’s multi-layered investment process – Why bonds still matter for investors in 2025 ~~Topics Covered~~ – What a bond portfolio manager actually does day to day – Top-down vs. bottom-up bond analysis – How PIMCO runs global investment strategy sessions – Why bonds offer diversification and income for Aussie investors ~~Resources for This Episode~~

- ⁠Visit TermPlus to learn more⁠

- Pimco Australian bond fund

- Pimco ETFs

In this episode of the Australian Retirement Podcast, Drew Meredith and James O’Reilly break down the latest retirement news and what it means for you. They discuss upcoming Age Pension changes, including updates to deeming rules and payment increases, and how these may affect retirees’ cash flow and eligibility.

The conversation also tackles the fallout from the collapse of Dixon Advisory, what it says about conflicts of interest in financial advice, and the cancellation of the government’s inquiry into the failed business. Finally, Drew and James share their views on what to watch for when select...