Australian Finance Podcast

Explore how AI tools like ChatGPT can support (and mislead) your financial planning, understand key differences between pre- and post-tax super contributions, and unpack SMSF concerns around ETF custodial ownership.

In this Friday Q&A episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell unpack some of the most common and timely questions we’re seeing right now around AI, superannuation strategies and SMSF investing.

With tools like ChatGPT becoming part of everyday decision-making, we talk about where AI can genuinely help with money organisation and planning, where it falls down, and why judgement, context and regulation still matter when real money is on the line.

We also step through practical super contribution questions that confuse a lot of people, and clear up concerns around ETF custodial ownership for SMSFs.

If you like this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.

And follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more free insights.

Topics Covered
– Can ChatGPT help with your financial planning?
– Where AI tools are useful (and risky) with money
– Are AI-generated return estimates for super reliable?
– Target date funds: what they are & how Aussies use them
– What SMSF investors need to know about ETF custodial ownership
– Betashares Direct & other SMSF platform structures
– Pre-tax (concessional) vs post-tax (non-concessional) contributions
– How to claim a tax deduction for super contributions
– Why timing & paperwork matter for pre-tax strategies
– Practical steps to avoid breaching your super caps

Resources for this episode
📄 Learn more about this episode:
– ChatGPT and Financial Planning – ASIC Guidelines - https://moneysmart.gov.au
– ATO guide to Super Contributions - https://www.ato.gov.au

Show partner resources
Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit: https://bit.ly/Pearler
Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith: https://bit.ly/R-PocketSmith
View Betashares range of funds:  https://bit.ly/beta-25

Rask resources
All services: https://bit.ly/R-services
Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan
Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest
Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes
Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest
We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP

Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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How does your super really stack up? Average vs top 10% super balances explained.

In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Gemma Mitchell and Owen Rask break down the latest Australian superannuation statistics and answer the question so many people quietly worry about: Am I behind on super?

This episode cuts through the averages, explains what the numbers actually mean, and gives you practical ways to improve your superannuation position whether you’re behind, on track, or already ahead.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, make sure you hit follow on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Want help sorting your super or retirement plan? Explore the free resources and advice links below.

Topics Covered

– What you ‘should’ have in super by age

– What places you in the top 10% of super balances

– Why average super figures can be misleading

– Median vs average: what really tells the story

– Career breaks, part-time work & super outcomes

– “Comfortable retirement”: what it really means

– Why context matters more than general rules

– Inflation & changing retirement income targets

– Top 10% super balances by age – and how to use the data

– Why top 10% doesn’t mean “set”, and being behind doesn’t mean “failed”

For those behind on super:

– Contributions: how small boosts can grow

– Fees & insurance: hidden costs that add up

– Investment settings: don’t go too conservative too soon

For those ahead on super:

– Does “comfortable” reflect the life you want?

– Check your insurance is still right for your needs

– When building assets outside super makes sense

Key takeaway:

Understanding where you sit can be motivating – but what matters most is what you do next.

Resources for this episode

Rask Super Course (free)

Rask Retirement Academy (free)

What is a comfortable retirement? – ASFA

APRA Quarterly Super Report (June 2025)

Gemma’s book – The Money Reset

Ask a question or give us feedback

Show partner resources

Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit

Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

View Betashares range of funds

Rask resources

All services

Financial Planning

Invest with us

Access Show Notes

Ask a question

We love feedback!

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @rask.invest

TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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In this Friday Q&A episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Gemma Mitchell is joined by James Phelan, Senior Adviser at Rask Advice, to answer the big money questions that tend to come up when a baby is on the way.

From planning for income changes to understanding parental leave, childcare costs and shared money dynamics, this episode focuses on practical, real-world decisions new and growing families are navigating right now.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, follow us on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Got a parenting & money question for a future Q&A? Submit it here.

Topics Covered
– What to expect financially when a baby is on the way
– Creating a cash buffer and planning for one-off baby expenses
– Employer vs government parental leave: how to sequence it
– Navigating Child Care Subsidy and estimating weekly costs
– Understanding childcare waitlists & minimum day policies
– Managing shared money when one partner stops or reduces work
– Avoiding resentment in uneven financial contributions
– Systems that work with low energy, low time, and a new baby
– How to keep control of money in the early parenting fog

Resources for this episode:

– Paid Parental Leave – Services Australia
– Child Care Subsidy Estimator
– Gemma’s book: The Money Reset
– Ask a question

Show partner resources:

- Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit – https://bit.ly/Pearler
- Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith – https://bit.ly/R-PocketSmith
- View Betashares range of funds – https://bit.ly/beta-25

Rask resources:

🔗 All Rask services – https://bit.ly/R-services
📋 Rask Financial Planning – https://bit.ly/R-plan
📈 Start investing with Rask – https://bit.ly/R-invest
📜 Access Show Notes – https://bit.ly/R-notes
❓ Ask a question – https://bit.ly/R-quest

📲 Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @rask.invest – https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest/
TikTok: @rask.invest – https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest

DISCLAIMER
This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs before acting on it.
If you’re unsure, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG) – https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Gemma Mitchell is joined by long-time friend of the show, Mel Browne – a multi-time founder, author, and ex-financial adviser with a fresh take on what it really means to be wealthy.

With her new book Dare to Be Wealthy hitting shelves, Mel and Gemma dive into some of the biggest mindset blocks, money myths and systemic challenges holding people back – especially women – from feeling in control of their financial lives.

From redefining wealth, to unpacking the hidden costs of traditional success, to rethinking how we talk about investing, debt and progress – this is a conversation packed with big questions and honest answers.

Topics Covered

– What inspired Mel’s new book Dare to Be Wealthy and how it differs from her earlier work

– Why “wealth” is such a loaded word and how language around money shapes our beliefs

– The difference between being “rich” and being “wealthy”

– Why terms like “aggressive” in investing can be unhelpful or misunderstood

– A new framework for thinking about debt

– beyond “good” vs “bad”

– How systems around us (like tax, housing, and gendered expectations) work against financial progress

– What individuals can actually do to counter those systems and make change

– The emotional side of money: what happens when you tick the “invisible checklist” and still feel stuck

– Mel’s three types of success

– and why recognising them can change everything

– Advice for anyone feeling behind, stuck, or disconnected from their financial future

Resources for this episode

📄 Explore more:

– Buy Dare to Be Wealthy by Mel Browne

– Booktopia or Amazon

– Mel Browne’s website: https://www.melbrowne.com.au

– Previous episodes with Mel: Search "Mel Browne" in The Australian Finance Podcast archives

– Ask a question for the podcast: https://bit.ly/R-quest

Show partner resources

Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit

Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

View Betashares range of funds

Rask resources

All services

Financial Planning

Invest with us

Access Show Notes

Ask a question

We love feedback!

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @rask.invest

TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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In this Friday Q&A episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell tackle some of the bigger, more complex money questions that tend to show up in mid-life and major transitions.

We cover what it really means to be an executor of an estate, how to think through first home and property decisions as a couple, and how investors at different stages can make more confident choices without feeling out of their depth.

Owen and Gemma cover:

- Where to start when you’re named executor of an estate, what your responsibilities actually are, whether there’s a government checklist, and when to involve lawyers and other professionals

- The pros and cons of keeping an existing apartment as an investment versus selling it to reduce debt on a new home, including tax considerations over the next few years

- Where to seek personal advice on property, tax and structuring decisions when things move beyond general education

- How to make a meaningful financial contribution in a relationship where one partner has significantly more investing experience, and how confidence, behaviour and consistency often matter more than technical knowledge

- ETF investing considerations for someone mortgage-free in their mid-50s with a 10–20 year time horizon, medium-high risk tolerance, and high marginal tax on cash savings

If you enjoyed this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, make sure you hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.And if you’ve got a money question you’d like us to unpack in a future Q&A, send it through using the link in the show notes.

Resources for this episode

- Sign up for the newsletter

- Sign up for Rask Core

- Buy Gemma’s book The Money Reset

- Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

- Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit

- Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

- View Betashares range of funds

Rask resources

- All services

- Financial Planning

- Invest with us

- Access Show Notes

- Ask a question

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

#finance #asx

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