Australian Finance Podcast

In this special Pearler x Rask live episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell break down the practical strategies that could help you grow your super by an extra $100,000 over your working life.

Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

Owen & Gemma look at the three big levers: adding more, earning more and losing less, and how the right strategy can look very different depending on your age, income, time frame and circumstances.

What we cover in today's super episode:

– The $100k Super Boost: How could you potentially add an extra $100,000 to your super?

– Super 101: A quick refresher on how super works and why it matters.

– The Three Levers: Add more, earn more and lose less.

– The Power of Time: Why starting earlier can make a huge difference.

– Making Extra Contributions: How small additional contributions can add up over time.

– Your Investment Option: How the way your super is invested can affect your long-term balance.

– Fees and Costs: Why what you pay inside super matters.

– Age Matters: What you should be thinking about at different stages of your working life.

– Real-Life Scenarios: What a $100k boost could potentially look like at different ages.

– Live Community Q&A: Answering your pre-sent and live questions!

This podcast and video is sponsored by Pearler.

Episode resources

– Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”

– Speak with the Rask Advice team

– Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

– View VanEck's range of funds

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

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 Australian Finance Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Cameron McCormack, Senior Portfolio Manager at VanEck, to unpack factor investing in a way that actually makes sense for everyday ETF investors.

The conversation starts with the basics: what factor investing is, how it differs from broad market-cap investing, and why terms like smart beta, rules-based investing and factor investing are often talking about the same idea. From there, Cameron breaks down the major factor lenses investors are likely to hear about, including quality, value and growth, and explains the types of company traits that sit behind each one.

Owen and Cameron then make the discussion practical by walking through real ETF examples such as QUAL and MVW, showing how factor strategies can change portfolio weights, sector exposure and diversification. They also explore when quality can behave defensively, why value can come back into favour in stronger economic environments, and how investors might think about using factor ETFs as core holdings or portfolio tilts rather than chasing complexity for its own sake.

If you have ever wondered whether factor investing is just marketing jargon or a genuinely useful next step after index ETF basics, this episode is a clear and grounded guide.

Episode resources

– Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”

– Speak with the Rask Advice team

– Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

– View VanEck's range of funds

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

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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If you had $500 to invest in Australia every month, where would you actually put it?

Join Rask's new platform

In this live weekly Q&A episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell break down their top strategies for investing $500/month in Australia today.

Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to automate your wealth-building habit, we share practical ways to construct a sensible, low-cost portfolio designed for the long haul.

What we cover in today's investing episode:

- The $500 Portfolio Pick: Owen and Gemma reveal where they’d invest $500 right now.

- Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA): Why regular, fixed investments beat trying to time the market.

- The Math of $500/Month: How small monthly amounts compound into long-term wealth over 10, 20, and 30 years.

- Sensible ETF & Index Strategies: How to keep brokerage low and diversification high.

- Live Community Q&A: Answering your pre-sent and live chat questions on money, stocks, and personal finance.

Episode resources

– Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”

– Speak with the Rask Advice team

– Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

– View VanEck's range of funds

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell unpack 10 legitimate ways Australians can access their super and why the rules matter more than most people realise.

From the two most common pathways, retiring after preservation age and turning 65, through to transition-to-retirement strategies, incapacity rules, terminal illness provisions, the First Home Super Saver Scheme, severe financial hardship, compassionate grounds and leaving Australia permanently, this episode gives listeners a practical map of what is possible and what can go wrong.

Owen and Gemma also tackle one of the internet's dumbest myths: that super is a scam. Instead, they explain why super is best understood as a tax-effective structure, why your age and employment status change the rules, and why insurance inside super can make fund-switching riskier than people expect.

You'll also hear why early access is rarely just a paperwork exercise. The discussion walks through the trade-offs behind each condition of release, why short-term relief can create long-term costs, and how Australians can think more clearly about super without falling for panic, hot takes or comment-section nonsense.

If you're approaching retirement, saving for a first home or just trying to make smarter long-term decisions, this is a fast, useful guide to the main conditions of release, the tax advantages of super and the mistakes to avoid before making a move.

Episode resources

– Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”

– Speak with the Rask Advice team

– Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

– View VanEck's range of funds

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026

– 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a special rewind episode of the Australian Finance Podcast, bringing back one of our favourite Q&A conversations because the questions are still incredibly relevant today.

In this episode, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell work through practical money decisions that many Australians wrestle with: whether extra cash should go into super or against the mortgage, what to do when you’ve saved a first-home deposit but life changes stall the next step, and how to think about retirement when you’re worried you’re behind.

They also unpack why discipline matters when comparing super with debt reduction, how to weigh flexibility against tax benefits, and what to consider if you’re building wealth outside super before preservation age. There’s also a thoughtful discussion about defined benefit schemes, planning for uncertainty, and why a simple, steady plan can matter more than chasing the perfect answer.

If you’ve ever wondered whether to boost super, hold cash, invest, or rethink the timing of a big financial move, this rewind is full of grounded, plain-English insights. It’s a great one to revisit if you’re trying to make smarter decisions with your next dollar.

Episode resources

– Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”

– Speak with the Rask Advice team

– Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources

– View VanEck's range of funds

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

– Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith

– Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices