Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 529

Podcast: Noel Whittaker's retirement tips and traps

Season 2, Episode 9

Special guest Noel Whittaker, best-selling author and personal finance guru, offers his key tips for making the most of your retirement. He discusses the mistakes that people make with SMSFs, why super remains a good vehicle for retirees, how estate planning is a "minefield", and the financial traps to avoid with aged care.

Firstlinks’ Managing Editor, Graham Hand, also joins us to explain why more listed investment companies should close as well as the intriguing battle between Magellan and shareholder activist Nick Bolton.

And Morningstar's Peter Warnes is back from a break to talk about the carnage in bond markets and what it might mean for Australian markets.

The podcast is also available via our dedicated website page, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and BuzzSprout.

Please share with friends and colleagues, and a favourable rating would help spread the word. We welcome questions and suggestions at [email protected].

Grab a cuppa and settle in for our chat.

James Gruber
Editorial, Firstlinks and Morningstar

 

  •   4 October 2023
  • 10
  •      
  •   
10 Comments
Kay
October 05, 2023

I have just listened to this podcast. Very interesting. I don't understand options, I needed an executive summary as background. Please do one. Also, a podcast on why an investor would want to invest in bonds.....no franking credits there, isn't a term deposit the same? More of Noel please, especially on estate planning. As he said 'you don't know what you don't know' . How does one best Estate plan if you have no family and you want to arrange things to give to causes in an ongoing fashion? Or are you best to give before you die and try to pass away broke? Noel told me many things I did not know today, thank you. I regularly read Firstlinks, a fair bit I don't understand, and the comments can be very entertaining.

Jan
October 05, 2023

I am interesting to know how one Estate plan if I have no family like Kay, I am going to arrange everything go to charity, wants some information on their financial situation, what is the percentage of the yearly people donated fund goes to the people who really need ?

Tasman
October 07, 2023

Current term deposits 4-5%?.My bond portfolio last financial year returned 6.8% from a very diverse mix of different types of bonds with interest ranging from 5% to 12%.They will mature over many years and then return my capital when they do.The interest is variously paid monthly or quartely so I am not waiting to the next year to benefit from franking credits.

Kay
October 08, 2023

I admit I am no expert. Treasury/Government Bonds are returning 4-4.5%. They are the capital guaranteed Bonds. If you are earning 12%, I think you must be taking on more capital risk (than a term deposit in Australia up to 250K per institution), with Corporate Bonds. My search for Capital and Inflation protected investments continues....

charles
October 07, 2023

It would be helpful if you could provide a written version of the podcast. It would help the deaf and also those that don't want to interrupt others. Also it would provide ability to refer back to segments.

B2
October 08, 2023

Agreed

Shane
October 09, 2023

Agree

James Gruber
October 18, 2023

Hi Charles, we would love to do it. Unfortunately, many tools such as zoom and others aren't accurate and fail to pick up financial terms and nuances. That means any audio transcription requires labor and money. We don't have that capacity at the moment, though hopefully that changes soon.

Lucille McLaren
October 09, 2023

Kay, Re bonds Tasman would be buying commercial bonds from the likes of FIIG. Some are available on the stock exchange and you can readily sell those if need be. Not all bonds are equal there is risk associated with them.

Tasman
October 08, 2023

Lucille,you are correct,My 18 bonds comprise floating rate 6,indexed 5, RMBS 3, fixed rate 2, asset backed 1 and one commercial .The 12% interset one is the asset backed one, short dated and is about 2% of total portfolio so I am comfortable with the risk.The bonds are also diversified across industry sectors,credit ratings(including unrated),duration and currency.

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Building a lazy ETF portfolio in 2026

What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? I’ve addressed this issue before but think it’s worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.

Get set for a bumpy 2026

At this time last year, I forecast that 2025 would likely be a positive year given strong economic prospects and disinflation. The outlook for this year is less clear cut and here is what investors should do.

Meg on SMSFs: First glimpse of revised Division 296 tax

Treasury has released draft legislation for a new version of the controversial $3 million super tax. It's a significant improvement on the original proposal but there are some stings in the tail.

Ray Dalio on 2025’s real story, Trump, and what’s next

The renowned investor says 2025’s real story wasn’t AI or US stocks but the shift away from American assets and a collapse in the value of money. And he outlines how to best position portfolios for what’s ahead.

10 fearless forecasts for 2026

The predictions include dividends will outstrip growth as a source of Australian equity returns, US market performance will be underwhelming, while US government bonds will beat gold.

13 million spare bedrooms: Rethinking Australia’s housing shortfall

We don’t have a housing shortage; we have housing misallocation. This explores why so many bedrooms go unused, what’s been tried before, and five things to unlock housing capacity – no new building required.

Latest Updates

3 ways to fix Australia’s affordability crisis

Our cost-of-living pressures go beyond the RBA: surging house prices, excessive migration, and expanding government programs, including the NDIS, are fuelling inflation, demanding bold, structural solutions.

Superannuation

The Division 296 tax is still a quasi-wealth tax

The latest draft legislation may be an improvement but it still has the whiff of a wealth tax about it. The question remains whether a golden opportunity for simpler and fairer super tax reform has been missed.

Superannuation

Is it really ‘your’ super fund?

Your super isn’t a bank account you own; it’s a trust you merely benefit from. So why would the Division 296 tax you personally on assets, income and gains you legally don’t own?

Shares

Inflation is the biggest destroyer of wealth

Inflation consistently undermines wealth, even in low-inflation environments. Whether or not it returns to target, investors must protect portfolios from its compounding impact on future living standards.

Shares

Picking the next sector winner

Global equity markets have experienced stellar returns in 2024 and 2025 led, in large part, by the boom in AI. Which sector could be the next star in global markets? This names three future winners.

Infrastructure

What investors should expect when investing in infrastructure: yield

The case for listed infrastructure is built on stable earnings and cash flows, which have sustained 4% dividend yields across cycles and supported consistent, inflation-linked long-term returns.

Investment strategies

Valuing AI: Extreme bubble, new golden era, or both

The US stock market sits in prolonged bubble territory, driven by AI enthusiasm. History suggests eventual mean reversion, reminding investors to weigh potential risks against current market optimism.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.