The BiG Directory of investing resources and giveaways
Resources and Giveaways
Here are some resources and freebies, podcasts, blogs, forums, social media groups, apps, publications
along with ancillary investment professionals you’ll come across in the money and investing industries.
Finance Podcasts, Apps, Blogs, Forums & Websites
Money and Investing Podcasts
- 10 Investment Podcasts For Australian Investors Canstar 2020
- Aussie Firebug Financial Independence Retire Early [they say] “… is the financial independence podcast for Australian’s where I interview clever people who have already reached or are on their way to financial independence.”
- My millennial money Sort Your Money Out (Aus) [they say] “We’re a podcast for millennials and their money. It’s like Hamish and Andy for your finances. Glen James & John Pidgeon discuss millennial money matters in a light-hearted way. With a variety of topical guests on the show, there is a great balance between practical money tips and banter.”
- The Money (Aus) ABC Radio National [they say] “The Money explains how the Australian economy and everything in it works, and how this all connects to the global economy.”
- The Money Café (Aus) [they say] “James Kirby and Alan Kohler discuss the biggest news in business, finance, and economics, and what it means for investors. Presented in partnership with The Constant Investor.” (not to be confused with the websites, book seller The Money Cafe (USA) Ernie Zelinski)
- Equity Mates (Aus) [they say] “is a finance and investing podcast, created to break down the world of investing, from beginning to dividend, to make it much more accessible for everybody.”
- Margaret Lomas – Destiny (Aus) [She says she] “regularly shares her expertise gained from years as a property investor through these regular podcasts.” and Vidcasts.
- MoneySmart YouTubeVideos (Aus gov)The Moneysmart website is a trusted source of financial information and provides free calculators, tips and guidance for all Australians.
- The Property Couch [they say] “Is a podcast hosted by two of Australia’s Property Experts, Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley. This Podcast is about helping people make smart property investment decisions.”
- The Pineapple Project (Aus) ABC Jan Fran [she says] “The podcast that makes you better at money.” Previously hosted by Claire Hooper [who said she’s] “a bit crap with finances. And she’s not the only one. She’s on a mission. To get better at money. From smart saving, to how to earn more, demolish your debt, and invest like a boss, join her as she tracks down all the experts and learns the lessons we somehow missed.”
- The Richards Report [he says he] “speaks with experts from the world of finance to explore and learn ways you can make smarter decisions when it comes to investing money and time. Join Ted Richards when he speaks with talented investors, athletes and professors about ways to improve your own performance. Guests include Scott Galloway, Harvard/Wharton Professors, Fund Managers and former professional athletes.”
Money and Investing Blogs and Apps
- AlphaBeta “strategy x economics”
- Australian Financial Review Smart Investor
- Australian Property Investor (API)
- Australian Property Market [they say they] “will endeavour to bring you the latest, smart and most up to date tips for your property investment and real estate and home buying process. We follow the market trends and updates to give you the best possible strategy and information to help first home buyers and investors to make the right decision.”
- Australian Stock Market Investing Blog
- The Barefoot Investor (Scott Pape): Blog
- The Daily Reckoning
- Flying Solo [they say they are] “Australia’s largest online business community. Established in 2005, Flying Solo is home to a community of over 75,000 Australian solo and micro businesses, along with 30,000 more connecting across our social networks.”
- Fusion Investing – Top 10 Australian Business, Finance and Investing Sites
- Hot Copper [they say] “is the largest stock market forum in Australia with over 250,000 registered members and more than 8,000 posts per day.”
- Intelligent Investor
- MacroBusinessSuperblog [they say] “Is Australia’s leading business and investment blog. Its mission is to bridge the gulf between the Australian business media and reality.”
- Millenial Revolution [they say they are] “a FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) site started by two computer engineers/children’s authors, FIRECracker & Wanderer, who retired at 31 to travel the world!
- (ASIC) Calculators and APPs
Budgetingsaving calculators
Mortgage calculators
Money health calculators & unclaimed money search
Loans, credit & debt calculators
Superannuation & retirement calculators
Investing calculators
Mobile finance apps
-
- Motley Fool
- Real Estate Investar
- Roger Montgomery
- Your Investment Property (YIP)
- The Financial Planning Association of Australia [they say] “If you have any burning questions about your finances, head to the Ask an Expert forum and ask a qualified expert for free.” [The FPAA hasn’t updated this function recently and the links are broken. But there’s still some useful stuff on the site.] Topics they cover are:
SHARES
FEES
FINDING A PLANNER
AGED CARE
BANKRUPTCY
BUDGETTING
CENTRELINK
DEBT
DIVORCE
ESTATE PLANNING
FAMILY TRUSTS
FINANCIAL PLANNING
FPA
GENERAL SAVING
GOAL SETTING
INHERITANCE
INSURANCE
INVESTING
MORTGAGES
PROPERTY
RETIREMENT
SELF MANAGED SUPER FUNDS
SAVING FOR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION
SELF-EMPLOYED
SUPERANNUATION
TAX
WEALTH CREATION
Media
The Australian Independent Media Network (AIMN) “is a platform for citizen journalists and bloggers to write and engage in an independent media environment.”
Mainstream media – TV/Internet/Newspapers
ABC News Business, The Business
The Australian – Business review
7 Yahoo Finance ‘Our experts‘ – Peter Switzer, David Koch, Michael Pascoe, Michael Yardney, Peter Boehm, Aaron Lynch, John Abernethy, Andrew Page, David Taylor, Karina May, Simon Boulton, Marcus Padley, Louise Bedford, Bruce Jackson, Magdy Marcos, Julia Lee, Dr John Demartini, Donna Brond, Ben Stein, Robert Kiyosaki, James Ramsay, Richard Quest, Kathy Lien
9 ninemsn (and Financial Review Sunday) Areas they cover:
- Property
- Share market investing
- Insurance
- Loans and credit
- Managing money and tax
- Super and planning
- Planning
- Finding
- Selling online
- Customer service
- Sales and marketing
Foxtel: Sky Business
- Your Money Your Call – property and shares
- Investing Property news; Business life; SME news; Media; Technology
Books, Magazines, subscriptions
Educated Investor Financial Bookshop. “Categories: Bargain Books; Trading; Technical; Psychology; Investment; Getting Started; Ebooks, Audio Books, DVD’s; Barefoot Investor Recommended Reading; CFD’s/ Contracts for Difference; Foreign Exchange/FX; Fundamentals; Options/Warrants; Superannuation; Software; Motivational Historical; Real Estate; Business/Management; Commodities; Financial Markets Futures; Leadership; Risk Management; Sales/Marketing; Newsletters”
The Adviser
Australian Broker
Australian Property Investor (API) (and see The Business Mall Property Investor’s Bookshop also has general investing, shares, superannuation, derivatives):
- Articles on specific regions, booming suburbs and potential hotspots
- Profiles of successful investors
- Small property development projects
- API Hot 100 – a list of the top 100 locations around the country hand-picked for their capital growth prospects
- Retirement Strategies
- Small Development Series
- Young Guns
- Roadmap to Wealth
- The Interview Q and A
- Case studies of specific projects
Austalian Quarterly
Australia’s Paydirt
Bloomberg Business Week
Business Acumen
The Economist
Forbes Asia
Fortune Asia
Gold Mining Journal
Harvard Business Review
Independent Financial Adviser
Marketing
Money “magazine helps you manage your finances by cutting through the jargon. Each month you’ll receive credible, independent and easy-to-understand financial advice from Australia’s most respected financial writers including Paul Clitheroe and Ross Greenwood.”
Mortgage Professionals Australia
SMSF Adviser
Success Business Magazine
Under the Radar Report – Small Caps
Your Investment Property “is the intelligent property owner’s choice when it comes to learning about Australia’s property market. [it] provides you with the most complete set of property data, independent commentary and thoroughly-researched articles about all aspects of investing in property in Australia and abroad. Every issue features in-depth analyses of the market trends that affect your investment. Practical tips and advice on how to manage and finance your investments are also featured regularly to help you make the best decisions. [it] carries the most comprehensive data section of any Australian property magazine, with extensive and exclusive data about every suburb in Australia to help you decide where to put your money. You also get independent expert advice on the best investment strategies for you as well as market analysis from Australia’s most trusted and experienced property experts. Plus, every month Your Investment Property carries exclusive information about Australia’s up-and-coming property hot spots; real-life success stories of ordinary, hardworking Australians who have achieved financial independence through property; and the latest and most practical legal, tax and financial advice to help you invest safely.” Free suburb reports: Newsletter.
Your Trading Edge
Major Street Publishing (MSP) “is an independently-owned publishing company that specialises in personal investment and business books, eBooks, newsletters and other publications. Founded in October 2009, the aim is to educate readers to save, make, manage and invest their money. Experts are commissioned to write on all aspects of personal finance – from property and share market investing to taxation, superannuation and money management, as well as other business-related topics…categories:
Property & Wealth Creation
Books for Business
Super & Shares “
Fishpond “Absolutely Australia’s Lowest Prices. We won’t be beaten by anyone. Guaranteed … an online store selling books, music, movies, beauty products, toys, sporting and outdoor product, jewellery, kitchen products and homewares.”
GIVEAWAYS: Facebook posts, eBooks, Reports, Blueprints, Newsletters, Updates, Subscriptions, Memberships
These eBooks, blueprints, videos, CDs, DVDs, webinars, subscriptions and trials, may contain useful tips and information, often they’re teasers to a more substantial purchase.
Be wary of giving credit card details. Often it’s almost impossible to cancel your subscription or you just forget – good luck getting a refund!
Throughout BiG, wherever I’ve found useful free products and special deals, I’ve include direct links to them. This saves you the hassle of overfilling your own inbox.
Ancillary Investment Service Providers
These people provide ancillary services in the BiG areas of investing (Wealth, Business, Property, Shares, You) such as:
- accountants
- conveyancers
- financial planners
- finance providers, mortgage brokers
- outsourcing services – IT services, virtual assistants,
- people who source property (such as developers, and real estate agents, buyer’s agents)
- property and strata managers
- quantity surveyors
- real estate agents and buyer’s agents
- stock brokers
Providers are listed here if:
- BiG or site subscribers have used and received great service from them, or
- they’ve paid to advertise here
You’re welcome to subscribe to BiG Updates.
I don’t buy any Google ads. If you have a business and do great stuff, I’d love you to advertise directly on BiG. Just contact me to discuss how (media pack is being developed). Your customers will of course be welcome to leave testimonials.
You’ll also find ancillary service providers in these industries and sites:
Financial Planners, advisers & accountants | How to find and choose good ones
Independence, fees and commissions:
Be wary when choosing a planner that you’re getting independent advice and that their fees are reasonable, based on the returns they can get. Cheapest doesn’t mean the best. Commissions should become more transparent and more closely regulated following the Financial Services Royal Commission.
These sites and articles will help you choose and compare financial advisers:
Financial advice costs and Financial advice and you MoneySmart (ASIC)
InvestSmart including Eureka Report and Business Spectator is a paid service and free “Insights” with highly respected Alan Kohler (the finance bloke on the ABC with the charts and the fab sense of humour!) and others. Grab a free 14 day trial of their broader services to see if they suit you.
Understanding the difference between wholesale and retail clients under FOFA MoneyManagement
Adviser Ratings (AR) “Australia’s first transparent and independent service to help you find, rate and review qualified financial advisers.”
Beddoes Institute – Most trusted advisers (App)
Canstar What is a Financial Planner & what to expect 7 Step Checklist
Choice Your guide to finding the best finanacial planner, Fixing financial advice campaign, – Lyndi’s story YouTube
MoneySmart (ASIC) Choosing a financial adviser (Especially its list of companies not licensed to give financial advice)
CPAAustralia (CPA) “Find a CPA (certified practising accountant) or financial planner”
Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) – Directory to find a financial planner
Yellow Brick Road – “How to pick a planner”
Credit & Finance
Scott Pape Barefoot Investor – Steal My Wallet “I’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best credit cards, savings accounts, mortgages and super.”
Money Buddy: “Based in Sydney, Money Buddy is an independent team of people interested in presenting personal finance information in a useful, easily-digested format. [It] covers home loans, credit cards, car loans, personal loans, bank accounts, tax, accounting, financial planning and calculators [and] features a local business directory for finding local business experts near you … we don’t endorse particular products or provide personal advice … We source our product data directly from institutions/providers and we keep this data as current as possible … [with our] search tool you can: Locate loan brokers or financial advisors in your area. Contact specific local businesses or allow us to match you with the best match. Search for local businesses specialising in home loans, car loans, personal loans, tax, accounting and financial planning.”
General comparison sites
Canstar “are the research company behind the ‘Money Magazine’ Bank of the Year awards … [they] provide research to comparison sites such as RateCity and Government bodies such as ASIC and the Reserve Bank … [they] see consumer education as a key goal.”
Compare the Market Compares: car, travel, health, life, home and contents insurance; roadside assistance; energy
finder.com.au Compares: Money; Utilities, Tech, Shopping and Travel
Flying Solo micro business directory – a huge list of small businesses.
iSelect – Compares: Health, Car, and Life Insurance; Home Loans; Electricity; Gas and Broadband
Moneyhound, Yahoo – Compare credit cards; mobile phones; home loans; bank accounts; broadband plans; saving accounts; term deposits; personal loans; tablet plans; car loans; electricity; gas; life insurance; and car insurance
“… helps you save money on your monthly bills … compare what you’re paying for all your monthly services against plans and prices from other providers to help you switch and save … Moneyhound will show you a comprehensive range of plans and products available in the Australian market based on your search criteria … search, compare, and fetch a better deal.”
Mozo “Over 300,000 Australians use our comparison tools each month to cut through the marketing noise and save themselves both time and money. Our award-winning website exists to help Australians easily compare banking, insurance and energy products to find the best deals for their needs.?”
Product review “is Australia’s first and most comprehensive consumer opinion site, online since May 2003. We provide a platform where people can rate and review services and products and the shops that sell them. It is consumer response – satisfied or not! On this site you will find real-life experiences and opinions voiced by Australians. We provide our users with the tools to easily find the items they are interested in, read what others have said about them and share their own experiences.”
Rate City (see their commissions/benefits from advertisers)
Insurance
Health: Private Health “a wealth of background material on private health insurance in Australia, a list of every registered health fund in Australia, the ability to search for health insurance policies and compare what is covered in each policy you have chosen.”
Info choice (includes stock brokers)
Funeral Cover:
Beware! Many funeral insurance policies play on your fear of death and guilt! Often prepaid funerals and funeral bonds are a much better alternative. Safer and cheaper and more regulated than insurance covers – suggests the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA). Their article Would you pay $140,000 for a funeral? has some great information.
Local Tradie find a service sites
HomeOne – Home building and Renovation
Outsourcing
• Guru.com
• Elance.com
• fiverr
• Odesk.com (now UpWork)
• Solutioninn.com
• PeoplePerHour.com
Property & Real Estate
Property investment professionals:
Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) “Our aim is to be the peak Property Investment Industry Association. Our members subscribe to a Code of Conduct which considers all consumers and commits to disclosure and a high standard of Best Practice. All of our members must work toward obtaining the Qualified Property Investment Adviser (QPIA®) qualification which will ensure that consumers can confidently deal with them, knowing that they have a minimum level of expertise and are continuing with regular professional development.”
Real estate agents:
In the BiG Shop (below) we only list real estate agents or other ancillary provides that we, or our members, have used, or who have paid for advertising (all are subject to comments and review).
We’re not a real estate agent ‘yellow pages’ as the internet already has many directories (e.g. in the various real estate institute member sites).
In many blogs and forums investors discuss their experiences with agents and real estate issues in general, such as commissions. Some are:
- Share Investing Strategies and Theories Forum PropertyChat (investing generally)
- PropertyChat – previously Somersoft (property)
- Whirlpool (internet in general)
Tips and Sites to help you find a real estate agent:
How to select the right real estate agent Finder
Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) Helping and protecting consumers with property investment
Real Estate Monitors “We help you choose and deal with an agent. You choose, we monitor”, 7 Questions to ask an agent when selling
Sell my castle – Local Agent Finder
Buyers agents:
Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) – Why investors should consider using a buyer’s agent
Rental Properties/Landlords:
Don’t Rent Me “Review & list bad landlords, bad property managers and bad rental properties.”
Shares, Managed Funds & Superannuation
Analysis and Data: The Financial Standard and Morningstar
Shares:
Guidelines from ASIC MoneySmart
How to Buy and Sell Shares
On a share exchange
There are five public share exchanges in Australia. Four of them directly supervise the companies that issue the shares that trade on their markets. The fifth exchange, Chi-X, currently only provides the infrastructure for trading shares already quoted on the ASX.
The four exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) – the main securities exchange in Australia
- Chi-X – an exchange that trades company shares already quoted on the ASX, but does not list or supervise the companies
- National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSXA) – a securities exchange that lists about 70 small to medium sized companies
- SIM Venture Securities Exchange (SIM VSE) – an exchange for innovative companies involved in the clean technology, renewable energy and bio science field
Using a broker:
2 types of brokers:
- online or phone broking service or ‘discount’ or ‘execution only’ broker – make your own investment decisions, or
- full service broker – they provide advice and recommendations
Find a broker:
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) find a broker tool
Check if the broker uses dark pools or internalisation to execute trades, as this may impact on the price you pay for shares.
Managed Funds:
Choosing a managed fund MoneySmart (ASIC)
Picking a Funds Manager clearday
Superannuation:
Choosing a Superfund MoneySmart (ASIC)
Shopping generally
BiG Shop
These businesses mostly come from the Investing in You section, BiG and subscribers’ personal favourites and referrals.
Switched on Women is a new consumer movement for Australian women that aims to use the combined buying power of tens of thousands of women to unlock discounts and products and services targeted at women… [it] will harness the buying power of Australian women in order to incentivise business to:
Offer discounts to women on essential products and services such as energy, groceries and petrol. Release more products and services specifically targeted at women, such as health insurance. Women make up more than half of the population. More of us are working and more of us are the primary income earner in our households than ever before, but many products and services are not designed to meet the needs of women, many of whom work part-time, need to take time away from work, or face lower incomes than our male counterparts.
Some Favourite Service Providers [to be developed as we find good ones!]
spending your money
What area of money and investing will you explore?
Grab your Life Planner
Let’s connect
Disclaimer: The information and comments in this site are general in nature, opinion only and don’t take your personal financial circumstances into account. Our aim is purely to educate you and show you people and organisations in the finance and investing industries you may, or may not, choose to contact for personal financial advice. Any claims or comments of others are strictly those of the cited individual and not endorsed by Andrea or Best investment Gurus. Before you take any financial or investing action or buy any service or product - get your own independent financial advice, tailored to your specific needs.