Ask Leon
Ask Leon is where I answer your financial planning and money questions.
Check out our latest articles where I answer your questions or if I have not covered a topic you are interested in, be sure to ask a question from my form below.
ABC Interview with Garth Russell
I was recently interviewed by Garth Russell on 1233 ABC Radio Newcastle about my thoughts on housing affordability in Australia.
5 reasons I’m keeping my private health insurance
I recently had an experience with the private health system that left me thousands of dollars out of pocket. It got me thinking … is private health insurance worth it?
Is it time to re-think the Great Australian Dream?
A new report from the Grattan Institute has highlighted how rapidly rising house prices have created a housing affordability headache that is playing havoc with the financial futures of many Australians.
Out of time
A few years ago I made the decision to pay someone to mow my lawn. To be honest, I never enjoyed doing it myself but as our family started to grow (from one child, then two, followed by a third) I had less and less time to spend.
FOMO as an investment strategy
Fear of missing out (FOMO) can also be a fear of regret or missed opportunity – a fact I’ve been reminded of this summer with the continued rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The royal commission we had to have
The Federal Government will be opening the vault on banking practices across the country as part of a Royal Commission into the sector announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last month.
How many super funds do you have?
I’m guessing it’s more than one. Once upon a time, it wasn’t unusual for a person to stay in a job for life. These days, however, the story is not so simple.
Why investing is (and isn’t) like the Melbourne Cup
For punters keen to put some wisdom behind their wagers, there’s always plenty of racing experts sharing their tips on the first Tuesday in November. When it comes to investing, I also have a stable of financial heavyweights whose words of advice I turn to time and again.
The ABCs of ETFs
If you’ve recently taken an interest in making the most of your money, it can be overwhelming coming to grips with all the options available. The list of questions seems endless: how do I start investing? Should I invest in property or shares? How much do I need to invest?
Essential behaviours for building wealth
People often ask me what is the secret to financial success. In most instances, true financial prosperity is the result of hard work and commitment – it’s not something that is handed to you on a platter alongside the proverbial silver spoon.