In this Friday Q&A episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask and Gemma Mitchell work through some of the big, messy money decisions many families face but rarely get clear answers on. This week we unpack how to think about private school costs, who to speak to when planning a major renovation, what happens with kids’ investing accounts as they grow up, and how to weigh up mortgage progress versus super contributions. Owen and Gemma cover: • Whether it’s reasonable to feel uneasy about private school fees given they can’t be trialled, refunded, or easily reversed, and how to think about the financial and emotional trade-offs • Who to speak to when planning a large renovation, what role mortgage brokers, lenders, accountants and financial advisers each play, and how renovation lending actually works in practice • Whether lenders need building plans before approving finance for a renovation and how reno funding differs from buying or building a new home • How kids Shareies accounts are taxed if they’re not held in a trust, what changes once a child turns 18, and who is responsible for tax along the way • Whether it makes sense to redirect extra mortgage repayments into after-tax super contributions and then use the tax refund to top the mortgage back up, including the pros, cons and cash flow considerations 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 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 Podcast- Move or Do a Reno Podcast- How to Plan a Reno Invest for kids 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: 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 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

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.