Share

cover art for How to use an inheritance: Pay off your mortgage or invest?

Investing Compass

How to use an inheritance: Pay off your mortgage or invest?

Season 6, Ep. 8

This episode explores what to do when you receive an inheritance, and the options that you have when you invest. We consider paying off a mortgage and investing in and out of superannuation.


Other episodes where we speak about inheritances include:

Your options when you inherit a house

How to incorporate an expected inheritance into a financial plan

The documents you need to protect your assets


Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column looks at a study showing investors that own passive products get lower returns. He looks at why this is the case and how investors can maximise their outcomes.

 

In a reader requested edition of Bookworm, Joseph explored a simple stock valuation method that features in one of his favourite investing books. By putting the formula to work on an ASX company with household name brands, Joseph was reminded that even the simplest valuation tools are in fact highly complex.

 

Many young investors find purchasing a home out of reach. They find that they are struggling with cost of living and have minimal amounts to contribute towards their investments. Shani's Future Focus runs through a framework that looks at different aspects of your life where you can still set financial goals to help your future self.

 

As the days pass, young Aussies are straying further from being able to buy their own home. Amidst election noise, consistent house price rises and slowing wage growth - it appears there is no end in sight for Australia's housing crisis. Sim's column explores whether millennials can afford to buy a home and what salary they would need to achieve this goal.  


To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.

Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.

Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 2. [BEST OF 2025] Dividend ETFs

    17:38||Season 7, Ep. 2
    We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we take a deep dive into dividend ETFs and how investors can pick one that suits them by running through 4 dividend ETF examples.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 1. [BEST OF 2025] One of the most generous tax breaks in Australia

    16:01||Season 7, Ep. 1
    We take a look at the top episodes of 2025. In this episode, Mark and Shani take a look at a quirk to one of the most generous tax concessions that we have in Australia, the CGT exemption for your home. The CGT exemption also allows for you to rent out your property for a number of years, and still claim the CGT-exempt status. We take a deep dive into the tax policy, the circumstances that it suits and the situations to avoid that would make homeowners pay more tax than they need to. A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 53. [BEST OF 2025] Cage fight: US & Australian retirement systems

    23:56||Season 6, Ep. 53
    We look back at the top episodes of 2025. In a listener-requested episode, we look at the pros and cons of the US and Australian retirement systems.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 52. [BEST OF 2025] 3 ETF portfolio in 2025

    23:57||Season 6, Ep. 52
    We take a look at our top episodes of 2025. In this episode, we look at the ETFs that would go into a 3 ETF portfolio, using Morningstar's Manager Research Medalist ratings.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 51. Are you a maximiser or a satisficer?

    10:24||Season 6, Ep. 51
    Maximisers spend a lot of time researching and thinking about the best choice to make. Satisficers settle for the best option that they can see with modest criteria. Mark and Shani run through how to determine what type of investor you are and what this means for you.You can find Christine's article, 'The case for a 'good enough' portfolio' here.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 50. Christmas gifts for investors 2025

    21:18||Season 6, Ep. 50
    It's our annual Christmas gifts episode! We run through some gifts that you can give to your favourite investor, and we take part in our annual tradition of getting each other a gift. A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 49. Where a CIO sees market opportunities

    19:24||Season 6, Ep. 49
    In our guest episode today, we host Matt Wacher, Chief Investment Officer, APAC at Morningstar Investment Management (MIM). We run through where MIM sees opportunities, what they consider overvalued and how investors should approach markets.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 48. Tax free earnings Aussies are taking advantage of

    17:43||Season 6, Ep. 48
    Shani and Mark speak about offset accounts. There are smart ways to take advantage of your offset account, but balance is the key.You can find the full article here.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.
  • 47. A fatal error with super

    20:57||Season 6, Ep. 47
    Mark and Shani speak about the predatory companies encouraging you to pillage your retirement savings, and the methods that they are using to do this.You can find the full article here.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we’ve released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We’ve always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We’ve shared our journeys with you, and you’ve shared back. We’ve listened to what you’re after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is now available! It is also available in Audiobook format from most sellers.Purchase from Amazon or Purchase from BooktopiaTo submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.