Our Team

James KirbyAssociate Editor – Wealth

James Kirby, Associate Editor-Wealth, is one of Australia’s most experienced financial journalists. James hosts The Australian’s twice-weekly Money Puzzle podcast.He is a regular commentator on radio and television, the author of several business biographies and has served on the Walkley Awards Advisory BoardHe was a co-founder and managing editor at Business Spectator and Eureka Report and has previously worked at the Australian Financial Review and the South China Morning Post. Since January 2025 James is a director of Ecstra, the financial literacy foundation.

@kirby_journo

Latest

HealthMedical

Patients pay in battle between health insurers and private hospital operators.

What are insurers and hospitals fighting about?

A heated brawl between private health insurers and the nation’s hospitals has gone public. Something has to give. So far it’s the patients who look likely to pay more, no matter who wins.

James Kirby

GOLD OR BASIC?Medical

Review your private health insurance cover to ensure it suits your needs.

It’s always going to hurt, but there’s a way to reduce your health insurance bills

While health insurers are in a fight with private hospitals, it’s a good time to review your own cover. Here’s how you can cut your bills.

James Kirby

Tips and trapsHealth

Six things you need to know about health insurance before you switch

Confused? Health insurance is crucial and complex, but it gets easier if you grasp a few key details. This is what you need to consider.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

Melbourne and Sydney house prices may have further to fall.

Why Sydney and Melbourne home prices have further to fall

Monthly declines are significant. Three key negative signals persist across the market.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

The manager looks at the chart printed on a transparent material

As financial advice moves up-market, super funds stand still

Top financial advisers are relentlessly concentrating on more lucrative clients but instead of capitalising, super funds could blow their opportunity to offer choice for everyday investors.

James Kirby

THE LISTWealth

Financial advisers Cathy Ding, Richard Felice, Charlie Viola. Composite picture

Meet this year’s Top 150 financial advisers

Fifty more names of new talents and veterans teaming up to become powerful forces in the market. See who made this year’s The Deal/Barron’s Top 150 Financial Advisers list.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

King of the financial advisers retains his crown in expanded list

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has taken top honours again as financial adviser Garth Hu tops the expanded 2024 edition of The Top 150 Financial Advisers list.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - AUGUST 17, 2023.Former Treasurer Wayne Swan at the 49th ALP National Conference 2023 in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Are the scandals sweeping big super a signal to switch funds?

Big super has delivered some significant dirt of late but if you think leaping from one scandal-plagued fund to one untarnished so far will protect you, think again.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 3, 2023: Former treasurer Wayne Swan during the State Funeral Service for the Hon William (Bill) George Hayden AC at St. MaryÃs Catholic Church in Ipswich. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Passing the buck – super fund has to do better than this

The Cbus super fund, under fire for alleged delays of payments to vulnerable investors, is not going to dig itself out of this corner just by blaming someone else.

James Kirby

WealthWealth

QLDVOTES24 Ã. Wayne Swan watches on as the count continues at the Labor Headquarters Election Campaign Party at Murrumba Downs Tavern. Pics Adam Head

Why Cbus is simply the canary in the coalmine

Too big to fail, the battered industry fund Cbus has turned the spotlight on the wider failings of big super.

James Kirby

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/james-kirby/page/8