Chris Kohler: Finance Editor, Author, and Son of Alan Kohler

If you’ve caught the evening news on Nine, you’ve likely seen Chris Kohler breaking down the day’s market moves. But there’s more to this finance editor than just the ASX — he’s also the author of “How They Get You,” host of the “How We Got Here” podcast, and the son of legendary financial journalist Alan Kohler, and this article pieces together what’s known about his career, family, and the gaps that remain.

Profession: Finance Editor at Nine (9News) ·
Education: Monash University ·
Book: How They Get You ·
Podcast: How We Got Here

Eight key facts about Chris Kohler, one pattern: his professional identity is tightly linked to his family background and his ability to explain complex finance in everyday terms.

Is Chris Kohler the son of Alan Kohler?

Yes — Chris Kohler is the son of Alan Kohler, one of Australia’s most respected financial journalists and a former editor of The Australian Financial Review (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)). The relationship is well-documented, with both father and son working in the same field for competing networks.

Who is Alan Kohler?

• Alan Kohler is a prominent Australian financial commentator and television presenter (Wikipedia).
• He has three children, including Chris Kohler (Wikipedia).
• In 2024, a profile described the Kohlers as father-and-son finance editors working for rival TV networks (The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)).

What is the relationship between Chris and Alan Kohler?

Chris Kohler’s first job in journalism was at Business Spectator, the financial news website founded by Alan Kohler (The Sydney Morning Herald). The two have appeared together on ABC News Daily discussing household budgets and competition in key industries (ABC News Daily via YouTube (public broadcaster)). Despite working for rival networks, they do not consider themselves competitors (Instagram post via article snippet).

The implication: the Kohler legacy is a launching pad, not a ceiling.

What does Chris Kohler’s wife do?

Chris Kohler is married to Susannah Guthrie, a digital director in the fashion media space. She is not a public figure in the same way, but her professional role is known.

Who is Susannah Guthrie?

• Susannah Guthrie is the Digital Director at Elle and Harper’s Bazaar Australia (The Sydney Morning Herald).
• She is married to Chris Kohler, as confirmed in a 2024 profile (The Sydney Morning Herald).

What is Susannah Guthrie’s professional role?

Guthrie works in digital publishing for two major fashion magazines, overseeing content strategy and online presence. Her career is in media, but focused on lifestyle and fashion rather than finance.

The pattern: their professional worlds rarely intersect, but that’s by choice.

How old is Chris Kohler?

No verified birth date is available in authoritative sources. A 2026 interview described him as a 35-year-old Australian financial journalist (YouTube interview clip), but this has not been independently confirmed. His exact age remains unclear.

When was Chris Kohler born?

• No public record of his birth date exists.
• He is believed to be in his mid-30s based on the 2026 interview reference.

The implication: Without a reliable source such as a birth certificate or official biography, any age estimate should be treated as unconfirmed.

What is Chris Kohler’s background?

Chris Kohler studied at Monash University, one of Australia’s leading universities (Google Books (publisher listing)). He began his career at Business Spectator, then moved to Sky News Business, and later worked as a market and property journalist for The Australian, The Age, and the Sydney Morning Herald via Domain (Google Books).

What is Chris Kohler’s education?

• Attended Monash University (Google Books).

What is Chris Kohler’s career path?

• First job: Business Spectator (The Sydney Morning Herald).
• Reporter and presenter at Sky News Business (YouTube interview).
• Market and property journalist at The Australian, The Age, and SMH via Domain (Google Books).
• Currently Finance Editor at Nine, appearing nightly across all states and territories (YouTube interview).

What are Chris Kohler’s notable achievements?

• Authored “How They Get You: Sneaky Everyday Economics and Smart Ways to Hold on to Your Money” (Google Books).
• Hosts the podcast “How We Got Here” (iHeartRadio (podcast platform)).
• Built an Instagram audience of more than 750,000 followers (YouTube interview).

Why this matters: Kohler has moved from traditional print and broadcast journalism into digital content creation, using social media to reach a broader audience. His book and podcast extend his influence beyond the nightly news slot.

Is Chris Kohler married?

Yes, Chris Kohler is married to Susannah Guthrie (The Sydney Morning Herald).

Who is Chris Kohler’s spouse?

• Susannah Guthrie, Digital Director at Elle and Harper’s Bazaar Australia (The Sydney Morning Herald).

The catch: While his marriage is confirmed, almost no other personal details — such as whether they have children — are publicly available.

“Join finance journalist and digital storyteller, Chris Kohler, as he delves into the corporate moments that were too ridiculous to make up…”

— How We Got Here podcast description (iHeartRadio)

“Chris Kohler is Finance Editor across the 9News network, author of How They Get You and host of the podcast How We Got Here.”

— Penguin Books Australia author page (Google Books)

For Australians watching the evening news, Chris Kohler is a familiar face explaining interest rates and the ASX. But his career is a case study in how modern finance journalism blends traditional broadcasting with digital storytelling. The risk is that the line between journalist and content creator blurs; the opportunity is a younger, more engaged audience. For the audience, the takeaway is clear: Kohler is one of the few journalists who can translate complex economics into a 90-second segment — and then turn it into a book and a podcast.

Chris Kohler, the finance editor at Nine, often draws comparisons to his father Alan Kohler, another prominent financial journalist in Australia.

Frequently asked questions