Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

What happens when a government equity scheme starts to feel like a trap? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Steve to unpack his property situation and map out a path forward.Steve is a self-employed sports coach earning around $120,000–$130,000 a year, with a partner on $100,000. He owns an apartment worth roughly $570,000, holds a $200,000 ETF portfolio, and used the Victorian Homebuyer Fund to get into the market with a 25% government equity stake still sitting on his property.In this episode they cover:👉 How the Victorian Homebuyer Fund works and why Steve is feeling stuck👉 Whether refinancing could free him from the government equity stake without selling his ETFs👉 The case for rent-vesting as a flexible alternative to upsizing👉 How to weigh lifestyle preferences against pure FIRE optimisation👉 Why financial flexibility can matter more than squeezing every dollar out of a strategyIt's pearler's 5th birthday! Get 5 free trades here 🥳Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Aussie FIRE, Hayden and Dave are unpacking some listener questions around:👉🏼 Selling shares to invest in solar panels at home👉🏼 The 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers👉🏼 Vanguard ETFs👉🏼 And investing for high growth with a 5-8 year timelineAs always, they'll unpack it, share their thoughts, and come at it from a few different angles. Hope you enjoy it!Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if $1 million landed in your bank account tomorrow? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get hypothetical and things get interesting fast. From taking on a gelato giant to debating whether a swimming pool counts as a financial decision, this one's a little different. But buried in the fun are some genuinely useful ideas about how people at different stages of their FIRE journey think about sudden wealth.Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we answer two listener questions. One on ethical investing and ESG funds, and another on managing tech concentration in a portfolio. We'll unpack:👉 Whether aligning with ESG principles means reducing exposure to Australian equities👉 Why assuming the US market will always outperform Australia might be👉 What the ethical ETF DZZF is👉 Why defining “ethical” companies is harder than it seems👉 The trade-offs of ESG investing👉 An alternative approach: investing broadly and donating the fee savings?👉 Why adding more ETFs might not protect a portfolio from a major market crash👉 How to think about tech concentration in your portfolioAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hayden reflects on 10 lessons from 10 years of renting — covering everything from bonds and inspections to negotiating rent and managing agents.After a decade of renting across share houses, sublets, and full leases, he shares the practical lessons he wishes he knew earlier.👉 Why taking detailed photos when you move in can save your bond later👉 What tenants actually need to do when cleaning a property at the end of a lease👉 How bond refunds work (and why disputes are rarer than you might think)👉 What to know about inspections, maintenance, and “quiet enjoyment”👉 How to handle urgent repairs if your agent isn’t responding👉 The difference between fixed-term and periodic leases👉 When it might be worth negotiating rent or lease terms👉 How strategic disclosure can affect rental applications👉 Why renting in high-supply areas can make life easier👉 A simple way to cut moving costs without hiring removalistsAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the pod we're chatting with Natasha Etschmann, or you may know her as 'Tash Invests' online. We wanted to know what life was like for Tash before TikTok, Instagram, and “Tash Invests” became a thing.Growing up in a house where money was openly discussed, saving felt like a game she wanted to win. That mindset led her to buy her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22, setting the foundation for the strategy she continues to build on today.In this episode we cover:👉 What it was like growing up in a household where money was openly talked about👉 Why saving felt like a game, and how that mindset shaped her early investing👉 Buying her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22👉 The early trade-offs she made to build momentum in her 20s👉 Navigating online criticism and tall poppy syndrome👉 How her investing strategy has evolved across shares and property👉 Why the real goal is freedom and optionality (not just a big round number)Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you buy your first home with a 5% deposit, or wait until you have 20%? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Khaing to unpack the numbers and the trade-offs.Khaing is in their late 20s, earning $125,000 and saving around 50% of their income. With roughly $68,000 available, they are weighing up the First Home Guarantee scheme against waiting a few more years to build a bigger deposit and take on less debt.In this episode they cover:👉 How the 5% deposit scheme works and the potential savings on LMI👉 Whether waiting for 20% really reduces risk if property prices keep rising👉 What repayments could look like compared to Khaing’s current rent👉 How to think about worst-case scenarios, including renting the property out👉 What to look for in an apartment, including strata costs and building qualityAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the 4% rule still relevant, or has the FIRE movement outgrown it? In this episode, Hayden and Dave break down where the 4% rule came from, why it’s often criticised, and how it actually holds up for early retirees.They unpack the assumptions behind the rule and explain why flexibility, adaptability, and behaviour might matter far more than the percentage itself.In this episode they cover:👉 Where the 4% rule comes from and what it was designed to solve👉 Why early retirees worry about longer time horizons and sequence risk👉 Whether strong recent returns make the rule less reliable👉 How flexibility around spending dramatically improves success rates👉 What different “flex rates” mean for sustainable withdrawal levels👉 Portfolio allocation considerations for long-term retirees👉 The psychology of living off a portfolio during market downturns👉 Practical tools like cash buffers and automated sellingAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debt recycling can be powerful, but the details matter. In this listener Q&A episode, Hayden and Dave tackle common questions on debt recycling and investing mechanics, including when to invest, how to place orders, and how to stay on the right side of the tax rules.They break down practical scenarios listeners are facing and explain the trade-offs between simplicity, optimisation, and risk.In this episode they cover:👉 Market orders vs limit orders and when each one actually makes sense👉 Whether to wait to debt recycle a lump sum or invest smaller amounts sooner👉 The opportunity cost of holding cash in an offset versus investing👉 How to debt recycle while still dollar-cost averaging👉 How to change a debt recycled investment without losing deductibility👉 Why redraw timing matters for tax purposes👉 Common debt recycling mistakes that can break deductibilityAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.