Financial Autonomy

This week I chat with career transition expert Erin Devlin. Erin had a career with the Australian Ballet from an early age, but at age 21 needed to reinvent herself. Today she runs two different businesses help people succeed in making a job or career change. In this interview Erin shares some fantastic hard-won advice on how you can succeed in your career. Link: people2people | Recruit Top Talent across Australia Now [Disclaimer]

Perhaps you've heard of ARK, or its founder Cathie Wood. They're frequently mentioned in passing on stock market related podcasts or in press. Justin and I regularly mention both of them in Market Noise. But if you're like me, you perhaps only know a little of the surface level story. So I thought I'd take the time to use this wonderous thing we call the internet to learn all that I could about ARK, it's founder, and why they are relevant to us investors today. I hope you enjoy. [Disclaimer]

The US Federal Reserve met last Friday for their annual Jackson Hole meeting. This is closely watched by markets for the future direction of US monetary policy and interest rates. This week I download what was said and the impacts on us here in Australia with co-host of The BIP Show Podcast James Whelan. General Advice Warning.

Most employers have discovered that having workers work from home can be just as productive as having them come into the office. At the same time, employees have discovered the benefits of more flexible work practices, and some of the challenges. This week I chat with Vanessa Marrama on how we can all get the most out of this massive shift in working life. [Disclaimer]

Financial Autonomy, this podcast and blog, exists to help you gain choice in life. To succeed with this goal, we need to put ourselves into a position of financial strength – debt paid off, investments generating income, and superannuation well-funded for our latter years. And none of that happens if our income doesn't exceed our expenses. This is the definition of savings – the portion of our income that we don't spend. In this piece I provide 10 ideas to help you save more. They've all either worked for me, or I've seen them help clients that I've worked with. I hope you can find a few you can adopt. [Disclaimer]

This week Paul talks to Danielle Ecuyer, author of Shareplicity - A simple approach to share investing and Shareplicity 2 - A guide to investing in US stock markets. In this episode, Danielle shares her expertise primarily in the area of investing in US stocks. Danielle has a lot of experience in this field and is certainly someone to listen to if you are interested in investing in the US - or even investing more locally in Australia. [Disclaimer]

Australia's wealth is disproportionately distributed to those over 60, with a sharp rise in property prices being the primary culprit. But whilst we're all living longer, science hasn't yet found a way to grant us eternal lives, and so eventually that wealth will be transferred down to subsequent generations. Receiving an inheritance can be financially life-altering. Having helped clients manage their inheritances over many years, here are 10 essential things to consider upon receiving an inheritance. [Disclaimer]

This week I'm chatting to Sarah Hawley, an entrepreneur in the remote working space. Remote working COULD be the one good thing to come out of the COVID pandemic for those seeking Financial Autonomy and gaining choice, so let's work out how to get the most out of it. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahriegelhuth?trk=people-guest_people_search-card https://twitter.com/sarahhawley__ https://sarahhawley.life/ https://www.growmyteam.com.au/ https://www.growmotely.com/ [Disclaimer]

In this episode, Paul looks at why it can be so hard to stick to the investing principles we all know to generally be the best course of action. With the constant barrage of information, it can be hard to not be swept up in it all and use faulty investment strategies. How can we learn to stick to the principles we know to be in our best interest? [Disclaimer]

This week, Paul talks with Chloe from Forager Asset Management about the strengths of active management and her role within Forager. [Disclaimer]

This week we're going to explore the topic of moats. No this is not yet another weird acronym, though you do sometimes see it written all in upper case so if you've been confused by this you're completely forgiven. The idea of a business moat is the same concept as a moat around a medieval castle. It is about protection and long-term survival. It's not hard to see how these characteristics might be attractive in an investment. So in this week's episode we'll explore where this moat concept came from, look at some examples, and then consider how you might apply it on your journey to gaining choice. Disclaimer

Investment markets are in a fascinating place right now. There are more opportunities for investors than ever before. This week I talk with Adam Smith, CEO of Saxo Markets Australia, someone perhaps uniquely placed to help us navigate the current investment world. [Disclaimer]

Pandora, the world's largest jewellery manufacturer, will cease using mined diamonds. In future the only diamonds it will use will be those manufactured in a laboratory. The reason for the move is concern for the working conditions of diamond miners, primarily in Africa. This is an extension of previous commitments made by the company to only use recycled gold and silver, and have all operations carbon neutral by 2025. Their share price also rose 160% in the past year. What's going on? [Disclaimer]

Entrepreneurial inspiration here. One of the Financial Autonomy pathways to gaining choice is starting a business or side hustle. This week I talk to Ashleigh Page from Adventure Travel Pro about her journey in creating this exciting new business and how past endeavours have shaped her latest adventure. Adventure Travel Pro [Disclaimer]

The end of the financial year is just a few weeks away. If you've had a successful year financially, perhaps you're looking for ways to shave a little off your tax bill. We all know that paying taxes is important. It's our contribution to a functioning society. But where rules and incentives exist that encourage you to reduce your contribution then it's only sensible for you make use of those provisions. This week, we'll look at an extremely impactful tax deduction that you may overlooked. [Disclaimer]

This week's special episode, we will answer some of your burning questions ranging in topic from investing, to financial goals, to the all important question of what Paul can see out of his window! [Disclaimer]

This week I speak with the host of the popular Property Investory podcast, Tyrone Shum. Tyrone is passionate about property as an investment vehicle, but he's thinking about things a little differently to the normal buy and hold a residential property plan. I know you'll get plenty out of this one. [Disclaimer]

As regular listeners would know, here on the podcast we follow the framework set out in the Financial Autonomy book. One of the pathways in that framework is stocks and within that section, I explore the Core-Satellite strategy in some detail. It's a strategy we use a lot with clients and you've possibly heard me refer to it several times. In this week's episode, we're going to dig in a bit to the satellite component of this strategy. What constitutes a satellite, why have satellites at all, and how much should you allocate to a satellite? [Disclaimer]

Whether you're considering buying an apartment as an investor, or as an owner occupier, Amanda has some tips here that could save you thousands of dollars and a whole lot of heartache. In this weeks episode we talk all things apartments and strata properties. My guest is Amanda Farmer, host of the Your Strata Property podcast, and a practising strata lawyer in Sydney. [Disclaimer]

This week I'm joined by Caroline Bowler CEO of BTC Markets, Australia's largest cryptocurrency and digital asset exchange. We're talking blockchain, crypto-currencies, and the opportunities these technologies might present for our future. [Disclaimer]

Couples can have a distinct advantage when it comes to building wealth and achieving financial autonomy provided they maximize the opportunities available to them. Let's take a look at 5 opportunities you might be able to use. [Disclaimer]

This week I chat with buyers agent Emily Wallace about the state of the property market around the country, where the opportunities are, and I also asked for some tips on what to look for at an open for inspection, what to do when making an offer, and some advice for sellers to help them maximise their sale price too. Tonnes here to sink your teeth into. Insta: emily_wallace_ba [Disclaimer]

We are entering the Age of the Creator. The confluence of the internet, the tools it has produced, and blockchain technology is delivering us from the Industrial Age to the Creator Age at speed. And for anyone interested in the idea of Financial Autonomy and gaining choice, that's a wonderful thing. [Disclaimer]

Not only is Tess McCabe the genius behind the cover of my Financial Autonomy book, she's also a creative freelance extraordinaire! In this episode, we discuss the positive and negative elements of being a freelancer, her career journey and how she's moved between being an employee and being self-employed, and the outlook for creative people. If moving to self-employment is on your to-do list, you might find our Entrepreneur You program helpful. You can check it out, along with our other online programs at www.financialautonomy.com.au/faa Connect with Tess here: IG @tessmccabe FB /tessmccabegraphicdesigner [Disclaimer]

Financial planning, money coaching, and financial counselling. These are all terms you've probably seen or come across, but the difference between the three roles and when they are applicable is often not obvious. So in this week's episode I'll clarify what each of these roles do, and where perhaps they might be applicable in your life. [Disclaimer]

This week I speak with Sean D'Souza, host of the Three Week Vacation podcast. Sean shares his journey from successful cartoonist to building an online business helping businesses succeed at marketing. [Disclaimer]

Early this year I bought a small amount of Bitcoin. In this week's episode I share, why, how, and what I learned. [Disclaimer]

Van Eck are an ETF provider with several interesting fund offerings that might fit in a portfolio as a satellite. So I've invited Damon Gosen, Director of Business Development at Van Eck onto the podcast to explain what the investment thesis is behind a few of their most interesting funds.

Shifting to self-employment can be a great way to gain choice. But it's not without its risks and drawbacks. Today we're going to explore both the positives and the negatives to help you decide whether self-employment might be the way forward for you. Beyond the contents of this episode, we have several other tools that might help you if you're contemplating a move to self-employment. Firstly we have our pathways self-assessment tool , which can be found in the Financial Autonomy book and also on the front page of our website. This tool helps point you down the pathway most likely to fit with your circumstances and objectives. We also have our two Entrepreneur You courses. One is the full programme called Transition to Self-Employment Without Going Broke, then we also have an abridged version specifically for Side Hustles. Find out all the details at financialautonomy.com.au/FAA which is for Financial Autonomy Academy, the home of all our online course material. [Disclaimer]

In this episode, Financial Autonomy listener Katrina shares how she reinvented her life, from a high-stress, inner-city role in the police force, to a new life in a regional town, with some internet dating success to stir into the mix. A fun and inspiring story that I'm sure you'll enjoy. [Disclaimer]

This week we take a look at Listed Investment Companies, LIC's. They've been around a long time on the stock market, and given the advancements made, especially in the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) space, it's worthwhile to question whether LIC's still have a reason to exist? Should we as investors have them on our radar? [Disclaimer]

After only 9 months since launch this Youtuber is making over $2,000 per month from his YouTube channel. In this week's episode he shares how he's done it, from the equipment needed, growing an audience, and the time commitment involved. [Disclaimer]

Recently a very small stock in the US made headlines in the investment community. Gamestop is a bricks and mortar retailer in the US, selling games and accessories for The PlayStation and Xbox. Despite being a dying business, in the space of 2 weeks in January, this stock rose from a little over $19.00 a share to over $145 a share. That's a 660% gain. By the time you are listening to this episode, who knows where it will be at. One of the reasons for this growth is a phenomenon known as short covering. To make sense if this fascinating story, we need to have a good understanding of what short selling is and how it works. So let's bring you up to speed. [Disclaimer]

From radio and publishing to hosting his own TV show, and today being self-employed in one of the industries hardest hit by the COVID pandemic - tourism - Adam Ford of the Big Bus Tour and Travel Guide shares with us his journey and how he's created the resiliency to succeed. An inspiring story that I'm sure you'll love. Also mentioned: www.showmemelbourne.com.au [Disclaimer]

In this episode I review two 2021 Outlook reports, one produced by Vanguard the second largest fund manager in the world , and one from VanEck . I've pulled out these two because they have some consistency in their views, but also some differences and I thought that might be useful to you guys in thinking about how you might approach your investment plans for 2021. [Disclaimer]

Russell Investments recently released a research report - 2020 Value of an Adviser - where they explore where a financial advice relationship can add value for investors. Today I speak with Bronwyn Yates, Head of Client and Business Solutions at Russell Investments to share with us what they learned. We also discuss when in your life it might make sense to obtain professional advice. [Disclaimer] The Financial Autonomy podcast was recently added to Feedspot's Top 65 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Podcasts

If you're in a relationship that's been going for a little while, how do you manage your finances? Do you and your partner's wages all go into a single joint account that you both then spend out of? Or do you keep your money separate, each paying for your own expenses and combining only when necessary? There's no single right way for couples to manage finances but in this episode, we're going to explore some of the things you might like to consider, and I'll share with you some of the ways I've seen it done amongst different couples over my 20 years of helping people with their money. [Disclaimer]

In the Financial Autonomy podcast, we normally talk about traditional investments - stocks and property. But today I wanted to discuss another type of investment you can make which can help you hugely in achieving financial autonomy and gaining choice. That is investing in your career. I'm joined by Emily and Shelly, career and recruitment experts from the My Millennial Career podcast to explore what employers are looking for right now, and where you might be able to make a savvy investment in your career. There are some really actionable ideas here - namely how to get a pay rise and look out particularly for the T and I career framework that I thought made a lot of sense and was a great way to think about your career. [Disclaimer]

In this week's episode, we look at the year just gone and pull back the curtain to reveal some of the things that have happened here at Financial Autonomy. Then we share with you what's coming up in 2021. I hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks for your support and have a wonderful Christmas. [Disclaimer]

Today I'm speaking with a Financial Autonomy community member. Jason emailed me to share a bit about his journey and it was so interesting I asked him to come on the podcast and share it with everyone - I think you'll find this one really inspirational. [Disclaimer]

A Side Hustle can be a hugely significant stepping stone in you gaining financial freedom and choice. They're a fantastic way to develop new skills and broaden your network, both of which help enormously in your income generating resiliency. In the end of course, they can have a financial payoff as well. But like most things in life, valuable and easy don't sit comfortably side by side. Whether it's the challenge of getting started, or keeping all the plates in the air once you've gotten the ball rolling, succeeding at Side Hustles is tough. In this post, we'll take a look at the various Side Hustle obstacles I've come across and offer some ideas as to how you might be able to overcome them. [Disclaimer]

We've talked to several property investment experts recently, but what we haven't covered what you need to think about once you are a landlord. In this episode, I speak with Jeremy Goldschmidt from property management disruptor RentBetter to learn the property investment essential beyond the initial purchase. [RentBetter Website] [Disclaimer]

ESG - Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance. Often known as ethical investing, using these factors to help construct portfolios has been a growing trend that has delivered great results for investors this past year. In this week's podcast, I take a look at why. [Disclaimer]

This week I have a bit of fun with Elephant in the Room co-host Veronica Morgan, a buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel's Location Location Location Australia. I play devil's advocate, arguing against property as an investment, and Veronica explains why I'm wrong (or not in a few cases!). Hope you enjoy this one. [Disclaimer] Learn more about Veronica here. Home Buyer Academy

This week I jump on the line with New York based financial planner Amy Irvine to get a read on what's happening on Wall Street following the most significant US election ever. [Disclaimer]

Jarrod McCabe from Wakelin Property Advisory joins us today to provide an update on the property market. One not to be missed. Disclaimer

Regular listeners will know that I frequently refer to the 3 pathways to Financial Autonomy - investing in stocks, investing in property, and building a business or being self-employed. But how to determine which pathway makes the most sense for you to pursue? That's what we'll be exploring in this week's episode. Disclaimer

Ryan wanted a change in his life. He wanted more flexibility, he wanted to gain choice. He thought about how he could make that happen and realised the starting point needed to be reducing his debts - they were a huge burden that locked him down and hugely limited his options. Hear how he went about solving this challenge. Another great IRL example of the Financial Autonomy journey, I hope you enjoy. Disclaimer

Pete Wargent is a property investment expert. He is a buyer's advocate and does various bits and pieces within the property space. Pete's background is as a chartered accountant. The content he produces on property investment tends to be very analytical and data driven. So I've invited him along to get his insight as to what he is seeing in the data at the moment in the property space. He's got some unique insights here and some great tips that I think you'll get a lot out of. Regular listeners will know we've got the Financial Autonomy framework which we go through in the Financial Autonomy book. There's the three pathways, there's investing in shares or stocks, investing in property and self-employment. The other element I really appreciated in Pete's story is his application of the three pathways to achieving Financial Autonomy. As a guest, I think he is a fantastic illustration of what I'm trying to explore through the Financial Autonomy podcast for almost three years now. We have really useful and practical information from someone who's done it, who's built wealth and who has gained choice. Disclaimer

When investing in property, it's largely a given that you'll be borrowing as a core element of the transaction. Indeed often, you're borrowing the entire purchase cost. Borrowing to buy shares however is often approached with trepidation, despite the many advantages shares offer around the ease of altering the transaction size, diversification and the speed with which investments can be liquidated. In today's episode, we'll take a look at the pros and cons of borrowing or gearing to invest in shares. Is now the time for a big move? Before we dive in, it's important to remind you that this is general information. The appropriateness of gearing for you depends on a range of factors such as income security, savings capacity, debt levels and investment timeframe. Seek out professional investment advice before commencing a gearing strategy. Visit the Advice Page on our Financial Autonomy website to see how we can help. Also, if you're fairly new here, you might not be aware of our Invest in Shares online course. This self-paced course is suitable for novice investors through to those with intermediate levels of experience. We take you through all the key concepts like dividend yield, PE ratios, investment selection, taxation considerations and plenty more. One of the bonus modules is specifically on gearing so if this topic is something that resonates with you and you're a DIY type, go to the Learn Page on our web site and click on courses. Disclaimer