All Articles

February 22, 2023
Solving the Asset Rich, Cash Poor Problem at Retirement
Given the large increases seen in property values in recent decades, combined with more and more of us living well into our 90s, the problem of being asset rich and cash poor is becoming increasingly common. Another way to frame this problem is something an old neighbour said to me once, “Paul, you can’t eat … Continued
Superannuation

February 8, 2023
Finding the Balance between Lifestyle and Long-Term Goals
The goal of this podcast and the work we do with many of you one on one in our financial planning relationship, is to help you gain choice in life. This goal implies at its heart that having choice is a good thing, and in the context it’s intended, such as having the choice to … Continued
Investment

January 17, 2023
5 Tips to Set Yourself Up For A Fantastic 2023
The new year has arrived, you’re re-charged, it’s time to release the hand brake and get moving! Welcome back for another episode of the Financial Autonomy podcast, where our goal is to help you gain choice in life – perhaps that’s the choice to cut back to working 3 days per week, maybe it’s making … Continued
Investment

January 17, 2023
What is a Reasonable Price to Pay for an Investment Property?
In the Financial Autonomy framework there are three pathways to gaining choice, identified through my many years of working with clients and seeing how those who have successfully gained financial security and freedom have achieved this feat. Those three pathways are investing in shares, investing in property, and self-employment or entrepreneurship. As explored in the … Continued
Property

December 21, 2022
Why is record low unemployment a bad thing? What is driving markets right now?
Last week in one of our progress meetings I was asked by a client a very sensible question “why is record low unemployment a bad thing?” His question arose from a news report that was attempting to explain the economic challenges currently faced and the concerns for 2023 and beyond. One of the explanations offered … Continued
Investment

December 7, 2022
What’s a reasonable price to pay for an investment property?
In the Financial Autonomy framework there are three pathways to gaining choice, identified through my many years of working with clients and seeing how those who have successfully gained financial security and freedom have achieved this feat. Those three pathways are investing in shares, investing in property, and self-employment or entrepreneurship. As explored in the … Continued
Property

November 22, 2022
What can we learn from past market downturns?
I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that investment markets around the world have been experiencing challenging times over the past year. Shares, bonds, and property, everything is down and there’s been few places to hide. So this week I wanted to consider what we could learn from past market declines. What can … Continued
Investment

November 16, 2022
How to Manage Sequencing Risk
What is Sequencing Risk? If we’re asked what sort of return should be expected from an investment over the long run the tendency is to rely on the long term average, or perhaps lean on the conservative side and round down a percent or two. The reality however is that from one year to the … Continued
Investment

November 9, 2022
3 Tips to Rapidly Accelerate Your Wealth Creation
Let’s talk about wealth creation. Specifically what can we do to accelerate it, hit the fast forward button. Of course there’s all the standard and perfectly prudent advice that we’ve covered many times before, spend less and save more, chase a new higher paying job, and ensure any surplus cash is invested and working rather … Continued
Investment
Property
Superannuation

October 23, 2022
What are franking credits and how do they work?
So what are franking credits? You might also see them referred to as imputation credits. These are the same thing. These credits represent tax that has been paid on your investment. They relate only to Australian shares, and then only to the portion of profits that those Australian companies have generated within Australia and paid … Continued
Investment

September 27, 2022
18 ways to Build Passive Income that work in Australia
I’ve been researching all the ways one might go about generating Passive Income. Unfortunately, many of those found on the web won’t work in Australia. So I’ve produced a custom list especially for those of us on the largest island in the Southern Hemisphere. Here’s what I’ve come up with: 1. Low input business 2. … Continued
Investment
Property
Saving Strategy
Self-Employment & Side Hustles

September 21, 2022
Holding Your Nerve When Markets Are Down
This post was inspired by a call I had with one of our clients, Nicola, yesterday, who was sweltering up in Darwin. So a shout out to you Nicola, thanks for the inspiration. If you’re feeling a little unnerved at the moment about your investments, you’re not alone. Shares, property, and bonds have all seen … Continued
Investment