All Articles
November 27, 2019
Is Private Health Insurance Worth Having in Australia? – Episode 121
The cost of private health insurance in Australia keeps on rising. After housing, food and motor vehicle expenses, health insurance typically comes up as the next big-ticket item in most household budgets. So it’s worth asking the question – do we need it? Private Health insurance is likely to be worth having if: You are … Continued
Saving Strategy
November 13, 2019
Re-thinking the traditional retirement – Episode 119
I read a great quote on the weekend attributed to Princess Elizabeth Charlotte of France in the 18th century. She was asked when sexual desire ended and she responded “How would I know, I’m only 80.” Between 1870 and 1970 our lifesplans more than doubled globally. For the thousands of years of human history prior … Continued
Investment
Superannuation
October 23, 2019
Living in a world where money is free – Episode 116
February 12, 1999. That was the date something never before seen, happened. The Central Bank of Japan, battling persistent recession, cut official interest rates to zero. At the time other central bankers around the world criticised the move. Savers must be rewarded for savings. Borrowers must have to pay something to borrow. Without these … Continued
Investment
Saving Strategy
October 16, 2019
FIRE is stupid – here’s some better alternatives
You’ve probably stumbled across the FIRE acronym before – it stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. It came out of the US and has spawned countless books, podcasts, conferences, and even a movie. Reddit has huge discussion threads devoted to the idea, with the primary thrust seeming to be how young you can achieve early … Continued
Investment
Saving Strategy
Self-Employment & Side Hustles
October 2, 2019
3 Alternatives To Car Ownership That Can Help You Save – Episode 113
How many thousands of dollars do you have parked on the street or in the garage losing money every day? It’s a question I’ve been focused on for our household recently. My wife and I each have a car, plus there is a 12 seater minibus for my wife’s tourism business that we could use for a personal trip … Continued
Saving Strategy
September 18, 2019
Episode 111 – Hyperinflation and the potential for Back to the Future
Welcome back to another episode in our financial history series. We started with Tulip Mania and the madness of crowds. Then we reviewed the Great Depression and how the lessons learnt continue to have impacts today. One thread of the Great Depression story was the Gold Standard, which we explored in episode 109. An understanding … Continued
Investment
September 4, 2019
The Gold Standard – What was it and what does it have to do with Crypto currencies? – Episode 109
Welcome back to the third episode in our financial history series. Last episode we looked at the Great Depression and why it still matters today. Before that we visited Amsterdam in the 1630’s to learn about Tulip Mania. Today we’re going to be exploring the Gold Standard, something that cropped up during the Great Depression … Continued
Investment
August 28, 2019
The Great Depression – why the lessons learnt are more relevant than ever – Episode 108
Today we’re continuing to explore significant moments in financial history. In particular I’m aiming to arm you with a basic understanding of what the event was all about, and then importantly, why it’s of relevance today. Last week we looked at Tulip Mania in the Netherlands in the 1600’s. Today we skip forward several centuries … Continued
Investment
August 21, 2019
Tulip Mania – What was it and why does it matter today? – Episode 107
You know how sometimes in the media or perhaps in a social setting, a self-declared expert will make reference to some historical event that they know full well most of us know little about, but they say it in such a way as to imply you’d be an imbecile if you weren’t aware of this … Continued
Investment
August 16, 2019
ABC RN – Second Incomes
In this piece on Life Matters at ABC Radio National, I spoke with host Michael Mackenzie on second incomes. We explored investment options, as well as entrepreneurial/side-hustle opportunities. It was great fun. Give it a listen here: Can I generate a second income stream without taking on major risk?
Self-Employment & Side Hustles
August 14, 2019
From spinning your wheels to moving ahead with purpose – Episode 106
It’s so easy to just float along. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it is not just a good approach to raising toddlers, it can be a whole of life game plan. But there will come a day when you’re sick of going sideways. When rinse and repeat just won’t cut it anymore. Whether it … Continued
Investment
Saving Strategy
August 7, 2019
7 Essential Australian Resources for Investing in Shares as a Beginner
Warren Buffet started investing in shares when he was just 11 years old. Today he one of the richest people on the planet, with an estimated worth of US$84billion. Buying shares is becoming a part-owner of a business. Throughout history it has been business owners, whether founders or subsequent investors, who have been most successful … Continued
Investment
Superannuation