All Articles
September 11, 2020
Zero Returns On Cash And What This Means For Investment Options
For cautious investors, the safest option has usually been touted to be cash. COVID-19, however, threatens to turn longstanding monetary policy on its head. Even in Australia, there’s been discussion of the possibility of negative rates as shutdowns and social restrictions constrain normal economic activity. For people exploring ways to keep their wealth safe, this … Continued
Investment
September 9, 2020
How to use a Core/Satellite strategy in your share portfolio
One of the most popular pathways to achieving Financial Autonomy is through investing in stocks. Stock market investing has a tonne of advantages – ease of diversification, low transaction costs, ease of liquidity, and being highly regulated to guard against investor fraud. Perhaps the number one reason share investment is so popular for those looking … Continued
Investment
August 26, 2020
Why (and how) I wrote Financial Autonomy – the money book that gives you choice
It was wonderful to be approached by a publisher to write a book. It felt like validation that the effort I’d been putting into the Financial Autonomy podcast, and the weekly Gaining CHOICE email were being recognised, and the ideas conveyed were interesting and valuable. I enjoy writing, and as much as putting together enough … Continued
Investment
Property
Saving Strategy
Self-Employment & Side Hustles
Superannuation
August 5, 2020
Axelrod, Gekko and Martha Stewart – let’s talk Insider Trading
What is insider trading, why is it a crime, and why does Hollywood seem to love it so much? Millions of words are written on current issues. As a producer of contemporary content myself, it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming the reader or listener has had an interest in financial markets and … Continued
Investment
July 22, 2020
Why Modern Monetary Theory is suddenly the cool kid (and why you should care)
I started writing this piece for inclusion in Gaining CHOICE, our weekly email. But as I read more and more the piece became longer and longer until it was clear the idea of Jobs Guarantees and Modern Monetary Theory warranted a post all of their own. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) sounds dry, I know, … Continued
Investment
April 29, 2020
7 tips for buying shares in volatile markets
Volatility and share investing go together like honey and crumpets. As a share investor, how can you use volatility to your advantage? And how can you ensure volatility doesn’t derail your strategy to build wealth and gain choice in life? I’ve invested through the GFC, the Asian Currency Crisis, September 11, the Japanese tsunami, Brexit, … Continued
Investment
April 17, 2020
How to get Started Investing in Shares in Australia (2020)
Those who have never owned shares before will be surprised at how easy it is to get started. Very simply the process is: Open an account with a broker Research what you want to buy Log into your broking account and place your order 3 days later, you’re a share investor In contrast to property, … Continued
Investment
April 15, 2020
COVID19 + Money. Need to knows – Episode 141
Not as polished as our normal blog posts but this podcast transcript might provide so important information to help you through the current challenges: Welcome back to another Financial Autonomy episode. My name is Paul Benson. Coming to you live from my home office, like a good proportion of you guys no doubt. Today’s episode, … Continued
Investment
Saving Strategy
April 1, 2020
Learnings from our recent Community Survey – Episode 139
Today’s episode is a bit different. I don’t have a script and I don’t have a guest. I recently ran a community survey to everyone that gets the Gaining Choice email. In this podcast I want to share with you what we learned and some of the ways this information will be used to shape … Continued
Investment
Property
Saving Strategy
Self-Employment & Side Hustles
January 29, 2020
Investment Market Outlook for 2020 – Episode 130
2019 was a bumper year for investors, so can we expect more of the same in 2020? Or is a pullback inevitable? I receive reports almost daily from fund managers and financial institutions. In the last few weeks they’ve tended to focus on the current state of the global economy and what that means for … Continued
Investment
December 5, 2019
The Financial Autonomy Journey
I put this diagram together yesterday to explain the central framework that we are working to here at Financial Autonomy. Anyone who successfully achieves Financial Autonomy will employ at least one, and usually two or three of these approaches. The self-employment route spotlights the difference between Financial Independence and Financial Autonomy. Financial Autonomy success is … Continued
Investment
Property
Saving Strategy
Self-Employment & Side Hustles
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