• 61. Q&A: Debt recycling
    Feb 13 2026

    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 deductibility


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

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    44 mins
  • 60. FI case study: Should Andy buy a 4th IP or diversify into ETFs?
    Feb 6 2026

    Property has worked well for Andy so far. The question is whether it’s still the best path forward. In this case study episode, Dave and Hayden sit down with listener Andy to unpack a real FIRE decision point.

    They walk through his full financial picture and explore whether continuing to leverage into property or shifting toward shares makes more sense for reaching long-term passive income.


    In this episode they cover:


    👉 Andy’s current position across property, ETFs, cash, and super

    👉 The trade-offs between buying another property or diversifying into shares

    👉 How much portfolio value is needed to generate $100k in passive income

    👉 Why net yields and cash flow matter more than headline growth

    👉 The risks of leverage and concentration

    👉 How diversification can reduce risk and volatility

    👉 Aligning investment strategy with long-term lifestyle goals and risk tolerance


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

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    41 mins
  • 59. FIRE Later, or Mini-Retirement Now?
    Jan 30 2026

    Is taking a year off work a bold life move or a setback on the road to financial independence? In this episode, Hayden and Dave dig into mini-retirements and gap years, sparked by a listener question about whether stepping away from work is really worth it.


    They break down the upside, the risks, and the real trade-offs of pressing pause on work while pursuing FIRE.


    In this episode they cover:

    👉 What a mini-retirement actually is

    👉 The benefits of a proper break from work

    👉 Why going back to work can be harder than expected

    👉 The financial cost of time off

    👉 When gap years make sense and when they don’t

    👉 The risks of poor structure and lost momentum

    👉 When a mini-retirement might be worth it for them


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

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    52 mins
  • 58. Is your super working hard enough for you?
    Jan 23 2026

    Is your super quietly doing its thing in the background? That might be fine, but there are a few details worth paying attention to. In today’s episode, Hayden and Dave discuss all things superannuation and walk through the decisions and investing strategies behind their own portfolios.


    In this episode they cover:


    👉 How their super strategies evolved from default options to more intentional investing

    👉 When and why they moved toward high-growth and indexed portfolios

    👉 The role of international diversification inside super

    👉 Tax considerations that influenced their investment decisions

    👉 Hands-on vs hands-off super strategies

    👉 Their current super portfolios, including the increasing use of geared ETFs

    👉 They also touch on Pearler Super


    Dave has also written a new book called 'You've Got Money.. Now What?' 📚


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • 57. FI case study: Renee might be closer to financial independence than she thinks
    Jan 16 2026

    Hayden and Dave are taking Aussie FIRE case studies up a notch by inviting a listener onto the podcast to walk through her real-life numbers and decisions.


    They’re joined by Renee, an Aussie Fire listener who shares her full financial picture and asks the big question: what should we focus on next?


    In this episode they cover:


    👉 Renee’s financial position, including income, super, ETFs, and property

    👉 Whether to prioritise ETFs, another investment property, or staying the course

    👉 How close Renee already is to financial independence

    👉 Semi-retirement, and buying back family time

    👉 The trade-offs between property debt and lifestyle flexibility

    👉 Why compounding (not contributions) is doing most of the work now


    Sign up to Pearler in January and get one free trade per month for 12 months!


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • 56. Q&A: ETF strategy, coast FIRE, dividends vs. growth + cash ETFs
    Jan 9 2026

    Sign up to Pearler in January and get one free trade per month for 12 months!


    In this episode Hayden and Dave are opening their DM’s to answer some listener questions.


    In this episode they cover:

    👉 ETF strategy: all-in-one funds vs splitting across ETFs

    👉 Coast FIRE and slowing down on the path to FI

    👉 Dividends vs growth portfolios near retirement

    👉 Cash ETFs and when (if ever) they make sense


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • 55. Financial advice we're not subscribing to - part 2
    Jan 2 2026

    Sign up to Pearler in January and get one free trade per month for 12 months!


    Welcome to part two! In part two of this episode, Hayden and Dave are unpacking:


    👉 The pressure to get on the ‘property ladder’

    👉 Renting vs buying and your long-term goals

    👉 The idea that rent money is dead money

    👉 Investing in every asset class to be diversified

    👉 Maxing out your super


    Ask a Question


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 54. Financial advice we're not subscribing to - part 1
    Dec 19 2025

    If you’re a young person today, it can feel like you’re playing a new game while still being expected to follow old rules that no longer quite fit. In this episode, Hayden and Dave unpack:


    👉 If insurance is actually worth it (plus simple calculations you can use to decide if it’s right for you)

    👉 Bucket systems and if they can help you manage your money, spending, and savings

    👉 Finding work–life balance while still chasing your goals and dreams

    👉 How young people can get ahead in today’s tougher economic environment

    👉 Should I work harder when I'm younger, or have fun and spend my money?

    👉 Whether you should take a more cautious approach to investing as you get older


    FI Case Study Request Form


    Pearler

    Strong Money Australia

    Original Aussie FIRE e-book

    Strong Money Australia’s audiobook


    Disclaimer

    Any 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


    If 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.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins