Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

What happens if the market crashes as soon as you hit FIRE? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get into one of the most practical and underrated challenges of early retirement: actually living off your portfolio when things get rocky.They cover:👉 The stage of retirement where you're most at risk from market volatility👉 The psychological shift from receiving a paycheck to relying on a portfolio, and why it's harder than it sounds👉 Why having a backup plan before you need one changes everything👉 Cash buffers, flexible income and expense levers you can pull without selling assets at the wrong time👉 How debt, home equity and diversification fit into a drawdown strategyIt's pearler's 5th birthday! Get 5 free trades here 🥳 Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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

What happens when a government equity scheme starts to feel like a trap? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Steve to unpack his property situation and map out a path forward.Steve is a self-employed sports coach earning around $120,000–$130,000 a year, with a partner on $100,000. He owns an apartment worth roughly $570,000, holds a $200,000 ETF portfolio, and used the Victorian Homebuyer Fund to get into the market with a 25% government equity stake still sitting on his property.In this episode they cover:👉 How the Victorian Homebuyer Fund works and why Steve is feeling stuck👉 Whether refinancing could free him from the government equity stake without selling his ETFs👉 The case for rent-vesting as a flexible alternative to upsizing👉 How to weigh lifestyle preferences against pure FIRE optimisation👉 Why financial flexibility can matter more than squeezing every dollar out of a strategyIt's pearler's 5th birthday! Get 5 free trades here 🥳Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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

In this week's episode of Aussie FIRE, Hayden and Dave are unpacking some listener questions around:👉🏼 Selling shares to invest in solar panels at home👉🏼 The 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers👉🏼 Vanguard ETFs👉🏼 And investing for high growth with a 5-8 year timelineAs always, they'll unpack it, share their thoughts, and come at it from a few different angles. Hope you enjoy it!Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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

What would you do if $1 million landed in your bank account tomorrow? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get hypothetical and things get interesting fast. From taking on a gelato giant to debating whether a swimming pool counts as a financial decision, this one's a little different. But buried in the fun are some genuinely useful ideas about how people at different stages of their FIRE journey think about sudden wealth.Ask a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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

In this episode, we answer two listener questions. One on ethical investing and ESG funds, and another on managing tech concentration in a portfolio. We'll unpack:👉 Whether aligning with ESG principles means reducing exposure to Australian equities👉 Why assuming the US market will always outperform Australia might be👉 What the ethical ETF DZZF is👉 Why defining “ethical” companies is harder than it seems👉 The trade-offs of ESG investing👉 An alternative approach: investing broadly and donating the fee savings?👉 Why adding more ETFs might not protect a portfolio from a major market crash👉 How to think about tech concentration in your portfolioAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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

In this episode, Hayden reflects on 10 lessons from 10 years of renting — covering everything from bonds and inspections to negotiating rent and managing agents.After a decade of renting across share houses, sublets, and full leases, he shares the practical lessons he wishes he knew earlier.👉 Why taking detailed photos when you move in can save your bond later👉 What tenants actually need to do when cleaning a property at the end of a lease👉 How bond refunds work (and why disputes are rarer than you might think)👉 What to know about inspections, maintenance, and “quiet enjoyment”👉 How to handle urgent repairs if your agent isn’t responding👉 The difference between fixed-term and periodic leases👉 When it might be worth negotiating rent or lease terms👉 How strategic disclosure can affect rental applications👉 Why renting in high-supply areas can make life easier👉 A simple way to cut moving costs without hiring removalistsAsk a QuestionFI Case Study Request FormPearlerStrong Money AustraliaOriginal Aussie FIRE e-bookStrong Money Australia’s audiobookDisclaimerAny 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