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Get Rich Slow Club

BONUS | The one resource new parents need: Kids Ain't Cheap by Ana Kresina

Whether you have kids, would like to start a family, or have no plans for parenthood, one thing is clear: children in this country are expensive. Get Rich Slow Club co-host Ana Kresina (Head of Product & Community at Pearler) has experienced this reality first-hand. However, unlike many other aspects of personal finance, Ana found there were few resources to help expecting parents financially prepare. That’s why she decided to do something about it. Enter: Kids Ain’t Cheap, Ana’s first book!

In this bonus episode, Natasha Etschmann (Tash Invests) chats with Ana about what current and would-be parents can learn from her book. They also discuss the average cost of raising a two-child family, and ponder the “Motherhood Penalty”.

@tashinvests
@anakresina
@getrichslowclub
@pearlerhq
Get Rich Slow Club
Pearler
YouTube

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.

Natasha Etschmann is an Authorised Representative 1299881 of Guideway Financial Services Pty Ltd AFSL 420367. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/links

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.

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  • 292. Is the property market actually broken, or does it just feel that way?

    32:03|
    Everyone has an opinion on housing, and Evan Lucas warns up front that this one will make you either very angry or very happy. In part three of the four-part economics series, he and Ana get into why there's no such thing as "the Australian property market", why supply has lagged for 40 years, and why the standard fixes tend to make the demand side worse.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 The uniquely Australian problem: we have the highest urbanisation rate in the developed world and we all want to live near the CBD, while Europe and North America happily commute💸 Why supply has been stuck for decades: planning approvals, NIMBY versus YIMBY, our resistance to density, and build times that have blown out to 30 to 33 months💸 Price to income ratios that have doubled, with Perth going from about 4.5 to 8.5 times gross income and Brisbane from 5.5 to 9.5, against the 3 to 4 times boomers were paying💸 Why property behaves unlike shares: if a seller doesn't like the price, they pull the listing, so supply shrinks exactly when you'd expect it to grow. Clearance rates are now the worst since 2018💸 Why the 5% deposit scheme is a demand-side answer to a supply-side problem💸 The downsizing trap: stamp duty, agent fees and a lack of anything smaller to move into, and the radical HECS-style proposal for drawing on the family home instead of the pension💸 Melbourne's slowdown, Victoria's sick economy, the honeymoon bump that follows a change of government, and why Melbourne is on track to become Australia's biggest city by 2050💸 Evan's closing point: a house is shelter as well as an asset, and that changes what it's reasonably worth to youNothing here is advice, and no one can tell you what prices do next. But if you're trying to get in and it feels impossible, Evan's view is that you probably will, and you may have to change what you're willing to accept to do it. Next episode: business cycles, markets, and why timing doesn't work.Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 291. The top 10 ETFs Australians actually invest in (with Pearler CEO Nick Nicolaides)

    38:33|
    Every year Pearler publishes the ETFs its community actually invests in, ranked by how many people hold them rather than by returns. Ana sits down with Pearler founder and CEO Nick Nicolaides to walk the top ten, plus the most popular pairings, and to talk about what the list is genuinely useful for (a starting point for research) and what it isn't (a shopping list).In this episode we'll discuss:💸 Why the list is ranked by number of investors, not performance or fund size, and why Nick thinks that matters💸 The new entry at number ten: a high yield Australian shares ETF, and whether the proposed 30% minimum tax on capital gains has people rethinking growth versus dividends💸 Nick's take on investing for tax outcomes: would you rather a bigger gain and a bigger tax bill, or a smaller gain and less tax?💸 Management fees across the list, from 0.03% at the cheap end up to 0.59% for an ethically screened global fund, and what you're actually paying for💸 All-in-one ETFs: the two big diversified funds the community argues about endlessly, their geographic splits, and the DRP setting that catches people out💸 Why the Nasdaq-focused ETF is both the highest performer on the list and the one Nick watches most nervously, and why he owns it anyway💸 Overlap: why holding two ETFs that share holdings isn't automatically a problem, and Nick's own simple two-fund setup💸 The near-identical Aussie large-cap ETFs, two popular and two barely known, some with cheaper fees than the famous ones💸 The top ten pairings, which Nick says really boil down to three groups: Australia plus the world, the world tilted towards the US, or all in on AmericaNick's advice when two ETFs are genuinely that similar: you've done the work, so pick the one you'll be happiest holding, whether that's the cheaper fee or the brand you trust. And nothing here is a recommendation. Have a look at what's in the holdings and decide what suits you.Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 290. Why does the RBA keep changing rates? Here's the logic

    35:35|
    Everyone talks about inflation and interest rates, but far fewer people can explain how they're connected or why the RBA only really has one tool to work with. In part two of the four-part series, Ana and economist Evan Lucas get into what inflation actually is, why a bit of it is a good thing, and why the same rate rise can flatten a young family while barely touching someone who's already paid off their house.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 Inflation defined as the rate money loses purchasing power, and why 2 to 3% is healthy rather than something to fear💸 Real wage growth explained: if your pay stays flat, you've effectively gone backwards💸 Why the RBA's only lever is interest rates, and why Evan calls it "doing fine art with a sledgehammer"💸 Who actually feels a rate rise: mortgage holders versus asset-rich retirees who might even benefit💸 Monetary policy versus fiscal policy, using childcare subsidies and the $426,000 income cut-off as a live example💸 The tobacco excise as a case study in unintended consequences: $8 billion in lost revenue and an organised crime problem, because show me the incentive and I'll show you the outcome💸 Tax brackets that don't move with inflation, tertiary education debt that's ballooned, and the shrinking wage premium for going to uni (from about 50% down to 33%)💸 Productivity versus activity: why doing more with less isn't productivity, and what the internal combustion engine (and possibly AI) tells us about enhancing output insteadEvan's answer for anyone feeling overwhelmed by all of it: look at history. Rates go up and rates come down, and every cycle so far has ended. Whether the next stretch is short or long, zoom out. Next episode, Evan and Ana get into property and housing.Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 289. Why you may need a Testamentary Trusts even when you don't think you do.

    43:44|
    A will decides who gets your assets. A testamentary trust decides how they get them, and that difference can matter enormously for your kids, your blended family, and how much tax they pay. Ana sits down with estate planning lawyer Angie Treichel to unpack a tool most Australians have never heard of, plus why the post office will you've been meaning to fill out might not do what you think it does.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 What a testamentary trust actually is: a trust written into your will that stays dormant until you pass away, with a trustee managing assets for your beneficiaries instead of handing them over directly💸 The blended family scenario nobody plans for: why a mirror will can quietly cut your kids out years down the track, and how life insurance directed into a trust can keep everyone protected💸 The tax angle: minor beneficiaries accessing adult tax rates and up to $22,000 per child per year tax free, versus penalty rates above $416 in a regular family trust💸 Asset protection, including protecting beneficiaries from a messy divorce, and sometimes from themselves💸 Why the post office or DIY will can miss your biggest asset entirely (joint tenancy, super and binding death benefit nominations all sit outside your will)💸 The recent budget scare: proposed changes that Angie says would have taxed orphans and widows, and the backflip that followed💸 What it costs (roughly $3,000 to $10,000), the net worth where it starts making sense (~$500,000), and why Angie reckons the average couple is closer to that number than they think💸 The Letter of Wishes: funeral songs, the photos your partner is allowed to use, subscriptions to cancel, and every login your executor will otherwise spend unpaid hours hunting downNobody enjoys this conversation, but as Angie puts it, a will never benefits you. It benefits the people left behind, who deserve the space to grieve without a legal mess to untangle. If you take one thing from this episode, book the chat with your partner or your parents this week.@angie_ajtlegalhttps://www.ajtlegal.com.au/Free Estate Plan Ebook - AJT LegalFree Testamentary Trust Ebook - AJT LegalHappy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 288. What actually moves the economy (and why it matters to you) with Evan Lucas Part 1

    27:23|
    Most of us only think about the economy when something's gone wrong, and according to economist Evan Lucas, that's by design. In part one of a four-part series, Ana sits down with the author of Mind Over Money to go right back to first principles: what an economy actually is, how we measure it, and why the whole thing behaves more like a circle than a straight line. No jargon, no judgement, just the questions you'd never ask at a dinner party.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 What an economy is actually for, and the "Goldilocks" conditions (2 to 3% growth, ~2% inflation, a neutral cash rate) that almost never all show up at once💸 GDP broken into its four parts, and why household consumption makes up 60 to 70% of it in countries like Australia💸 Supply and demand explained through Wiggles tickets and Nvidia chips, plus what happens when demand outruns supply by a mile💸 Stagflation: what went wrong in the 1970s oil crisis, and whether there's an argument we're seeing shades of it now💸 Why GDP data arrives 65 days late, and the forward indicators (job ads, spending data, consumer confidence) that tell you what's happening right now💸 The Aussie farmers who stockpiled diesel on an expectation, and how that one behavioural choice moved real prices💸 Homo economicus and why Evan reckons the useful distinction isn't rational versus irrational, it's rational versus reasonableEconomics gets treated as maths and graphs, but most of it comes down to how people feel and what they do next. Evan's one-sentence definition: it's the study of how to better society, and the catch is that doesn't always translate to the individual. Stay tuned for parts two, three and four.Happy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 287. Emergency funds when you're close to FIRE (part 2)

    21:59|
    What happens to your emergency fund once you've actually built some wealth? Following straight on from their emergency funds 101 episode, Tash and Ana tackle the advanced version: offsets, debt recycling, business structures, and whether you even need a cash buffer once your portfolio could catch you. If part one was about building the safety net, this one is about rethinking it once the net is bigger than the fall. (New to emergency funds? Go listen to part one first.)In this episode we'll discuss:💸 Where your emergency fund lives when your whole home loan is debt recycled: Ana's spreadsheet session with her partner, and why the answer might be an offset that "kind of defeats the purpose"💸 Tash's confession: no personal emergency fund at all — how roughly $220,000 sitting in her businesses works as a backstop, and the tax trade-off of paying yourself out only when you need it💸 Fully offset mortgage? That IS your emergency fund — why neither host would keep a separate cash pile on top of a million dollars in the offset💸 The 55-day credit card strategy: bridging emergencies with interest-free periods and paying it off with dividends or rent (an advanced, "it hurts my soul to say this" play with plenty of disclaimers)💸 Renting while heavily invested: rent rises, the moving buffer you always need, and whether selling shares in a 20% downturn is really as bad as it feels💸 Finding your "sleep at night number" — why the right buffer at this stage is as much emotional as mathematicalThe further along you get, the less the three-to-six-months rule matters and the more your structures, cash flow and risk tolerance take over. Mistakes hurt less as things snowball — but leverage cuts both ways, so run your own numbers and know your worst case. Consider this episode your permission slip to think about it out loud.Happy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 286. Emergency funds 101: how much you need and where to keep it (part 1)

    18:14|
    Emergency funds might not be the most thrilling topic in personal finance, but they're the foundation everything else sits on. In this first of two back-to-back episodes, Tash and Ana cover the 101: what actually counts as an emergency, how much you need, and where to keep it. Whether you're starting with your first $1,000 or wondering if your buffer is big enough, this is the place to start. (Already sorted? The part 2 drops on Thursday.)In this episode we'll discuss:💸 What counts as an emergency (job loss, car repairs, vet bills, last-minute flights home) and what definitely doesn't (Christmas comes every year — plan for it)💸 The maths of skipping the buffer: why a $3,000 car repair on a 20% credit card can undo an investment returning 7%, and how bad expenses love arriving all at once💸 How to calculate your number: add up essential monthly expenses and multiply by three to six — a worked example where $3,500 a month means a fund of $10,500 to $21,000💸 When to lean towards three months (stable job, no dependents, family to fall back on) versus six or more (sole income earner, self-employed with lumpy income, kids, or planned parental leave)💸 Where to keep it: high interest savings or your offset — not term deposits, not shares, and watch out for honeymoon rates and hoop-jumping bonus interest conditions💸 Tash's $20K "I just like the look of it" approach versus Ana's full year of expenses, and why the emotional side of the number matters as much as the mathsAn emergency fund isn't optional, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming either — start with $1,000 and build from there. And if you have to dip into it? That's literally what it's for. Use it, feel zero guilt, and top it back up.Happy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 285. Investing for your 40's

    16:14|
    If you're heading into your 40s (or already there) and worried you've missed the investing boat, this one's for you. Following their episodes on investing in your 20s and 30s, Tash and Ana tackle the decade where compounding starts pulling its weight, but mortgages, kids, ageing parents and lifestyle creep are all fighting for the same dollar. Ahead, behind or starting from scratch, it's not too late.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 The maths of starting at 40: how $1,400 a month at a 7% return (not guaranteed) could make you a millionaire by 65, and why smaller amounts still count💸 A timely scam warning: the fake accounts and WhatsApp groups impersonating Tash, how to spot an imposter, and what to do if you've been caught💸 Why your 40s call for a more serious setup: super contributions to reduce taxable income, carry forward rules, insurances, and when a financial adviser's fee starts being worth it💸 The $100,000 deck conversation: Ana's framework for lifestyle creep ("if someone gifted you the money, would you actually spend it on this?")💸 Why feeling behind is the worst reason to take on more risk, and the Princeton research linking financial stress to a 13-point IQ drop💸 Protecting what you're building: wills, executors, logins and the "death binder" that spares your family a scramble at the hardest possible timeYour 40s are often the decade where the habits and decisions of the past 20 years start showing up in your net worth. Wherever you're at, the goal stays the same: build a portfolio that gives future you more choices. That might just start with this episode.Happy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.
  • 284. Is your 9-5 actually safe?

    15:01|
    FIRE (financial independence, retire early) made a lot more sense when houses were cheaper and the tax rules stayed put. So is it still a realistic goal for Australians in 2026? Tash and Ana take an honest look at the movement, from the maths behind it to the proposed budget changes that have the FIRE community redoing their spreadsheets.In this episode we'll discuss:💸 What FIRE actually is: the 25 times expenses rule, the 4% rule, and where those numbers come from💸 Ana's controversial take on who FIRE is (and isn't) realistic for💸 The bloke living at a skydiving drop zone saving 80% of his income, and what it says about the non-traditional path💸 The beginner steps: finding your FIRE number, tracking your spending, and the buffers most people forget💸 How Lisa, a 38 year old freelancer, swapped full FIRE for Coast FIRE and "work optional at 50"💸 Why the proposed 30% minimum tax on capital gains has households like Ana's rethinking high growth versus high dividendsNone of the budget changes are locked in yet, and nobody can promise what markets, housing or tax rules will do next. But whether you're chasing full FIRE, easing towards Coast FIRE, or just want the option to work less one day, this one's worth a listen.Happy EOFY from pearler! Sign up in July using the code GETRICHSLOW for 12 months worth of free trades 💸And for existing customers, sign up to a new pearler product and you'll get 12 months worth of free trades too! 💸Case Study Form@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeHow To Not Work ForeverDisclaimer 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.Tash Invests Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative #1317713 of Rask Licensing Pty Ltd. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf 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.