Financial Autonomy

Guidance Financial Services: Investing & Retirement Planning Experts
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Plenty of podcasts focus on building wealth – and that's great, as far as it goes. But focusing just on wealth misses the point. I believe what most of us actually want is to have choice. Choice in how much time we give to income-producing activities. Choice about what those income-producing activities are. Choice about where we live. Choice about when we retire. Choice about the ways we use our money to produce happiness. In the Financial Autonomy podcast, I explore the different ways you can gain choice - from investing in stocks to becoming self-employed, starting a side hustle, or buying an investment property. I share learnings I've gained working with clients for over 20 years as a Certified Financial Planner, and interview others with interesting insights or experiences in gaining choice in life.

  1. 7h ago

    7 Things Investors Should Check Now Before the Capital Gains Tax Changes

    If you own an investment property, shares, a business or other assets with a decent capital gain sitting in them, the changes coming to Capital Gains Tax from 1 July 2027 are worth paying attention to.  Because once people hear the words tax change and deadline, the instinct is often to think they need to act before it is too late. Do you need to sell now? Bring your plan forward? Or is there something you need to do now while the old rules still apply?  In this episode, Paul works through what the new CGT rules actually mean for investors and, more importantly, where they could change the decisions you make over the next few years. If you were already thinking about selling an investment, waiting until retirement, moving more money into super or simply leaving everything as it is, there are a few parts of these changes you will want to understand before making your next move.  Inside this episode:  The CGT change that sounds much more dramatic than it may actually be for gains you have already built up  Why rushing to sell before 1 July 2027 could create a bigger problem than the tax change itself  The retirement strategy that may not work quite the same way once the new rules begin  Whether you should be thinking about getting property, business or other assets valued before the deadline  The little-known change that could affect some assets that have been outside the CGT system for decades  Why where you hold your investments could become a much bigger planning question  The situations where doing nothing may still be the smartest move  What is actually worth reviewing between now and July 2027, before you make a decision that is hard to undo  The real challenge here is not understanding the tax rule, it's working out whether the rule changes what makes sense for you.  A decision to sell, hold, contribute more to super or change how your investments are structured can affect far more than one tax bill. It can flow through to your retirement timing, cash flow, investment mix and the flexibility you have later.  If you have built up significant investments and are wondering whether the 2027 CGT changes should alter your strategy, this is exactly the kind of decision we can help you work through.  Our advisers can look at the different pieces together and help you understand your options before you make a major move.  Book an initial meeting with Guidance Financial Services.    You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

  2. 2d ago

    Can You Afford to Take a Career Break Without Derailing Your Finances?

    Could you afford to take six months off work? You might love the idea of stepping away from work for a while. Maybe you want to travel, study, Spend more time with family, or simply getting off the treadmill long enough to work out what you actually want next. Then the financial anxiety kicks in. What happens to the mortgage? How much cash would you need? Would you have to sell investments? What if it takes longer than expected to find another job? And after spending years building your career, super and investments, could taking time out now set you back later? That's where a career break stops being a daydream and becomes a financial planning question. In this episode, Paul breaks down what you need to think through before walking away from your regular income, including some of the costs that are very easy to underestimate. He also looks at the bigger trade-off: whether taking some freedom now could change what becomes possible later. Because building wealth shouldn't only be about reaching a number decades from now. For many people, the whole point is having enough financial flexibility to make choices before retirement too. Inside this episode: How to work out whether the career break you're imagining is actually financially realistic The sabbatical costs that can catch you out even when you think you've saved enough Where the money could come from when your salary stops A timing decision that could affect the financial outcome of your break Why you may need considerably more money than simply covering the months you're away What taking time out could mean for the wealth and retirement plans you've already built The bigger question: do you really want to save all your freedom for retirement? Want to build wealth while creating more options along the way? Our Wealth Builder program is designed for people in their 30s and 40s who want a clear strategy across investing, debt, super and the lifestyle they actually want their money to support. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WEALTH BUILDER AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT  You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

    Can You Afford to Take a Career Break Without Derailing Your Finances?

  3. Sep 1

    Private Equity: What is it, can It Help You Build Wealth... and do you already invest in it without realising?

    Private equity used to sound like something reserved for investment bankers and the ultra-wealthy, but chances are, you may already be invested in it without even knowing.  So what actually is private equity, why are large investors willing to lock money away in private businesses for years, and what are they hoping to get in return?  In this episode, Nick is joined by former investment banker Stephen Zhang to break down the world of private equity and private credit. They look at what makes these investments different from buying ordinary shares, why super funds use them, and the trade-off investors make when they give up liquidity in pursuit of diversification and potentially higher returns.  Inside this episode:  Why private equity investors can make money very differently from someone buying shares on the ASX  The reason investors may accept less access to their money in exchange for greater return potential  Private equity vs private credit and why the difference matters  How large investors use private assets to diversify beyond traditional markets  Why you may already have private equity exposure sitting inside your super without realising it  What higher potential returns can mean for the level of risk you're taking

  4. Aug 30

    Mortgage, Investing or Super: What Should You Focus on in Your 30s, 40s & 50s?

    Do you keep smashing the mortgage, invest more, or start putting more into super?  Even if something was right for you 10 years ago, it might not be right today. When it comes to building wealth, your priorities need to change as your life does. What makes perfect sense in your 30s can start holding you back in your 40s. And by your 50s, the bigger question may no longer be how much you can accumulate, but whether everything you've built is actually getting you closer to the life you want.  In this episode, Paul breaks down how your financial focus can change through each stage of life, and where the biggest shifts tend to happen. It's less about hitting arbitrary milestones by a certain birthday and more about knowing when it may be time to change tack.  Inside this episode:  When paying down the mortgage should be front and centre, and when it may be time to widen the strategy  Why your 40s can be such an important window for turning higher income and home equity into future options  The point where investing more seriously can start to matter  Why working out what you want your 50s and 60s to look like can completely change what you do with money today  When super may deserve more attention, including the opportunities that can open up later in your working life  Why the financial goal eventually shifts from building the biggest pile possible to actually using it  If you've ever wondered whether you're focusing on the right thing for your age, this episode will help you work out what deserves your attention now, and what may need to change next.    Want to Know What You Should Focus on Next?  Mortgage, investing, super, cash flow. The hard part isn't knowing they all matter. It's knowing where your next dollar will make the biggest difference. Wealth Builder is our 12-month financial advice program for people in their 30s and 40s. We look at how your debt, investments, super and cash flow are working together and build a personalised strategy around where you are now and where you want to get to. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WEALTH BUILDER AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT  You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

    Mortgage, Investing or Super: What Should You Focus on in Your 30s, 40s & 50s?

  5. Aug 25

    Are Investment Bonds About to Become a More Tax-Effective Way to Build Wealth?

    What if an investment structure that has been easy to overlook for years is suddenly about to become much more attractive?  The upcoming changes to the way investments are taxed could shift the maths for anyone building wealth outside super. So, could investment bonds now help you keep more of your returns compounding, reduce tax along the way and offer benefits that personal investing or a family trust may not?  In this episode, Paul looks at why investment bonds deserve another look, where they could fit, and the important rules that can make or break their effectiveness.  Inside this episode:  Why investment bonds may suddenly deserve consideration for your wealth strategy  The tax advantage that could leave more of your returns working for you  Could an investment bond now stack up better than a family trust?  The 10-year rule that sounds far better than it actually is  How investment bonds could help you pass wealth to children or grandchildren more strategically  The mistake that could make an investment bond leave you worse off  WANT HELP WITH STRUCTURING YOUR INVESTMENTS TO MAXIMISE YOUR WEALTH  Guidance Financial Services, we can help you work out the most effective way to hold and build your wealth, based on your goals, tax position and bigger financial picture. Book your appointment with us here.  WANT TO STAY ACROSS WHAT'S MOVING THE MARKETS?:  Subscribe to GainingCHOICE, our weekly email unpacking the key headlines and  what to pay attention to.  GOT A FINANCE QUESTION FOR PAUL?:  Send it to paul@financialautonomy.com.au, and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

  6. Aug 23

    Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage and Other Debts as Fast as Possible?

    Paying off debt as fast as possible sounds like an obvious financial win. It can mean less interest, fewer repayments, and more money left for you.  But when you have a mortgage, investment debt, personal loans or money sitting in an offset, the smartest move is not always as simple as throwing every spare dollar at the balance.  Which debt should you tackle first? Is refinancing actually saving you money? Could consolidating debt make things worse? And are there some debts you may be better off keeping while you focus your money elsewhere?  In this episode, Paul looks at the decisions that can make the biggest difference to how quickly you get ahead, without falling into the trap of treating every debt the same way.  If you are earning good money but still feel like repayments are swallowing too much of it, this episode will help you work out where your effort could have the greatest impact.  In this episode:  Why paying off the smallest debt first can sometimes beat the mathematically "best" strategy  The reason a lower interest rate can still leave you paying far more in the long run  When consolidating debt can help, and the detail that can completely undo the benefit  Why the debt with the highest headline rate may not actually be your most expensive debt  How your offset account could be doing more of the heavy lifting  The point where refinancing may be worth considering  Why becoming debt-free as fast as possible is not always the same thing as building wealth efficiently  What to consider when debt has gone from manageable to something that is affecting your lifestyle and peace of mind  WANT A CLEARER PLAN FOR YOUR DEBT AND YOUR WEALTH? Paying off debt is only one part of the picture. The bigger question is how your mortgage, investments, super and cash flow should work together to help you build wealth and create more choice. At Guidance Financial Services, we can help you work through those trade-offs and build a strategy around where your money could be working hardest. WANT TO STAY ACROSS WHAT'S MOVING THE MARKETS?:  Subscribe to GainingCHOICE, our weekly email unpacking the key headlines and  what to pay attention to.  GOT A FINANCE QUESTION FOR PAUL?:  Send it to paul@financialautonomy.com.au, and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

    Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage and Other Debts as Fast as Possible?

  7. Aug 18

    Is This the End of the ASX? What It Could Mean for Your Investments

    What if one of the biggest changes to how Australians invest is about to happen, and hardly anyone here is talking about it?  US sharemarkets are moving towards near-24-hour trading, which could make it much easier for Australians to invest directly in the world's biggest companies during our own business hours. For anyone who has built their portfolio through the ASX, that raises some uncomfortable questions about what comes next.  Could investing overseas become cheaper and easier? Does the exchange you use even matter anymore? And if Australian investors have fewer reasons to stay local, what happens to the ASX itself?  Paul has a strong view on where this could be heading, and it is not one you hear every day.  Then Nick and Paul turn to property, where another long-held Australian assumption is being tested. House prices are falling in some markets, which can feel alarming when a huge chunk of your wealth is tied up in your home or investment property. But if we want housing to become more affordable, can prices really keep climbing forever?  This episode is about looking past the headlines and asking what these shifts could actually mean for the way you build and protect wealth.  Why the ASX could become far less important to your portfolio than it is today   The shift that could make investing directly in the US cheaper and easier than you expect   The hidden risk you take on when more of your money moves into overseas markets   Why a falling property price does not always mean you are financially worse off   The assumption about property that could be distorting the way you build wealth    If a large part of your wealth sits in Australian shares or property, this is a conversation worth hearing before assuming the old rules will keep working the same way.  FURTHER LISTENING  You can find our playlist full of episodes about investing here.   WANT PERSONALISED ADVICE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY?:  Book an appointment with Guidance Financial Services here.     READY TO SORT YOUR FINANCES AND BUILD WEALTH WITH A CLEAR PLAN?:  Wealth Builder is our specialised 12-month financial advice program for people in their 30s and 40s. You can learn more about it here.     FOLLOW NICK ON LINKEDIN HERE.    WANT TO STAY ACROSS WHAT'S MOVING THE MARKETS?:  Subscribe to GainingCHOICE, our weekly email unpacking the key headlines and  what to pay attention to.  GOT A FINANCE QUESTION FOR PAUL?:  Send it to paul@financialautonomy.com.au, and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  You can also find all our links here    General advice disclaimer

  8. Aug 16

    Want to Retire Earlier? How to Build Financial Independence Before 60

    Want to retire earlier, cut back your hours or reach the point where work becomes optional?  A lot of people in their 40s and 50s assume financial independence is still years away because they do not have millions sitting in an investment portfolio.  But that may be the wrong number to focus on.  If your super is on track to support you from 60, the real challenge may be much smaller: how do you fund the gap between the age you want to step back and the age you can access super?  That shift can completely change what financial independence looks like.  In this episode, Paul breaks down the decisions that can bring that point closer, from how much debt you carry and where your wealth sits, to whether you really need to live only off investment income.  Inside this episode:  The shift in thinking that could make retiring earlier feel far more achievable  Why chasing a huge passive-income portfolio may be making the goal harder than it needs to be  The role your super balance plays in whether you can afford to step back before 60  How your mortgage could be the biggest thing standing between you and more freedom  Why drawing down investments can sometimes get you to financial independence years sooner  The alternative to full retirement that could give you most of the freedom you actually want  If you are earning well but starting to wonder how long you really want to keep working at the same pace, this episode will help you think about what would need to change to give yourself more choice before 60.  WANT A PLAN TO WORK LESS OR RETIRE EARLIER?  At Guidance Financial Services, we can help you build a financial plan around the life you want, bringing together your super, debt, investments and future income so you can work towards having more choice before 60. Book your appointment here.     WANT TO STAY ACROSS WHAT'S MOVING THE MARKETS?:  Subscribe to GainingCHOICE, our weekly email unpacking the key headlines and  what to pay attention to.  GOT A FINANCE QUESTION FOR PAUL?:  Send it to paul@financialautonomy.com.au, and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  You can also find all our links here.  General advice disclaimer

    Want to Retire Earlier? How to Build Financial Independence Before 60
See All (454)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Plenty of podcasts focus on building wealth – and that's great, as far as it goes. But focusing just on wealth misses the point. I believe what most of us actually want is to have choice. Choice in how much time we give to income-producing activities. Choice about what those income-producing activities are. Choice about where we live. Choice about when we retire. Choice about the ways we use our money to produce happiness. In the Financial Autonomy podcast, I explore the different ways you can gain choice - from investing in stocks to becoming self-employed, starting a side hustle, or buying an investment property. I share learnings I've gained working with clients for over 20 years as a Certified Financial Planner, and interview others with interesting insights or experiences in gaining choice in life.

Information

  • Creator
    Guidance Financial Services: Investing & Retirement Planning Experts
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    454
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Benson
  • Show Website
    Financial Autonomy

You Might Also Like