Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

Hayden Smith & Dave Gow
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The Aussie FIRE podcast is the ultimate guide to Financial Independence for Australians. Having started life as an e-book, then an audiobook, it's now reached its final form: a podcast that will keep on giving. The Aussie FIRE audiobook is brought to you by Pearler, Australia's favourite long-term investing community; and Dave Gow, the brains behind Strong Money Australia. Each episode explores a different aspect of Financial Independence, so stay tuned for new releases! https://pearler.com https://strongmoneyaustralia.com/ DISCLAIMER: We’re big fans of sharing experiences and talking about money. However, please note that any advice is general, and does not consider your financial situation, needs, or objectives. Consider whether it's appropriate for you, and if in doubt, speak to a licensed financial adviser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3D AGO

    64. The mindset that made Tash start investing at just 18

    This week on the pod we're chatting with Natasha Etschmann, or you may know her as 'Tash Invests' online. We wanted to know what life was like for Tash before TikTok, Instagram, and “Tash Invests” became a thing. Growing up in a house where money was openly discussed, saving felt like a game she wanted to win. That mindset led her to buy her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22, setting the foundation for the strategy she continues to build on today. In this episode we cover: 👉 What it was like growing up in a household where money was openly talked about 👉 Why saving felt like a game, and how that mindset shaped her early investing 👉 Buying her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22 👉 The early trade-offs she made to build momentum in her 20s 👉 Navigating online criticism and tall poppy syndrome 👉 How her investing strategy has evolved across shares and property 👉 Why the real goal is freedom and optionality (not just a big round number) 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  2. FEB 27

    63. FI case study: Should I buy my first home with a 5% deposit, or wait until I have 20%?

    Should you buy your first home with a 5% deposit, or wait until you have 20%? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Khaing to unpack the numbers and the trade-offs. Khaing is in their late 20s, earning $125,000 and saving around 50% of their income. With roughly $68,000 available, they are weighing up the First Home Guarantee scheme against waiting a few more years to build a bigger deposit and take on less debt. In this episode they cover: 👉 How the 5% deposit scheme works and the potential savings on LMI 👉 Whether waiting for 20% really reduces risk if property prices keep rising 👉 What repayments could look like compared to Khaing’s current rent 👉 How to think about worst-case scenarios, including renting the property out 👉 What to look for in an apartment, including strata costs and building quality 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.

    46 min

  3. FEB 20

    62. Is the 4% rule for early retirement still relevant?

    Is the 4% rule still relevant, or has the FIRE movement outgrown it? In this episode, Hayden and Dave break down where the 4% rule came from, why it’s often criticised, and how it actually holds up for early retirees. They unpack the assumptions behind the rule and explain why flexibility, adaptability, and behaviour might matter far more than the percentage itself. In this episode they cover: 👉 Where the 4% rule comes from and what it was designed to solve 👉 Why early retirees worry about longer time horizons and sequence risk 👉 Whether strong recent returns make the rule less reliable 👉 How flexibility around spending dramatically improves success rates 👉 What different “flex rates” mean for sustainable withdrawal levels 👉 Portfolio allocation considerations for long-term retirees 👉 The psychology of living off a portfolio during market downturns 👉 Practical tools like cash buffers and automated selling 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.

    43 min

  4. FEB 13

    61. Q&A: Debt recycling

    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.

    44 min

  5. FEB 6

    60. FI case study: Should Andy buy a 4th IP or diversify into ETFs?

    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.

    41 min

  6. JAN 30

    59. FIRE Later, or Mini-Retirement Now?

    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.

    52 min

  7. JAN 23

    58. Is your super working hard enough for you?

    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.

    1h 12m

  8. JAN 16

    57. FI case study: Renee might be closer to financial independence than she thinks

    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.

    41 min
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About

The Aussie FIRE podcast is the ultimate guide to Financial Independence for Australians. Having started life as an e-book, then an audiobook, it's now reached its final form: a podcast that will keep on giving. The Aussie FIRE audiobook is brought to you by Pearler, Australia's favourite long-term investing community; and Dave Gow, the brains behind Strong Money Australia. Each episode explores a different aspect of Financial Independence, so stay tuned for new releases! https://pearler.com https://strongmoneyaustralia.com/ DISCLAIMER: We’re big fans of sharing experiences and talking about money. However, please note that any advice is general, and does not consider your financial situation, needs, or objectives. Consider whether it's appropriate for you, and if in doubt, speak to a licensed financial adviser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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