My Family Strategist

Christina Spark
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This podcast is where financial strategy meets the chaos of parenting. Many of us weren't taught personal finance from our own parents, yet we’re expected to navigate a complex, costly world while raising the next generation. Hosted by a former CPA and mother with 15 years of business experience, this podcast bridges the gap between the "Heart" and the "Balance Sheet." Whether you're deciding on a second child, a second mortgage, or a new career path, this podcast gives you the data and knowledge to stop deciding from a place of overwhelm and to start leading from a place of confidence

  1. 5d ago

    Sophie Tieman on the Working Mum Juggle, Identity Shifts & 2 Under 2

    From national TV to a high-stakes corporate career, followed by the whirlwind of back-to-back babies, I sit down with Sophie Tieman for an incredibly raw, honest look at modern motherhood, identity shifts, and the reality of the working-mum juggle. Many of you know Sophie as a finalist on The Bachelor (S6) or as an incredibly authentic voice in the lifestyle and parenting space, but in this episode, we’re going behind the curtain. Sophie is a wife and mum and she’s currently navigating that intense 'middle ground' of juggling a career in Real Estate while raising two babies born just 12 months apart. We dive deep into the real-life stuff: the anxiety of the reality TV aftermath, the loss of identity that hits when you become a mum, shifting priorities, and the constant need to redefine what success actually looks like, and the honest, daily juggle of a multi-career household. We also get into the big strategic decisions many Australian parents are navigating right now: how to budget with a growing family, buying versus rent-vesting, and the private school debate. We break down the pressures of perfectionism, the intense private school culture in Sydney, and what it actually means to "fake it till you make it". Whether you are currently in the thick of the toddler years, trying to navigate your return to work, or rethinking how you budget for your family’s future, this episode is a beautiful reminder to slow down and smell the roses. EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome to the MFS Podcast 00:49 The Bachelor Aftermath  03:59 Grieving Your Past Identity  06:17 Becoming a Mum: The Ultimate Identity Shift   08:54  "Irish Twins” & The Ideal Age Gap Debate 11:53 You Can’t Have It All  14:31 Dropping the Glass Ball 16:40 The Financial Shock of Having a Baby 20:14 Commercial vs. Residential Property Investment 23:08 Buy vs Rent-vesting? 25:03 Private vs. Public School? 28:31 Sophie’s Mum’s Influence on her 35:57 Smelling the Roses: What I Want My Kids to Know 37:38 Fake it Till you Make it DISCLAIMER We’ve just had the new budget announcements from the Labour government. While the strategies we discuss in this episode are timeless, tax laws and government incentives can change with the stroke of a pen. I’m a former CPA, but I’m not your accountant, so please use this as a jumping-off point for your own research or a chat with your professional advisor if you want to explore further any topics discussed today.

    41 min

  2. May 12

    Parent Lifestyle Audit: Save $10,000+ Without Feeling Deprived

    Are you a two-income household earning good money, yet somehow ending the month with a $0 balance? You aren't alone. A Parent Lifestyle Audit isn't about skipping lattes; it's about the $10,000+ structural wins most families miss. In this episode, I expose the "Death by a Thousand Cuts" and big structural changes that drain parents' bank accounts. Whether it’s negotiating a raise or mastering geographic arbitrage, learn the strategic frameworks to save thousands now and millions over your child’s lifetime. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why two-income households still feel broke 01:19 – Disclaimer 0:45 – Where is my money going?  04:31 – Death by a thousand cuts: hidden daily costs of parenting 05:36 – Easiest way to save: Negotiating a raise or job switching 07:32 – Saving 200%+ on groceries and snacks 09:11 – High-protein, low-cost: The $2 family meal hack 10:52 – "Baby-Safe" marketing vs. reality 11:36 – The Subscription Trap: Extracurriculars  13:11 – Marketplace & Op-Shops 14:27 – Milestone parties: Why less is more for your wallet 15:23 – Big Structural Wins: Novated Lease (EVs) 16:36 – Hidden Gems: Non-profit childcare 19:03 – $650,000 Private School vs. a House  21:22 – Geographic Arbitrage: Moving for Financial freedom Episodes Mentioned: Investing 101: From $0 to Investor in 15 Minutes (A Busy Mum’s Guide)Is Your Family Financially Healthy? How to Track Your Net Worth Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general education and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. While I am a former Chartered accountant, I'm not your accountant and I do not know your specific financial situation. You should always consult with a licensed financial advisor or professional before making any significant financial decisions.

    24 min

  3. Apr 28

    Double Income, But Still Broke? A Simple Budget for Families

    Are you earning more than ever but feel like your bank account has a hole in the bottom? You aren’t alone. Even for households earning $200k+, lifestyle inflation and the "unconscious spending" of the 2026 economy can leave you living paycheck to paycheck. In this episode, Christina Spark (former Chartered Accountant and "Family COO") breaks down a simple Budgeting System. Learn how to set up a 5-account structure that automates your wealth, why it’s time to fire your credit cards and a step-by-step tutorial on using AI to categorize 12 months of expenses and save you money, in seconds. Strategy over stress starts here. 00:00 – Why High Earners Feel Broke 01:21 – Disclaimer  01:40 – Budgeting is a Trade-Off, Not a Sacrifice  3:28 – The 50/30/20 Rule in the Current Economy  4:15 – Tip: Using AI to Categorise 12 Months of Expenses 06:21 – Calculating Your Household Income 06:43 – Acct # 1) Savings - Pay Yourself First 07:43 – Acct #2) Needs   08:22 – Is Mortgage Savings or an Expense?  09:55 – Acct #3) Wants   10:28 – Acct # 4 & 5) - Your Struggle Accounts  13:34 – Breaking the Habit of Impulse Spending 15:19 – Why Credit Card Points are Actually Costing You  16:27 – US vs. Australia: The Credit Score Myth  17:29 – Bridging the Gap to a Gold Standard Budget  19:33 –It’s Not What You Make, It’s What You Keep Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general education and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute financial tax or legal advice. While I am a former Chartered Accountant, I am not your accountant and I do not know your specific financial situation. You should always consult with a licensed financial advisor or professional before making any significant financial decisions. Connect with Christina: myfamilystrategist.com

    21 min

  4. Apr 14

    Why I'm "One and Done": What No One Tells You

    I think being "One & Done" is a very misunderstood decision. It isn’t about being selfish; it’s about a purposeful allocation of my time, mental health, marriage, and our financial freedom. The decision to have another child is often led by emotion or social pressure without a real look at the facts. In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on why my husband and I decided to be "One and Done"—and why it was a strategic choice to help our family thrive, not just survive. I’m sharing the five data-backed reasons why we are standing firm in this decision, including a deep dive into the "Big 5" structural financial changes that many parents overlook. I also walk you through the Ann Davidman's framework of separating "Desire" from "Decision," and how understanding the Focusing Illusion helped me stop daydreaming about the "fantasy" of a larger family and start focusing on the reality of the child right in front of me. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a pros-and-cons list regarding your family size, this episode will give you the strategist’s playbook to find clarity. Episode Chapters 00:00 - The Most Misunderstood Decision  00:56 - The Desire vs. Decision Framework 03:56 - Disclaimer 04:35 - Debunking the Sibling Myth  05:56 - Prioritising a Mentally Well Parent  07:03 - Reinvesting Time into Marriage and Family  08:29 - Financial Freedom & The "Big 5" Costs 11:17 - Accelerating Retirement by 15 years 13:06 - Managing the Downsides  14:17 - “Focusing Illusion”: a Happiness Paradox 17:05 - Fear of Future Regret 🛑 IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: While I am a former Chartered Accountant, the math I’m sharing today is based on general data and my own family's risk assessment. Every family portfolio is unique. This is not formal financial advice; it is a framework to help you do your own due diligence. Always consult your own licensed advisor before making major financial moves.

    18 min

  5. Apr 7

    How I Save 10 Hours a Week: 5 Lessons from a Google Career

    Why is it that we can manage 20-person teams and million-dollar budgets at work, but fall apart when our toddler misses a nap? In this episode, I’m revealing how I moved from just reacting to the daily juggle of parenting to finding a sense of calm and clarity by applying the high-level strategies I learned during my decade-long career at Google to my home life. These are the exact frameworks I use that save me over 10 hours every single week. I'm breaking down the exact systems I use from Parenting Modes to AI as your Executive Assistant, to the “Yes, And” Negotiation Tool. If you feel like you’re constantly "on" but never productive, this episode is your manual for reclaiming 10 hours of your week. Episode Summary 0:00 – How to Buy Back 10 Hours This Week  0:53 – Disclaimer  1:08 – Strategy 1: High-Performance Parenting Modes 2:56 – The "Do One Thing Well" Rule 3:46 – Why Multitasking is a Myth 5:05 – Transition Rituals: Closing the "Work Tabs" 6:53 – Strategy 2: Automation & Decision Autopilot 8:22 – Using AI to Clear the "Mental Load" 11:14 – Strategy 3: Delegation 12:33 – Why We Outsource Cooking 15:24 – Fair Play: Ending Household Resentment 16:48 – Strategy 4: The 80/20 Rule 18:12 – The "Good Enough" Science (Donald Winnicott) 18:33 – Strategy 5: Boundary Setting 20:23 – The "Yes, And" Negotiation Hack 22:07 – Recap: Your Weekly Time Audit 26:26 – Final Takeaway: Building a Sustainable System Resources Mentioned: Fair Play Deck: The system we use to split the "mental load" cards.Google Gemini: My go-to tool for life admin Connect with Christina: myfamilystrategist.com Disclaimer: The frameworks shared are based on personal experience and a professional background in strategy and accounting. This content is for educational purposes and does not constitute professional financial, legal, or medical advice. Please consult your own advisors for your specific family needs.

    27 min

  6. Mar 31

    The 4% Rule: How to "Retire" Early with Simple Math

    Are you counting down the days to a retirement that's 30 years away? In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Micro-Retirement" strategy that allowed me to exit the $500k corporate grind at age 39. In 2026, 70% of Australians are reaching burnout, and 91% of parents feel they aren't spending enough quality time with their kids. We’ve been sold a 19th-century myth that we have to wait until 65 to rest. But the math says otherwise. [What You'll Learn] In this deep dive, I explain: The Scam: Why the retirement age of 65 was actually a 19th-century political bribe.The 4% Rule & 25x Multiple: How to calculate your "Safety Floor" and your personal Freedom Number.The Passion Accelerator: How a $40k "passion job" can delete $1M from your retirement target.Geographic Arbitrage: How selling a $2.5M city home can fund your entire life tax-free.The Private School Trade-off: Is a school crest worth 10 years of your freedom?AI for Planning: How to use Gemini for Monte Carlo simulations and spending audits.Episode Summary 00:00 Are you part of the 70% Burnout Crisis? 00:48 Inside the Episode 01:36 Disclaimer 01:54 Why Retirement at 65 is a Myth 02:56 What is FIRE? (And Why it’s Different for Parents) 04:18 Micro-Retirement vs. The Traditional Sabbatical 04:57 Defining Freedom: It’s Not About Never Working Again 05:40 My $500k Job Exit: The Point of Diminishing Returns 09:16 The 4% Golden Rule 11:06 The 25X Freedom Number 13:47 Recap: When Can I Retire? 14:27 How a $40k Job Deletes $1M in Savings 16:44 Lifestyle Tradeoffs 16:56 Geographic Arbitrage (The $1M Equity Unlock) 18:49 The Private School "Tax" & Building Resilient Kids 21:01 Why We Spend to Survive the Grind 22:23 Practical Tips for Retirement (Tax Hacks, Mortgages, and Negative Gearing) 23:42 The Mortgage Debate: Paying it Off vs. Investing for Risk 25:42 AI as Your Personal Financial Analyst 26:31 Taking Your First Step Toward Freedom [Resources & Links] All Episode: myfamilystrategist.com Episodes Mentioned in this Deep Dive: 📊 Is Your Family Financially Healthy? How to Track Your Net Worth (S1E2) 🎓 Is Australian Private School a Million Dollar Mistake (S1E3) 💼 I Quit My $500K Corporate Job After Learning 5 Things (S1E6) DISCLAIMER The information provided in this podcast and on the My Family Strategist website is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute personal financial, taxation, or legal advice. While Christina Spark is a former Chartered Accountant, she is not your personal accountant or financial adviser. This content has been prepared without taking into account your individual objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on any information from this episode, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and seek independent advice from a qualified professional (such as a licensed financial planner or tax agent).

    27 min

  7. Mar 24

    Investing 101: 0 to Investor in 15 Minutes (A Busy Mum’s Guide)

    Why do so many smart, capable women completely outsource their family’s financial future to their partners? If you’ve ever felt "behind" with money, intimidated by the stock market, or overwhelmed by investing jargon, this episode is for you. As a former Chartered Accountant, Corporate Strategist and Mum, I am going to break down the exact steps to go from $0 to investor in just 15 minutes. We are stripping away the complex finance speak and replacing it with actionable strategies designed for busy, high-earning power couples and parents (specifically time poor mums) who want to build serious generational wealth. Whether you are looking to understand how ETFs actually work, want to leverage your mortgage offset account, or need to know how to claim your Superannuation "catch-up" credits after a career break, this 20 min episode is packed with strategies to help you and your partner become a true financial power couple.  Episode Chapters 00:00 — "My Partner Handles It": Breaking the Investing Taboo 0:59 — What You'll Learn: The 15-Minute Investor Blueprint 1:50 — Disclaimer 2:08 — How to Have a Better Marriage, Greater Wealth & Higher Confidence 4:19 — What are Stocks, Dividends, ETFs & Index Funds? (Explained Simply) 7:57 — How to Start Investing Today (CommSec Pocket & Pearler) 10:16 — Saving vs. Investing: The Offset Account Strategy 13:18 — Superannuation Catch-Ups: Your Ultimate Wealth Builder 15:56 — Good Debt vs Bad Debt: Should You Invest or Pay it Off 17:00 — Where Should My Money go First? (Prioritising Debt, Super & ETFs) 18:12 — The "Me, You, Us" Model for Power Couples 19:35 — Next Steps for Your Family Strategy 💡 Disclaimer: Christina Spark is a former Chartered Accountant and corporate strategist, but she is not your personal financial advisor. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Finance is deeply personal, so please do your own research or speak to a licensed professional before making any major moves with your money. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Official Hub: https://myfamilystrategist.com CommSec Pocket & Pearler: Beginner-friendly micro-investing apps in Australia ATO via myGov: Log in here to check your Superannuation carry-forward contribution limits. 💡 Disclaimer: Christina Spark is a former Chartered Accountant and corporate strategist, but she is not your personal financial advisor. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Finance is deeply personal, so please do your own research or speak to a licensed professional before making any major moves with your money.

    21 min

  8. Mar 17

    The True Cost of a Baby in Sydney

    Feel Broke? It’s Because You’re a Parent.  Most Google searches will tell you a baby costs $10,000 in their first year. They are wrong. In this episode, I perform a full financial audit on the first year of my own son’s life in Sydney, Australia. Moving past the "stuff" like prams and onesies, I dive into the massive structural changes that result when you become a parent: lost wages, housing upgrades, "motherhood penalty" on superannuation, childcare and more. 75% of Parents admit that having children is significantly more expensive than they originally budgeted for and 37% confessed they had no idea what the actual cost would be before they started. 45-50% of Working Parents report that they find it "unaffordable" to have children in the current economic climate. Whether you are family planning or already in the thick of it, this episode provides a realistic 2026 roadmap for family finances and how to best prepare for the big financial & structural changes that happen when you become a parent.  Episode Chapters (00:00) The $200K "Hidden” Price Tag of Parenthood  (03:50) Disclaimer   (04:15) Conception: The Financial Reality of Fertility Issues (06:23) Pregnancy & Birth: Breaking down Private vs. Public Birth Costs (07:10) Prenatal Classes, Physio, Mental Health, Maternity Essentials & Baby Shower (09:05) My $10,300 Baby Registry (10:10) The Big Three: Car Upgrades, Housing, and Lost Wages (12:10) Building a Village: The Cost of Postpartum Support  (14:23) Where I Saved Money as a New Parent (15:09) Beyond Year 1: Childcare, Education & Lost Super (18:09) Final Takeaways & Tips  (21:14) Spending Unapologetically on What Matters

    23 min
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About

This podcast is where financial strategy meets the chaos of parenting. Many of us weren't taught personal finance from our own parents, yet we’re expected to navigate a complex, costly world while raising the next generation. Hosted by a former CPA and mother with 15 years of business experience, this podcast bridges the gap between the "Heart" and the "Balance Sheet." Whether you're deciding on a second child, a second mortgage, or a new career path, this podcast gives you the data and knowledge to stop deciding from a place of overwhelm and to start leading from a place of confidence

Information

  • Creator
    Christina Spark
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Christina Spark
  • Show Website
    My Family Strategist

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