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. 1d ago

    Should You Help Your Kids Buy Property? Lessons From 5 Family Property Purchases That Ended in Court

    Buying property with family can seem like a smart way to help your kids, pool your money or make a deal possible that none of you could manage alone.  Until someone wants out.  But what happens if someone wants out, a relationship breaks down, or the family disagrees about who owns what?  In this episode, Nick and Paul unpack five real family property deals that ended in court. Each case reveals a different risk, from unclear loans and ownership to unpaid work, missing wills and promises that were never properly documented.  Inside this episode:  The family loan that looked legitimate on paper but didn't hold up when it mattered  Whether money given to your child could end up caught in their relationship breakdown  What you could be risking by contributing to a property without being on the title  Why paying the deposit, mortgage and renovation costs may still leave you with no ownership  The man who put more than 1,000 hours into a family property deal and discovered what his work was legally worth  Helping family does not have to end badly. But these cases show why good intentions and a handshake may not be enough when large sums of money and valuable property are involved.  Listen before you buy, build, lend or invest with family.    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

  2. 3d ago

    7 Ways Busy People Can Build Wealth on Autopilot

    You're earning good money. You're busy. And the last thing you need is a wealth-building strategy that feels like another job.  Because building wealth should not mean spending your evenings researching shares, sorting through dividend statements or wondering whether you should change your investments every time the market moves.  In this Financial Autonomy Essential, Paul shares seven ways to make your wealth-building plan simpler, more consistent and far less demanding of your time.  You'll discover why getting ahead may have less to do with finding the perfect investment and more to do with creating a system that keeps working when your attention is elsewhere.    Because your wealth strategy should support the life you are building, not take over the life you already have.  Inside this episode:  Why earning good money does not always translate into building real wealth  The simple investing setup that keeps working even when you are too busy to think about it.  Why doing less with your portfolio could save you time and improve your results.  The money tasks worth outsourcing so your weekends are not swallowed by admin.  How to build a plan with less admin, fewer decisions and more financial choice later.    WANT A WEALTH-BUILDING STRATEGY THAT DOESN'T TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE?  At Guidance Financial Services, we can help you turn your income into a clear, efficient wealth-building plan that keeps moving in the background, with less admin, fewer unnecessary decisions and more financial choice over time. 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

    7 Ways Busy People Can Build Wealth on Autopilot

  3. Jul 28

    Is a Family Trust Still the Best Way to Build Family Wealth?

    For decades, the family trust has been treated as the go-to structure for Australians building serious wealth.  But what happens when the rules that made trusts so attractive begin to change?  Suddenly, the structure many investors have relied on for tax flexibility, capital gains concessions and passing wealth between generations may no longer be the automatic choice. And a much less fashionable alternative could be worth another look.  In this episode, Paul compares family trusts with private investment companies and explores why the best structure for building wealth may not be the one most people expect.  This is not simply a question of which option could save you more tax this year. It is about how you hold, grow and eventually pass on wealth over decades.  In this episode:  Why the family trust may no longer be the obvious choice for building wealth  The proposed changes that could upend a strategy Australians have relied on for decades  The unfashionable investment structure that may be about to make a comeback  One powerful compounding advantage most investors overlook  The trap of choosing a structure that is great for building wealth but difficult when you want the money  How some families could pass on an investment portfolio without selling it  Why trying to minimise this year's tax bill could lead you to make the wrong long-term decision  The catch that means a company is not an automatic replacement for trusts  What anyone serious about building intergenerational wealth may need to reconsider before the rules change    If you own investments outside super, run a business or are thinking about how your wealth will eventually pass to your children, this episode will help you ask better questions before choosing a structure that could shape your finances for decades.    WANT HELP CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRUCTURE FOR YOUR WEALTH?:  At Guidance Financial Services, we help you weigh up the tax, investment and estate-planning trade-offs before making a decision that could shape your family's wealth for decades. 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

  4. Jul 26

    Am I on Track to Retire?

    You may know how much is sitting in your super. But do you know whether it is enough to retire when you want to?  Could you stop work at 60? Would your money last? Or could you already have more options than you realise?  In this Financial Autonomy Essential, Paul explains how to assess whether you are on track for retirement and what the answer could mean for the years ahead.  Because being on track is not only about having enough money. It could mean retiring earlier, reducing your working hours or spending more while you are healthy enough to enjoy it.  Inside this episode:  How to work out whether you can retire when you want to  Why a healthy super balance does not always mean you are on track  The signs you may be able to retire earlier or cut back your hours  What you can still change if your current plan falls short  Why playing it too safe with your super could work against you    NOTE: This episode was originally recorded in 2024. Any contribution limits, tax rules, pension thresholds or other figures mentioned reflect the rules in place at the time of recording and may have changed.  WANT PERSONALISED ADVICE FOR YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN?  At Guidance Financial Services, we use detailed financial modelling to show you what your current path could make possible, whether that means retiring sooner, working less or making changes now to improve your position. 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.

    Am I on Track to Retire?

  5. Jul 22

    The Sharemarket Financial Year in Review (and What BlackRock Is Watching Now)

    If you have been watching the news and wondering whether your investments are about to get hit, you are not alone.  Over the past year, investors have had plenty to worry about. War, inflation, interest rate changes, property pressure and constant talk of an AI bubble.  Yet markets have not behaved the way many people expected.  So what actually happened? Why did some markets keep climbing despite all the uncertainty? And what does that mean for where your money is invested now?  In this episode, Nick Donato is joined by BlackRock strategist Beatrice Yeo to cut through the noise and explain the market moves that matter most to everyday investors.  They look at whether the AI boom still has room to run, why Australian shares have struggled to keep pace with global markets and how higher interest rates have quietly changed the investment landscape.  They also explore what BlackRock is watching across shares, bonds and property, and what could matter most for your portfolio over the next 12 months.    In this episode  Why the sharemarket kept rising when the headlines said it should be falling  The split-second decision that can turn a market dip into a costly mistake  Is the AI boom running out of steam, or is the next phase just beginning?  Why the next big winners may not be the companies everyone is watching  The blind spot that could be holding Australian investors back  How higher interest rates may have created opportunities hiding in plain sight  Why bonds are suddenly worth paying attention to again  The property opportunity that does not involve buying another house  Where BlackRock sees the biggest risks and opportunities now  What your portfolio may need to handle the next 12 months    You do not need to predict every market move, but it helps to understand what is driving markets, where the risks are shifting and whether your current portfolio is built for what comes next.    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

  6. Jul 19

    How to Build Passive Income So You Can Retire Earlier

    Imagine reaching a point where your pay cheque is no longer the only thing keeping your life running.  You could reduce your hours, change careers, retire earlier or simply have more freedom to decide what comes next. That is the promise of passive income. But the path to getting there is often very different from the effortless version sold online.  In this Financial Autonomy Essentials episode, we look at what passive income really involves, where it can come from and the decisions that can make or break your progress.  Because building income outside your job is not only about finding investments that pay dividends or buying a rental property. The way you think about growth, tax, risk and even spending your capital could completely change the strategy.  And there is another question worth asking: what is the point of creating financial freedom if getting there costs you the best years of your life?  In this episode:  The real work hiding behind supposedly passive income  Which income sources are more passive than others  Why chasing faster returns can push you into dangerous territory  The common passive income belief that could limit your wealth  Why you may not need to replace your entire salary to change your life  The tax considerations that could affect how you generate cash flow  How to build more financial choice without sacrificing everything today  If you want your investments to eventually give you more control over how, when and whether you work, this episode will help you think differently about the path ahead.  WANT PERSONALISED ADVICE ON YOUR PASSIVE INCOME STRATEGY?  At Guidance Financial Services, we can help you build an investment strategy designed to create more income, reduce your reliance on work and give you more choice over how you spend your time. 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

    How to Build Passive Income So You Can Retire Earlier

  7. Jul 15

    Why Doing Less with Your Investments Could Make You Richer

    Think the secret to getting rich is finding the next Nvidia, picking the perfect fund manager, or making clever moves before everyone else?  Well, this episode is here to change that.  Today we're looking at the investment strategy that was once labelled as boring, uninspiring and almost impossible to sell, but went on to reshape the way millions of people invest.  Index investing started with a simple idea: stop trying to beat the market, and own it instead.  It sounds almost too basic to work. But when you take a closer look, simple can become seriously powerful.  In this episode, we unpack why "average" market returns may be better than they sound, why more activity does not always mean better results, and why the hardest part of investing is often leaving a good plan alone.  In this episode:  Why trying to beat the market is harder than it looks  The hidden cost of constantly tinkering with your investments  Why "boring" can be a serious advantage  The behaviour trap that catches even confident investors  How a simpler strategy can help keep more of your money working for longer  What to think about before making your next investment move  This one is for anyone who has ever looked at their portfolio and thought, should I be doing more? Because by the end, you may realise the better question is: am I doing too much?    FURTHER LISTENING:  Find our playlist full of episodes about investing in the share market here.    WANT HELP WITH YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY?:  At Guidance Financial Services, we use an index-at-the-core strategy. 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

  8. Jul 12

    Offset Account vs Investing in Shares: Which Will Make You Richer?

    When interest rates are high, putting extra money into your offset account can feel like the obvious decision. It reduces the interest on your home loan, keeps your money accessible, and gives you a return that is hard to ignore.  But if you are trying to build wealth over the long term, is the offset always the best place for your money?  In the first episode of our Essentials Series, we revisit one of the most common questions homeowners ask: should extra savings stay in the offset, or could that money be working harder elsewhere?  In this episode, we look at how to weigh up the trade-off between reducing mortgage interest today and investing for growth over time. We also explain why tax, inflation and timeframe can all change the way this decision looks.  In this episode:  Why offset accounts have become more attractive as rates have risen  The simple mistake people make when comparing offset accounts with shares  How to think about short-term money versus long-term wealth  The tax detail that can completely change how this decision looks   Why inflation still matters, even when your money is sitting safely in offset  What to weigh up to make the right decision for you  If you have extra money available and are unsure whether to leave it in offset or invest it, this episode will help you think through the decision with more clarity and confidence.    Please note: This episode was originally recorded in 2023, so any interest rates or market return figures mentioned reflect the environment at the time of recording. WANT PERSONALISED ADVICE ON WHAT OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?:  At Guidance Financial Services, we use sophisticated modelling software to test different options for your personal situation and provide advice on investment strategy, based on your goals and circumstances. 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

    Offset Account vs Investing in Shares: Which Will Make You Richer?
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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
    444
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Benson
  • Show Website
    Financial Autonomy

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