Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

What happens to your job, your income and your investments when intelligence becomes almost free? In this episode, Dave uses Hayden as his window into the tech world, unpacking what AI actually means for jobs, businesses and long-term investors. They cover: 👉 How AI went from "write me a poem" to breaking big problems into bite-sized steps, and why the last 12 months surprised even the tech insid...

Would you sell a property that's grown from $280k to $800k, even if it meant a six figure tax bill? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Lachlan to work through a big financial decision: whether to sell his investment property or keep holding on. They cover: 👉 The equity Lachlan has built up on his investment property, and what selling would actually cost him in CGT 👉 Debt rec...

What if one of the biggest leaks in your budget is sitting in your fridge? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get honest about how much they're actually spending on food right now, and running through some hacks to eat on more of a budget on your path to FIRE. The gap between a $15 and $25 daily food spend might not feel like much. But compounded over 20 years, that difference could be huge. They co...

What actually happens to your portfolio when the world feels like it's on fire? In this episode, Hayden and Dave look back at how share markets have responded to major global conflicts, from WWI and WWII through to COVID, and what that history can teach us about investing through periods of fear and uncertainty. They walk through the data most people have never seen: markets that fell sharply in t...

When your landlord puts the property up for sale, the rent vs. buy question stops being theoretical. For Shyann and her husband, that moment became the push they needed to make a decision they'd been circling for a while. In this case study episode, Shyann walks through how she and her husband approached one of the biggest financial decisions a FIRE-chasing couple can make, and what it actually lo...

Today Hayden & Dave are unpacking an email they received from a listener. He's 29, originally from the UK, drives trucks for a living and keeps moving on after a year or two because the passion just isn't there. He loves to travel, wants to build wealth, but struggles to commit to investing when the next adventure feels a lot more appealing to him. He also lost his brother 13 years ago, which...

In this episode, Hayden and Dave dig into one of the most overlooked parts of the FI journey: what to do with your investments as you get closer to pulling the trigger. Does your strategy need to change? And if so, when and how? They cover: 👉 Whether you actually need to de-risk your portfolio before retiring, or whether it's just a psychological thing 👉 The difference between accumulation and d...

The episode was updated on the 30th of May to remove some comments around assumptions around tax losses in the new budget if an asset underperforms inflation, as well as removing some comments around tax deductions which were oversimplified. The dust has (somewhat) settled on the Federal Budget, and Hayden and Dave are back to go beyond the initial reactions. This week they dig into the real numbe...

The Australian federal budget just dropped and there is a lot to unpack. Hayden and Dave dig into the changes that matter most for everyday investors and the FIRE community, cutting through the political noise to focus on what actually affects your money. They cover: 👉 The switch from the 50% CGT discount to indexation 👉 The surprise 30% minimum tax floor on capital gains that nobody saw coming,...

The federal budget is coming, and there's already noise around two policies that could shake up the investment landscape: capital gains tax and negative gearing. Hayden and Dave break down what's actually being floated, and what it could mean for your portfolio. They cover: 👉 How governments "soft launch" policy changes before they're official, and why it matters for investors right now 👉 The cu...

Chris is at a crossroads and unsure which way to go. He's spent time in his career working in real estate, and now he's trying to decide whether to buy a family home, double down on investment properties, or pivoting entirely into a more aggressive share portfolio. He's got a good case of analysis paralysis, and Hayden & Dave are here to help him work through some of the numbers and thinking b...

Got a property and wondering if it's time to sell, rent it out, or just… hold on? In this episode, Dave and Hayden tackle two listener questions that a lot of people are quietly sitting with. First up is a listener who bought their first home two years ago is now craving more flexibility to make some big career moves, and wants to know whether to sell or become an accidental landlord. Then, they d...

What happens if the market crashes as soon as you hit FIRE? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get into one of the most practical and underrated challenges of early retirement: actually living off your portfolio when things get rocky. They cover: 👉 The stage of retirement where you're most at risk from market volatility 👉 The psychological shift from receiving a paycheck to relying on a portfolio,...

What happens when a government equity scheme starts to feel like a trap? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Steve to unpack his property situation and map out a path forward. Steve is a self-employed sports coach earning around $120,000–$130,000 a year, with a partner on $100,000. He owns an apartment worth roughly $570,000, holds a $200,000 ETF portfolio, and used the Victori...

In this week's episode of Aussie FIRE, Hayden and Dave are unpacking some listener questions around: 👉🏼 Selling shares to invest in solar panels at home 👉🏼 The 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers 👉🏼 Vanguard ETFs 👉🏼 And investing for high growth with a 5-8 year timeline As always, they'll unpack it, share their thoughts, and come at it from a few different angles. Hope you enjoy it! As...

What would you do if $1 million landed in your bank account tomorrow? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get hypothetical and things get interesting fast. From taking on a gelato giant to debating whether a swimming pool counts as a financial decision, this one's a little different. But buried in the fun are some genuinely useful ideas about how people at different stages of their FIRE journey think...

In this episode, we answer two listener questions. One on ethical investing and ESG funds, and another on managing tech concentration in a portfolio. We'll unpack: 👉 Whether aligning with ESG principles means reducing exposure to Australian equities 👉 Why assuming the US market will always outperform Australia might be 👉 What the ethical ETF DZZF is 👉 Why defining “ethical” companies is harder...

In this episode, Hayden reflects on 10 lessons from 10 years of renting — covering everything from bonds and inspections to negotiating rent and managing agents. After a decade of renting across share houses, sublets, and full leases, he shares the practical lessons he wishes he knew earlier. 👉 Why taking detailed photos when you move in can save your bond later 👉 What tenants actually need to d...

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 th...

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 big...

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: 👉...

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....

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 thi...

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: 👉 W...

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 invest...