Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

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 proper...

Sign up to Pearler in January and get one free trade per month for 12 months! In this episode Hayden and Dave are opening their DM’s to answer some listener questions. In this episode they cover: 👉 ETF strategy: all-in-one funds vs splitting across ETFs 👉 Coast FIRE and slowing down on the path to FI 👉 Dividends vs growth portfolios near retirement 👉 Cash ETFs and when (if ever) they make sens...

Sign up to Pearler in January and get one free trade per month for 12 months! Welcome to part two! In part two of this episode, Hayden and Dave are unpacking: 👉 The pressure to get on the ‘property ladder’ 👉 Renting vs buying and your long-term goals 👉 The idea that rent money is dead money 👉 Investing in every asset class to be diversified 👉 Maxing out your super Ask a Question FI Case Study...

If you’re a young person today, it can feel like you’re playing a new game while still being expected to follow old rules that no longer quite fit. In this episode, Hayden and Dave unpack: 👉 If insurance is actually worth it (plus simple calculations you can use to decide if it’s right for you) 👉 Bucket systems and if they can help you manage your money, spending, and savings 👉 Finding work–lif...

In this episode, Dave and Hayden dive into a fresh round of FI case studies and the life-planning dilemmas that shape our money decisions. They start with a powerful scenario from a migrant listener weighing up a future in Australia versus returning home: cost of living pressures, wage differentials, super portability, exchange rate risk, and what “enough” really means when your FI number has to w...

In this episode, Dave and Hayden tackle four FI dilemmas. They unpack the allure of monthly-income ETFs like HYLD and why payout timing shouldn’t trump diversification, offering simple ways to create your own paycheck with broad ETFs, cash buffers, and planned sells. They explore PAYG tax variations and how to dial down withholding when you’re always due a refund (think negative gea...

Dave and Hayden unpack one of the biggest questions on the path to financial independence: should you focus on dividend income or capital growth? Should you prioritise dividend income or capital growth on the path to financial independence How tax, time horizon, and behaviour shape your mix What franking credits, CGT discounts, and ETF distributions really mean for your returns They weigh the pros...

In this episode Dave and Hayden explore two real-life case studies. First, they discuss whether a couple in their fifties truly needs 25 times their expenses to retire, unpacking how time horizon, risk and the Age Pension reshape the “magic number.” Then, they dive into a pay down the mortgage or invest in ETFs dilemma, weighing certainty versus growth, and the benefits of debt recycling. All roun...

This episode, Dave and Hayden tackle three big listener questions: Should you invest a lump sum when markets are at all-time highs? Is gearing inside super worth the risk? Are investment bonds really as tax-friendly as they sound? Dave and Hayden unpack the pros, cons, and myths to help you think clearer about your long-term investing strategy. FI Case Study Request Form Pearler Strong Money Austr...

Should you pour extra cash into your offset account, stash it in savings, or invest it? In this episode, Dave and Hayden break down the numbers and trade-offs that every homeowner faces. We cover: Why offsets slash long-term interest but don’t help your monthly cashflow The cases where savings accounts can compete How investing stacks up against offsets, and the risks involved The role of interest...

In this episode, Dave and Hayden tackle two listener case studies. They dive into the emotional and practical trade-offs of selling vs holding property, renting, and transitioning wealth into shares. Episode topics summary: Introduction Case Study 1: Escaping Mortgage Prison The Numbers Behind Selling & Renting Case Study 2: Switching from Property to Shares Practical Scenarios for Transitioni...

In this Q&A episode, Dave and Hayden unpack three listener questions: Should you hold or sell employee share scheme stock ? Are LICs still a smart choice , or have ETFs taken over? How mental accounting tricks us into bad money decisions. Timecodes: (00:00) Intro (02:30) Employee Share Schemes (07:06) Tax & Concentration Risk (09:37) The “Would You Invest Cash?” Test (13:09) FOMO & Men...

In this episode, Dave and Hayden continue their discussion on tax, covering practical tips and personal experiences. They explore the First Home Super Saver Scheme , private health insurance to avoid the Medicare levy surcharge , and novated leases for electric vehicles. They also chat about common tax misconceptions, and offer insights into long-term tax planning. Packed with examples and advice,...

Nobody loves paying tax – but how much time should you really spend trying to avoid it? In this episode, Dave and Hayden share their personal approaches to tax minimisation – including what they’ve done in the past, what they’re doing now, and a few things they might explore in future. From debt recycling to ETF selection, super contributions to future trust structures, this episode isn’t about do...

Imagine being a sci-fi film buff in the year 1986. In the prior several years, you would have been treated to the original Star Wars trilogy, a slew of new Star Trek films, the cult hit Blade Runner , and – who could forget? – the 1979 classic, Alien. Now, after seven years of waiting, you’re finally being treated to a James Cameron-directed Alien sequel. But this time, it won’t simply be ONE alie...

“These Aussie FIRE Q&As are, in my opinion, the single best resource on Earth for long-term investors.” - Warren Buffett So it probably won’t surprise any listeners to read this, but Warren Buffett isn’t actually responsible for the above quote. But could you imagine if he was? Like, he’s serving his final six months as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and he decides to give a shout-out to this Q&am...

The phrase “market crash” has appeared in the media (both traditional and social) a lot this year. Those of you with iron stomachs and 20-year horizons may have just shrugged and put your phones away. But for many, the constant turmoil has been a reason to start glancing towards the exit. It’s an understandable reaction – but not one you need to live with. If you’ve found that recent market crashe...

With a name like “Aussie FIRE”, you’d expect that this podcast would be all about retiring early. And, to be fair, it sort of is. However, the world of Financial Independence, Retire Early is crammed with concepts that can sometimes feel far removed from the goal of early retirement. That’s why this episode’s case study is particularly refreshing. The case study itself is jam-packed with facts, fi...

You want to know the best thing about the Q&A format? It delivers what it promises. People ask questions, other people give answers, bing bang boom. Now, do you want to know the best thing about the Aussie FIRE Q&A format? The answers are almost always awesome. In this qanda to end all qandas, Aussie FIRE hosts Dave and Hayden field queries on some of this podcast’s most popular topics. Sh...

In the past, this podcast has delved into the practicalities and potential perils of using leverage to invest in shares . And in our completely unbiased opinion, it was a brilliant delving. However, the episode in question focused on using home equity. In doing so, left an unanswered question: how can renters or those who don’t like the home equity method, use leverage to invest? In this session,...

Who doesn’t like a good Aussie FIRE case study? That wasn’t a rhetorical question, and we’re going to give you an answer. Monsters, that’s who. …okay, so maybe that’s a bit harsh – we’re sure there are upstanding citizens out there who don’t like Aussie FIRE case studies – but we have a feeling that YOU’ll like this one. In this session, Dave and Hayden field a question from a listener whose exper...

You may well have heard the (correct) adage that investing carries risk. And if you’ve ever missed a mortgage, credit card, or BNPL repayment, you’ll be familiar with the risks of leverage. So, if they’re both risky, are there any circumstances in which it would make sense to combine them? In this Aussie FIRE episode, Dave and Hayden discuss this exact topic. Join them as they cover leveraging str...

What do Aussie FIRE’s Q&As and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream have in common? Two things: They both feature ampersands They’re both very good …okay, so that wasn’t some of our best work, BUT you should definitely check this episode out. Co-hosts Dave and Hayden have opened the mailbag to answer some of the community’s most asked questions. From “When is it okay to splurge during a FIRE journey?”...

Dave loves ETFs. Hayden co-founded a platform which focuses on ETFs. So, when it comes to Financial Independence, these two must have been committed to ETFs from Day One, right? …yeah, nah. In fact, as the title suggests, Dave has accrued 15 years of experience in property investing. And over that timeframe, he’s learned some truths which he wished he’d known before he started. Now, none of this i...

Folks, it’s time for another FI case study – and this one explores a topic that will hit close to home. Keep reading, and you’ll find out why that was such a hilarious pun. In this episode, Dave and Hayden take a question from a listener which has crossed countless minds. The listener does an excellent job of providing their financial details, so the Aussie FIRE duo can really dive in. In essence,...