The Numbers Game

Fuel's up 70% and EV orders have tripled, so Jase did the numbers on what switching actually costs. The per-kilometre gap between petrol and electric is ten to one, and if you salary sacrifice an EV through your business, the FBT exemption stacks another $10K-$15K a year on top. If you're thinking about making the switch, this is the one to listen to. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00...

Australia hasn't had real productivity growth in six years, but the government keeps spending more and taxing more to cover the gap. Nick goes through the federal budget numbers, what productivity actually means when you strip out the spin, and why the answer might not be another tax bracket or another levy, but actually spending less. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:17) Free Public...

The ATO's audit hit list is out for 2026, and they've got more data on you than ever. Your bank, your crypto platform, your rental agent, your Instagram, they're matching it all against your return. This episode covers the real triggers that put you on their radar, and why using the ATO as a cheap line of credit just became one of the most expensive mistakes a business owner can make. On this epis...

$4 to $5.4 trillion is set to change hands in Australia's great wealth transfer, and most families have no idea how much tax is hiding in super, shares, and property along the way. Nick walks through a real client case where a 94-year-old with $5.3 million in assets was staring down a $300,000 tax bill for her kids, and the strategies that brought it right down. And with The Australia Institute no...

Moving to Dubai to pay less tax is all over social media, but leaving the Australian tax system is a lot harder than packing your bags. If you've ever looked at your tax bill and thought about leaving, the ATO is already tracking more than you think: your travel, your bank accounts, even your family ties. Jase is working with a client who's actually making the move, and walks through what it takes...

A first-home buyer did everything by the book and still lost $70,000 in three and a half years. Nick walks through the real numbers on a $495,000 boutique apartment in Carnegie, from strata fees that more than doubled to the government grants you can only use once, and what it actually cost when it came time to sell. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:23) Does Property Really Double Ev...

AI agents are no longer just a buzzword. They're already automating real tasks in businesses and the speed of change is only accelerating. We share firsthand examples of how AI is boosting productivity, replacing manual processes, and why having a deliberate AI strategy is no longer optional for business owners. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:24) The Automation Course That Was Obso...

Do you actually need a high income to build wealth? We see the same problem at every income level. You earn more, spend more, and still feel stuck. In this episode, we walk through six common mistakes that hold people back, from lifestyle creep and no clear plan, to how you use debt and think about building assets. It’s a clearer look at why income alone doesn’t lead to wealth, and what actually d...

Australians pay more in beer tax than what the government collects from companies exporting our gas. Senator David Pocock has been calling it out in Parliament, it's doing the rounds, and it's got Jase fired up. He's done the numbers on the petroleum resources rent tax, looked at how Norway faced the same situation with their oil boom and took a very different approach, and what a 10% levy on Aust...

You see it all the time. Mega successful people sharing their business advice online. But does any of it actually stack up when you're running a small business day to day? Today we're taking 10 business lessons from the new Audi F1 team boss Jonathan Wheatley and pressure testing them against the reality of small business life to see what actually resonates and what's unrelatable. On this episode,...

Family Trusts can be a seriously powerful structure for income distribution and asset protection, but they only work well when you’re across the rules and the deadlines. We talk through how trust distributions actually work, what needs to be documented before 30 June, and what changes in ATO reporting mean now that trust distributions are showing on pre-fill reports. If you’ve got a family trust o...

There’s a lot of talk about buying property through a Self-Managed Super Fund at the moment, but the difference between a smart strategy and an expensive mistake is knowing the rules and the real numbers. Today we cover what lending actually looks like, what it costs to set up and run, and the compliance traps that catch people out. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:24) Why Everyone I...

A business can be busy, growing revenue, and still be going backwards. Today we share a framework we use to judge business health properly, covering cash flow, profit margins, and the personal wealth piece most owners ignore. It’s a clearer way to tell what’s working, what’s not, and what matters next. On this episode, we discuss: 00:00) Intro (02:34) Three Key Numbers Every Business Owner Must Wa...

Most people start the year fired up, then fall back into the same yearly pattern and end up on the fast track to burnout by December. So how do you break that cycle and stay consistent all year? It’s our first episode back for 2026, and Nick runs through the patterns he’s noticed in himself and the system he’s putting in place this year to keep energy and momentum steady, from quarterly goals and...

We’re back with our yearly Predictions Episode and we’re also farewelling our mate Marty as he wraps up his time on the show. We look back on our 2025 predictions to see who was on the money and who was way off, then lock in our calls for 2026. From interest rates and modular homes to AI, robots in business and the payday super nightmare, there’s plenty on the table for next year. On this episode,...

Welcome to episode $$ of The Numbers Game. On today's show  On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:39) Why Marty’s Leaving The Show (02:26) Lesson 1: Know Yourself And Have Courage (05:14) Leaving “Safe” Jobs To Follow Meaningful Work (12:59) Lesson 2: Doing Simple Things That Work (16:02) How Complexity, Compliance And Tech Can Kill Progress (20:59) Lesson 3: You Are Your Own SEO (25:03)...

More young Australians are choosing to buy “boring” small businesses instead of investing in property. In this episode we look at a young couple who bought a 29-year-old fabrication business and turned it into a highly profitable asset, and we break down how profit, valuation multiples, succession gaps and efficiency improvements can create serious wealth for the right buyer. On this episode, we d...

Today we look at why Singapore’s tax system delivers stronger incentives for business and workers, from 17% company tax to lower personal tax rates and no capital gains. We compare the cost-of-living trade-offs, how innovation is supported, and what Australia could learn from a model that rewards progress instead of punishing it. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Singapore vs Australia (00:50)...

What really happens when you don’t have a proper will in place? From state trustees taking control to long probate delays, contested estates and outdated super nominations, we cover the risks that can leave families exposed. If you want your wealth to end up where you intend, this episode will give you the clarity you need. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:43) Would You Trust The Gov...

You may have seen a post on social media claiming 142,000 millionaires are leaving Australia. So today we look at what the migration report actually says, who’s really leaving, and how many wealthy people are moving here instead. We talk about migration, housing, cost of living, safety, and why some Aussies are heading to Dubai and Singapore. A clear look at whether migration is helping or hurting...

A roll of toilet paper might not sound revolutionary, but Who Gives A Crap turned it into a business that gives half its profits to improve sanitation around the world. Today we talk about how putting purpose behind your business can drive growth, why profit still needs to come first, and how the two can work together to create something meaningful. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Why Marty B...

Imagine being months away from retirement, logging into your super account, and seeing your balance at zero. That’s what thousands of Australians are now facing after the collapse of multiple superannuation funds, with more than $1.2 billion in retirement savings wiped out.  Today we explain how this happened, what went wrong with the platforms and checks that were supposed to protect investors, a...

Australians are taxed on almost everything - income, fuel, property, super, even talk of inheritance and spare-bedroom taxes. In this episode we explore how much we really give back to the government, where that $800 billion in tax revenue goes, and whether our complex system is holding back innovation, investment, and everyday Aussies trying to get ahead. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intr...

Markets are on a high - stocks, property, crypto, even gold - but what could go wrong? Today we talk about how to beat the stock market without losing your pants , sharing our biggest investment mistakes, lessons from the GFC, and the strategies that actually protect your wealth. From dollar cost averaging and stop-loss rules to Buffett-style patience, we unpack how smart investors win over the lo...

Is Realestate.com.au too powerful? Vendors are forking out thousands just to list their property, agents are copping big subscription hikes, and the ACCC is asking questions about postcode pricing. REA Group, the business behind the site, now pulls in over 12 million users a month and $1.7 billion in revenue, leaving Domain in the dust. We break down how the network effect built this juggernaut, t...