Send us a Text Message.

When you listen to stories of FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), you’d be forgiven for assuming that a huge income is a prerequisite. However, while a hefty salary does help, it’s by no means essential. In fact, many people within the FIRE community have retired early without earning in the top tax bracket.

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) explore how someone can reach FIRE on a lower income. They do this by crunching the compound interest numbers for different salaries and sharing their results. They also detail how cutting your expenses can circumvent the limits of a lower income.

By this session’s close, you’ll have a clearer idea of how you can work towards FIRE – regardless of your earnings.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

This session, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) are doing something a little different. Instead of exploring some theoretical aspect of Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE), they share specifically what it is they invest in. They also detail why they’ve chosen these particular investments, and how they tie into each host’s FIRE plans.

Of course, the investments discussed in this episode won’t be to everyone’s liking. They also won’t align with every listener’s goals, investing horizons, or risk tolerance. However, by sharing them openly, and questioning each other’s choices, they aim to create a spirit of curiosity which will inform your FIRE journey.

Enjoy!

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

Within the Australian Financial Independence community, shares have always been a popular asset. With a bit of research, it’s easy to understand why – they’re easy to manage, they don’t require debt, and most people can get started with minimal funds. This raises the question: is investing in shares the best way to reach FIRE?

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) tackle this topic head on. They do so by exploring the strengths and drawbacks of shares, and comparing them to other assets like property. They also crunch the data and assess different options for reaching FIRE with and without shares. That way, you can determine the best route for your goals, preferences, and FIRE style.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

For most people on a FIRE journey, frugality is a potent tool in their toolkit. Yes, investing plays a role – but frugality serves a range of key purposes beyond saving. For starters, it can help you unlock money you didn’t even know you were spending. And, perhaps more importantly, it can train you to better manage your finances both pre- and post-FIRE.

However, does there come a point at which too much frugality can become a problem?

In this session, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) seek to answer this very question. They do this by sharing their own experiences with frugality, and the minimum amounts they’ve been able to live on. They also discuss what to do when frugality goes too far, and how you can rein it in without impacting your goals.

By the episode’s end, you’ll feel more optimistic about a balanced approach to FIRE!

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

You MIGHT have noticed this, but people in Australia looooooove to talk about property. It’s a surefire conversation-starter if ever you’re struggling to make smalltalk, and the media won’t shut up about it. You’d be forgiven, then, for assuming that home ownership is a lynchpin of any half-decent FIRE strategy.

In truth, though, it’s not the only route to long-term wealth in Australia. Sure, anyone aiming for FIRE needs to account for a roof over their head. However, the concept of owning a home doesn’t need to be critical to your FIRE targets.

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) discuss the relationship between housing and FIRE. They also compare renting vs owning for a FIRE’d lifestyle, and weigh up the pros and cons of each. If you’d like a non-clickbaity take on the topic, you’ll want to tune in for this session.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

You don’t need us to tell you that Covid disrupted a LOT. From the lockdowns, to the obvious health-related dangers, there weren’t many people who were unaffected by its spread. But what has it done for our Financial Independence prospects? For people working towards FIRE before 2020, in what ways did it disrupt their plans? And for those who started after 2021, did Covid change the way new FIRE-seekers need to reach their goals?

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) explore the impacts Covid wrought on FIRE – from job losses, to increased house prices, to higher interest rates. They also discuss how the experience changed many people’s lifestyles, which has delivered a flow-on effect to FIRE plans. With this episode, you can understand how Covid may have affected your goals – and how to prepare for future disruptions.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

Knowledge is a lot like compound interest: the more you accrue, the faster it grows. How, then, can we ensure that others around us, and future generations, are growing their knowledge the right way? And, more importantly, how can we help them to avoid the mistakes we’ve made?

In this session, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) cover some crucial money concepts to pass on. They also discuss how to frame complex topics (like compound interest and delayed gratification) in a way that anyone can understand. Finally, they share some tips for imparting money wisdom to those stubborn learners in your life. Whether you have children, or simply want to make the world a better place, this episode is for you.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

One of the greatest joys of FIRE are these two hyphenated words: “work-optional”. The freedom to choose whether to work, and what to work on, is a key motivator for many FIRE-seekers. In the meantime, though, there’s little that’s work-optional about the journey towards FIRE. For anyone who aims to reach Financial Independence, paid employment is a fairly non-negotiable part of the process.

This begs the question: if we need to work, should we strive to maximise our income to shorten the time to FIRE? Or should we aim to find a job we love and enjoy the journey – even if it means earning less?

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) dive into this very topic. As part of their discussion, they share the potential pros and cons of each, and weigh in with their preferences. They also explore other approaches, so listeners aren’t only confronted with a binary choice. If you’re looking to answer questions about work, this episode will work for you.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

“I’m saving for a home deposit right now, but my friends just invited me to a bottomless brunch. I know that every dollar counts, but I don’t want to miss a morning with my friends. What should I do?”

For many everyday Aussies, tradeoffs like this are not uncommon. But for anyone on a journey towards FIRE, they’re a regular part of life. While it may be less glamorous than investing, balancing future goals with current wants is a crucial part of FIRE. If you focus too much on the present, you’ll never reach your goal. On the other hand, if you forego all of life’s joys, you’ll feel like you’re only living to save money.

That’s why, in this session, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) explore how to balance the future and present. To this end, they share their own experiences, and discuss the dangers of veering to either extreme. Finally, they cover some strategies that can enable you to strike a healthy balance.

Give it a listen, and you’ll source a plan to meet your goals while still enjoying your life along the way.

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

In the realm of money psychology, different mindsets can affect the way we spend, save, and invest. Two of the most relevant mindsets for FIRE are scarcity and abundance. To strip them down to their scaffolding: a scarcity mindset can help you save, but make you worry. An abundance mindset leads you to look at the biggest expenses, and not worry so much about the rest.

In this episode, Dave (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden (co-founder of Pearler) compare how these two different mindsets can affect different aspects of their FIRE journey. This ranges from investing risk tolerance, to savings behaviour, to attitudes towards early retirement.

By the episode’s end, you’ll be able to identify your money mindset – and leverage it in your quest for FIRE!

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.

Send us a Text Message.

The road to FIRE is seldom a straight line. Between job losses, home repairs, medical issues, and other unwelcome surprises, our best laid FIRE plans can easily come derailed. Fortunately, as with most aspects of FIRE, it’s possible to prepare for financial hardship. In doing so, you can mitigate its impact on your FIRE progress.

In this session, Dave Gow (Strong Money Australia) and Hayden Smith (co-founder of Pearler) cover how to contend with financial setbacks. To this end, they share how much they each keep in emergency funds, and discuss their thoughts on insurance. They also detail financial setbacks they’ve each faced, and explore strategies for futureproofing against financial hardship. By the episode’s end, the world will hopefully feel like a less scary place!

Pearler
Strong Money Australia
Original Aussie FIRE e-book
Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer

Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide

If you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer’s website before deciding.