Episodios

  • Are You Taking Too Much Investment Risk — or Not Enough?

    Are You Taking Too Much Investment Risk — or Not Enough?
    Aug 9 2026
    Most investors worry about taking too much risk. But what if the bigger problem is that you are not taking enough? Choosing how much risk to take with your money can have a huge impact on what your investments are able to do for you. Get it wrong and you could either expose yourself to losses you are not prepared for, or spend years investing only to find you have made it much harder to reach the goal you were aiming for. And the answer is not as simple as picking conservative, balanced or growth. Your timeframe matters. Your goals matter. Your behaviour when markets fall matters. Even where the money is invested can completely change what an appropriate level of risk looks like. In this episode, Paul unpacks the factors that can change the answer, the common ways investors misjudge their own risk tolerance and why the portfolio that feels safest may not always leave you in the strongest financial position. Inside this episode: The risk many cautious investors do not realise they are taking Why your risk-profile questionnaire could be giving you only part of the answer The scenario that can reveal whether your portfolio is actually too risky for you Why being a growth investor does not mean all of your money should be invested for growth The timeframe mistake that can make an otherwise sensible investment strategy completely inappropriate What can happen when you and your partner have very different ideas about money and risk Why someone approaching retirement may need to rethink a strategy that has worked for decades The surprising reason a conservative investor may still choose an aggressive investment option How to find the point between protecting what you have and giving your money enough opportunity to grow If you have ever wondered whether you should be taking more risk, less risk, or whether your current portfolio actually matches what you are trying to achieve, this episode will give you a much better way to think about the decision. WANT PERSONALISED ADVICE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT 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
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    10 m
  • Should You Help Your Kids Buy Property? Lessons From 5 Family Property Purchases That Ended in Court

    Should You Help Your Kids Buy Property? Lessons From 5 Family Property Purchases That Ended in Court
    Aug 4 2026
    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
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    45 m
  • 7 Ways Busy People Can Build Wealth on Autopilot

    7 Ways Busy People Can Build Wealth on Autopilot
    Aug 2 2026
    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
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    10 m
  • Is a Family Trust Still the Best Way to Build Family Wealth?

    Is a Family Trust Still the Best Way to Build Family Wealth?
    Jul 28 2026
    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
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    16 m
  • Am I on Track to Retire?

    Am I on Track to Retire?
    Jul 26 2026
    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.
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    9 m
  • The Sharemarket Financial Year in Review (and What BlackRock Is Watching Now)

    The Sharemarket Financial Year in Review (and What BlackRock Is Watching Now)
    Jul 22 2026
    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
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    35 m
  • How to Build Passive Income So You Can Retire Earlier

    How to Build Passive Income So You Can Retire Earlier
    Jul 19 2026
    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
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    11 m
  • Why Doing Less with Your Investments Could Make You Richer

    Why Doing Less with Your Investments Could Make You Richer
    Jul 15 2026
    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
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    13 m