Advertise on podcast: Financial Autonomy

You hear inflation talked about like it's the villain of the economy all the time.... but what is inflation actually doing to your own money?    Well, it's reducing what your savings can buy.  It's eating into your investment returns.  And it can leave you years behind where you thought you'd be, without you realising it's happening.   So, in this episode, Paul breaks down exactly how inflation impacts your wealth, where it shows up in your financial life, and how to tell if your current strategy is keeping pace or falling short.    Because if your money isn't growing faster than inflation, you're actually going backwards.  In this episode:  • Why your money can be growing and you're still falling behind  • The reason your returns don't feel like they're getting you ahead  • What inflation is quietly taking from your savings every year  • How "playing it safe" could be costing you more than you realise  • Why your retirement number might be wrong (and what's throwing it off)  • What inflation is really doing to interest rates, markets, and your plan  • The quick check to see if your current strategy is actually working      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 [email protected], and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  General advice disclaimer 

How many times have you had an idea and thought, this could make me millions… and then watched someone else do something similar and actually make money from it?  Because having the idea is never the hard part. The hard part is turning it into something people will pay for, before you run out of time, energy, or motivation.  So what do you actually do next? How do you start figuring out if it's worth backing before you sink months into it? How do you get something in front of people when you don't have a brand, an audience, or a finished product? And how do you avoid becoming the person who's still talking about the same idea a year from now?  That's what this episode breaks down. What it actually looks like to move from "this could be big" to something that's out in the world, gaining traction, and starting to make money, without spending months building blindly.  Inside this episode:  • The ways you can start figuring out if your idea could actually make money  • What it looked like to go from idea to first paying customer  • How to approach your first version so you're not stuck trying to perfect it  • What actually helps you build momentum when no one knows who you are yet  • The point most people stall and what it takes to move past it  • The early decisions that had the biggest impact on getting traction  • Where time can easily get wasted in the early stages and what to be more mindful of  • What actually goes into turning an idea into something profitable over time  If you've got an idea sitting there that you haven't acted on, or you've started something and feel like it's going nowhere, this will give you a much clearer picture of what to focus on next and what actually moves things forward.    READY TO SORT YOUR FINANCES?:    Book an appointment with us 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 [email protected], and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  General advice disclaimer 

Most people are doing everything right with their money... saving, investing, planning for retirement... and still end up building a life they don't actually want. What if the reason had nothing to do with your portfolio, and everything to do with 3 questions you've never been asked?  In this episode, Paul walks you through all three. They take 10 minutes to answer but could change the next 30 years of your life. Because once you're clear on them, every financial decision becomes easier to make.  In this episode:  The question that exposes the gap between the life you're funding and the life you actually want  Why most people answer the first question too fast (and completely miss the point)  How to prioritise when you can't have everything at once  The test that reveals your real non-negotiables in life  A quick sense-check for whether your current financial path still makes sense  The warning sign that your money and your life have gone in different directions  One question that makes your next big financial decision obvious    READY TO SORT YOUR FINANCES?:   Book an appointment with Paul 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 [email protected], and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  General advice disclaimer 

  Buying property is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make… and most people are just kind of winging it.  You're going to inspections, watching prices, trying to read between the lines on listings, and still not sure if something's actually good value or if you're about to overpay.  So this week, Nick sits down with buyer's advocate Mel Dennis to break down what actually matters when you're buying property. They unpack how to work out what a property is really worth, the mistakes buyers don't realise they're making until it's too late, and how to handle the negotiation so you don't end up paying more than you needed to.  If you're in the market, or even just starting to think about it, this gives you a clear approach so you can make the call and buy with confidence.  Inside this episode:  Why doing your research still doesn't guarantee you won't overpay   The three things you're always balancing when you buy, and how to prioritise them   How to actually work out what a property is worth (not just what it's listed for)   The due diligence most buyers think they've done… but haven't   What experienced buyers look at that others don't   How negotiations really work (and where people end up paying more)   Why some properties grow in value... and others don't    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 [email protected], and it could be featured in his Ask an  Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.  General advice disclaimer   

War is escalating, oil prices are rising and markets are reacting. So what does that actually mean for your investments and retirement? In this episode, we go beyond the headlines to unpack what's really happening, and answer the big question investors are asking right now: do I need to act? Inside this episode: • What war and rising oil prices are actually doing to markets • Why volatility makes even experienced investors second-guess themselves • The common mistake people make when reacting to headlines • How to think about your investments when things feel uncertain • The one question to ask before making any move 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 [email protected], and it could be featured in his Ask an Expert column each Sunday in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. General advice disclaimer

This week on the Wealth Builder podcast Nick talks to accountant David Markovski about franking credits and how to get the most out of them. Need help? - Learn about our Wealth Builder program Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

Divorce often requires a major financial reset, and knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we outline a practical roadmap to help rebuild financial stability after separation. We cover redefining your goals, understanding your remaining working years, and making smart housing decisions. We also discuss rebuilding cashflow clarity, updating estate planning, and reviewing insurance needs. If you're navigating life after divorce, this episode offers a clear framework to help you move forward with confidence.   Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

This week on the Wealth Builder podcast Nick talks to James Brannan from BlockByte Capital about mitigating risks when investing in cryptocurrencies in an ever-evolving market. Need help? - Learn about our Wealth Builder program Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

In this episode, we explore what it means to invest with a time frame that stretches beyond your own lifespan. When personal financial security is already assured, the conversation can evolve from lifestyle funding to building capital designed to support generations to come. We unpack why inflation becomes the greatest risk, why growth assets like shares and property take priority, and how approaches such as index investing align with ultra-long horizons. Beyond strategy, we discuss the human side of legacy — financial literacy, shared purpose, and open conversations — and the deeper question of why building wealth for future generations truly matters.   Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

This week on the Wealth Builder podcast Nick talks to Financial Autonomy host Paul Benson about what to consider before retiring early Need help? - Learn about our Wealth Builder program Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

Gold rose 74% last year and silver surged 185%, but do those eye-catching returns actually justify investing in precious metals? In this episode, we explore what's driving current market anxiety, the case for and against gold as a safe haven, and whether it truly protects against inflation. We break down diversification benefits, long-term return realities, behavioural risks, and the pros and cons of physical gold, ETFs, and mining shares—before answering the real question: do precious metals belong in a disciplined investment portfolio, and if so, how much?   Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

This week on the Wealth Builder podcast Nick talks to James Brannan from BlockByte Capital to explain the basics of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Need help? - Learn about our Wealth Builder program Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

Retiring earlier isn't about winning the lotto — it's about understanding the financial levers that actually move the needle. In this episode, we explore five practical strategies Australians can use to bring retirement forward, including maximising super contributions, improving spending efficiency, reviewing asset allocation, tapping into home equity, and easing the transition with part-time work. Retirement is ultimately about choice, and having the option to step away earlier — even if you don't take it — is a powerful form of financial autonomy.   Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

This week on the Wealth Builder podcast Nick talks to Financial Autonomy host and financial planner Paul Benson about 9 new year's resolutions to kickstart your 2026 financial journey. Tune in to make this your year!   Need help? - Learn about our Wealth Builder program Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer

In this episode, we step back from the day-to-day financial noise and take a long-term view with the 10 Year Wealth Test, asking the key question: are you on track for 2036? Using the power of compounding and clear goal setting, the episode outlines a simple four-step framework to assess where you are now, define your 2036 financial vision, put numbers around what success looks like, and build practical strategies and milestones to keep you on course. If you're seeking more clarity, confidence, and choice in your financial future, this episode will help you start planning the next decade with intention.   Subscribe to our weekly GainingCHOICE email General advice disclaimer