Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

This week on the pod we're chatting with Natasha Etschmann, or you may know her as 'Tash Invests' online. We wanted to know what life was like for Tash before TikTok, Instagram, and “Tash Invests” became a thing.

Growing up in a house where money was openly discussed, saving felt like a game she wanted to win. That mindset led her to buy her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22, setting the foundation for the strategy she continues to build on today.

In this episode we cover:

👉 What it was like growing up in a household where money was openly talked about
👉 Why saving felt like a game, and how that mindset shaped her early investing
👉 Buying her first ETF at 18 and her first property at 22
👉 The early trade-offs she made to build momentum in her 20s
👉 Navigating online criticism and tall poppy syndrome
👉 How her investing strategy has evolved across shares and property
👉 Why the real goal is freedom and optionality (not just a big round number)

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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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you buy your first home with a 5% deposit, or wait until you have 20%? In this episode, Hayden and Dave sit down with listener Khaing to unpack the numbers and the trade-offs.

Khaing is in their late 20s, earning $125,000 and saving around 50% of their income. With roughly $68,000 available, they are weighing up the First Home Guarantee scheme against waiting a few more years to build a bigger deposit and take on less debt.

In this episode they cover:
👉 How the 5% deposit scheme works and the potential savings on LMI
👉 Whether waiting for 20% really reduces risk if property prices keep rising
👉 What repayments could look like compared to Khaing’s current rent
👉 How to think about worst-case scenarios, including renting the property out
👉 What to look for in an apartment, including strata costs and building quality

Ask a Question

FI Case Study Request Form

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the 4% rule still relevant, or has the FIRE movement outgrown it? In this episode, Hayden and Dave break down where the 4% rule came from, why it’s often criticised, and how it actually holds up for early retirees.

They unpack the assumptions behind the rule and explain why flexibility, adaptability, and behaviour might matter far more than the percentage itself.

In this episode they cover:

👉 Where the 4% rule comes from and what it was designed to solve
👉 Why early retirees worry about longer time horizons and sequence risk
👉 Whether strong recent returns make the rule less reliable
👉 How flexibility around spending dramatically improves success rates
👉 What different “flex rates” mean for sustainable withdrawal levels
👉 Portfolio allocation considerations for long-term retirees
👉 The psychology of living off a portfolio during market downturns
👉 Practical tools like cash buffers and automated selling

Ask a Question

FI Case Study Request Form

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debt recycling can be powerful, but the details matter. In this listener Q&A episode, Hayden and Dave tackle common questions on debt recycling and investing mechanics, including when to invest, how to place orders, and how to stay on the right side of the tax rules.

They break down practical scenarios listeners are facing and explain the trade-offs between simplicity, optimisation, and risk.

In this episode they cover:
👉 Market orders vs limit orders and when each one actually makes sense
👉 Whether to wait to debt recycle a lump sum or invest smaller amounts sooner
👉 The opportunity cost of holding cash in an offset versus investing
👉 How to debt recycle while still dollar-cost averaging
👉 How to change a debt recycled investment without losing deductibility
👉 Why redraw timing matters for tax purposes
👉 Common debt recycling mistakes that can break deductibility

Ask a Question

FI Case Study Request Form

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Property has worked well for Andy so far. The question is whether it’s still the best path forward. In this case study episode, Dave and Hayden sit down with listener Andy to unpack a real FIRE decision point.
They walk through his full financial picture and explore whether continuing to leverage into property or shifting toward shares makes more sense for reaching long-term passive income.

In this episode they cover:

👉 Andy’s current position across property, ETFs, cash, and super
👉 The trade-offs between buying another property or diversifying into shares
👉 How much portfolio value is needed to generate $100k in passive income
👉 Why net yields and cash flow matter more than headline growth
👉 The risks of leverage and concentration
👉 How diversification can reduce risk and volatility
👉 Aligning investment strategy with long-term lifestyle goals and risk tolerance

Ask a Question

FI Case Study Request Form

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.