Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew sit down with Dimitri Damianos from Buxton in Oakleigh to answer the question every buyer and seller is quietly asking right now: is the Melbourne property market actually falling, or just changing shape?

With ten years on the ground selling in Melbourne's south-east, Dimi cuts through the media headlines to explain what's really happening at inspections and auctions, why "wait for prices to drop further" is some of the worst advice a buyer can follow right now, and what the shift away from negative gearing and SMSF borrowing is doing to investor appetite. They also get into the emotional side of property that no spreadsheet can capture, and why timing your purchase around "readiness" beats timing it around the market.

If you're sitting on the fence about buying or selling in Melbourne, this episode explains what's driving the hesitation, why it might be costing you, and what to watch heading into spring.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why auction clearance rates have dropped to around 50% and what's replacing the traditional auction

• The apartment slowdown: from four to five buyers per inspection down to one or two

• Why "I'm not buying because prices might come off" is the worst advice out there right now

• How the end of negative gearing and SMSF borrowing changes are pushing investors toward commercial property

• What buyers can do to negotiate respectfully and find out what comparable properties actually sold for

• Why emotional attachment to a home almost always outweighs the numbers, for both buyers and sellers

• Dimi's read on where the Melbourne market goes from here as stock stays low heading into spring

Connect with Dimitri Damianos

• Buxton Real Estate, Oakleigh
• Phone: 0412 092 944
• Instagram: @dim.damianos

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle the question most buyers never ask until it's too late: what does a dream home actually cost once you move past the purchase price? Timed against recent federal budget changes, they break down why more people are pouring money into their own home instead of investment property, and why that decision carries far more hidden expenses than most realise.

They walk through the layers that quietly stack up after settlement: rates, insurance, maintenance running 1 to 2% of property value every year, renovation blowouts that routinely exceed budget by 50%+, and the opportunity cost of what that money could have earned elsewhere. Using real numbers, they show how a $1 million mortgage can mean paying back close to $2 million over 30 years, and why "just buy the dream home" is no longer a safe default strategy in this market.

If you're weighing up whether to upgrade your home, renovate, or invest instead, this episode lays out the real math and why diversifying beyond one asset class matters more than ever.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why it's not the purchase price that gets people, it's the ongoing cost of owning the property

• The renovation trap: budget for 50% more than you think, because it never stops there

• Why turnkey properties are winning buyers over on certainty alone

• The 1-2% rule: what ongoing maintenance really costs on a bigger, more expensive home

• Insurance, mortgage protection and income protection all climb with a bigger mortgage

• The opportunity cost most buyers never calculate: investing, education, lifestyle

• The real math: a $1M mortgage can mean paying back close to $2M over 30 years

• Why one strategy isn't enough anymore, and how to diversify beyond property

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

Check out our latest episode here:

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle a question most business owners have never stopped to ask: what actually happens to the business, and to the people left behind, if something happens to your business partner?

Using their own partnership as a real-world example, they break down why this isn't about replacing a role or keeping operations running. It's about what happens when a grieving spouse suddenly becomes a shareholder, the surviving partner needs to find hundreds of thousands of dollars they don't have, and neither side wants to be in business with the other. They walk through the two-part solution that solves this cleanly: a funding mechanism through life insurance, paired with a buy-sell agreement that guarantees ownership transfers smoothly and both parties get exactly what they need.

If you're in business with a partner and have never had this conversation, this episode explains the blind spot, the fix, and why it costs far less than most people assume.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why "we'd just replace them" misses the real problem: the value your partner has tied up in the business

• The hypothetical: Andrew's wife Stacey becomes a shareholder overnight, grieving, with two kids, and no interest in the business

• Why time is of the essence when a business valuation can rise or fall after the event

• The funding mechanism: how a modest life insurance premium covers the payout gap

• The buy sell agreement: how ownership transfers smoothly so no one negotiates value while grieving

• Why annual business valuations matter to keep the policy in line with what the business is actually worth

• The real cost: a simple legal setup plus an affordable annual premium, compared to what most people pay for health insurance

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

Check out our latest episode here:

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle one of the most common questions they get asked: should you be debt free before you invest?

With Australia's 30-year mortgage terms, waiting until the house is paid off before investing can mean losing decades of compound growth — so the real answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

They break down good debt versus bad debt, why psychology often beats mathematics when it comes to money decisions, and how tools like offset accounts and debt recycling can let you pay down your mortgage and build wealth at the same time.

Whether you're weighing extra mortgage repayments against investing, or wondering how leverage changes the equation, this episode gives you a framework to figure out what's right for your circumstances.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Good debt vs. bad debt: why not all debt should be treated the same

• The psychology trap: why "pay it off, then invest" rarely plays out as planned

• The sleep test: how risk tolerance changes the right strategy for you

• Offset accounts explained: flexibility without sacrificing interest savings

• Debt recycling 101: converting non-deductible debt into tax-deductible wealth building

• How leverage changes the maths on using equity to invest

• Why financial freedom, not just debt freedom, should be the real goal

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew are joined by Ryan Finlay from Willis Partners. Together they unpack the most significant tax reform Australia has seen in 30 years, breaking down what's coming, who's affected, and what you need to do before July 1, 2027.

The federal budget introduced sweeping changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing, and trust distributions that will impact investors, business owners, and families planning for retirement. The government says these changes help younger Australians into housing. But the detail tells a different story—and the complexity demands action.

If you hold investment property, shares, a family business, or use trusts for wealth building, this episode reveals the real cost of these changes, the strategies that no longer work, and why getting proper advice right now could save you thousands.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why the 50% CGT discount being replaced with indexation (plus a minimum 30% tax rate) hits both established investors and new buyers hard

• Grandfathering rules: your assets acquired before July 1, 2027 are protected—but only if you understand the two-tiered calculation coming

• Negative gearing reform: established residential properties acquired after budget night can no longer offset losses immediately—but new builds still can

• The small business carve-out: extended from $2M to $10M turnover, but does it actually help anyone new?

• Trust changes and the carve-out that saved testamentary trusts from becoming a "death tax"

• How the bucket company strategy is now broken, and why company structures are about to become popular again

• Historical precedent: when Australia tried this before, it lasted two years. Will 2028 bring reversal?

• The real consequence: rents will likely rise, and everyday investors will get hurt

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

Connect with Ryan!

Ryan Finlay - Director at Willis Partners

Check out our latest episode here:

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore investment bonds and education bonds, a tax-effective vehicle most people have never heard of. But with recent federal budget changes, these are about to become far more popular.

If you're a high-income earner looking for tax-efficient investing outside of superannuation, or a parent planning to fund school fees, investment bonds offer a compelling alternative. They cap your tax rate at 30% (often reducing to 21-22% effective rate), eliminate capital gains tax when held for 10+ years, and sit perfectly between short-term flexibility and long-term wealth-building.

The catch? You need patience. These vehicles require a 10-year horizon and consistent contributions to unlock their full benefits. But if you match the timeframe to your goals, the tax advantages become a hidden weapon against rising government tax rates.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• How investment bonds create a concessionally taxed environment

• Why zero capital gains tax after 10 years makes these outperform personal name investments

• The 10-year timeframe: limitation or feature? Why long-term investing actually wins

• Annual contribution rules: the 125% escalation trap and how to avoid it

• Two cohorts who benefit most: education-focused parents and high-income earners bridging to retirement

• Split strategy: combining flexibility with tax efficiency using $500/month approaches

• Recent budget changes that make investment bonds even more attractive

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore the hidden cost of being comfortable, and why financial comfort can actually sabotage your wealth-building.

When your bills are paid, money's left over each month, and life feels good, it's easy to stop pushing forward. But comfort breeds complacency.

Andrew and Billy break down why getting comfortable is just the first step, and the real danger lies in mistaking it for financial security.

If you're earning solid income and feel like you're doing okay financially, but you're unsure whether you'll actually be able to retire on your terms, this episode reveals what's holding you back, and the simple micro-actions you can start today.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• The critical difference between being financially comfortable and financially secure

• How lifestyle inflation sneaks in and erodes your surplus faster than you realize

• Why paying yourself first is non-negotiable

• The compound cost of delaying investment, and how it sets you back years

• High income doesn't equal wealth: why surplus is what actually matters

• The psychology of comfort: how it leads to drifting without a plan

• Why your superannuation alone won't deliver the retirement lifestyle you expect

• Micro-actions that work: direct debit, starting small with $20/week, and building from there

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore why the traditional retirement model—work until 65, collect your gold watch, live on age pension—is completely obsolete for the next generation. They unpack the real reasons retirement looks so different now: property costs, extended mortgages, lifestyle expectations, and longer lifespans have fundamentally shifted the goalposts.

If you're wondering whether you'll actually retire, or how your retirement might look different from your parents', this episode breaks down what's changed, why it matters, and what you actually need to do about it.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why the old retirement model no longer works

• How mortgages became a 30+ year burden requiring two incomes

• The cost of living and lifestyle expectation squeeze

• Why you're living longer but have less time to build wealth

• Inheritance as a requirement, not a bonus and the wealth inequality gap

• Technology enabling extended working careers (by choice and necessity)

• The strategies that still work and why you need a personalized plan

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

360 Financial Strategists

Check out our latest episode here:

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