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

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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

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.