In this episode of Here Comes the Money, Peter and Hovig answer one of the most common (and misunderstood) mortgage questions in Australia:

If you refinance your home loan, do you really go backwards and reset your mortgage to 30 years?

Many homeowners avoid refinancing because they’re worried it will undo years of progress — but the reality is far more nuanced.

Using real client examples, this episode breaks down:

• What actually happens when you refinance a mortgage
• Why a 30-year loan term is often just an administrative label
• How maintaining your existing repayment can shorten your remaining loan term
• Monthly vs fortnightly repayments and how frequency impacts interest
• Why chasing the lowest interest rate alone is a mistake
• How banks think about serviceability and equity
• When refinancing improves your position — and when it doesn’t
• How parallel investing can accelerate mortgage reduction

This episode is essential listening for anyone with a home loan, thinking about refinancing, or wanting to pay off their mortgage faster without relying on guesswork or bank-driven advice.

Topics covered:
Mortgage refinancing Australia, home loan terms, interest rates, mortgage strategy, equity, serviceability, offset accounts, fortnightly repayments, financial strategy, wealth building, smart money decisions.

📩 Have a question you want answered on the show?
Email: info@smartmoneygroup.com.au

General Advice Warning:
All strategies and information provided are general advice only and do not take into consideration your personal circumstances. You should seek personal financial and taxation advice before acting. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

All strategies and information provided on this website are general advice only and does not take into consideration any of your personal circumstances. Past Performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Please arrange an appointment to seek personal financial and taxation advice prior to acting on this information. SmartMoney Wealth Management is the parent company of SmartMoney Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN: 67 618 468 741) a Corporate Authorised Representative (No: 001265087) of Bluewater Financial Advisors Pty Ltd (ABN: 99 153 118 533) the holder of the Australian Financial Services Licence no. 411846.
Copyright © SmartMoney Wealth Management. All Rights Reserved.

Why do smart investors always pay principal & interest on their home loan…
but interest only on their investment properties?

In this episode, we break down the real difference between good debt and bad debt, how banks quietly penalise loyal customers through the lazy tax, and why your investment loan’s actual interest cost is far lower than the number you see on paper.

We also share a real client example:
A $1M home, a $500k mortgage, and how using good debt to invest — instead of just refinancing — became the key to paying off the home faster without squeezing his lifestyle.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Why your home loan is your most expensive debt
✔️ Why investment debt becomes “easy debt” when structured correctly
✔️ How tenants + tax benefits reduce your investment loan to near 1%
✔️ Why winning $500k should pay off your home — NOT your investment
✔️ How interest-only periods work (and why they quietly switch to P&I)
✔️ How to avoid the hidden “lazy tax” banks hit you with
✔️ Why property is one of the most tax-effective wealth tools in Australia

If you’ve ever wondered how to structure your loans to build wealth faster, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

All strategies and information provided on this website are general advice only and does not take into consideration any of your personal circumstances. Past Performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Please arrange an appointment to seek personal financial and taxation advice prior to acting on this information. SmartMoney Wealth Management is the parent company of SmartMoney Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN: 67 618 468 741) a Corporate Authorised Representative (No: 001265087) of Bluewater Financial Advisors Pty Ltd (ABN: 99 153 118 533) the holder of the Australian Financial Services Licence no. 411846.
Copyright © SmartMoney Wealth Management. All Rights Reserved.

In Episode #6, Peter and Hovig break down one of most important numbers that truly defines your financial position: your net financial assets. They explain why your home, cars and lifestyle items don’t count toward the wealth that will actually fund your future, how to calculate the number that matters, and why so many Australians think they’re further ahead than they really are. If you want real clarity on where you stand—not just how things look on paper—this episode is essential listening.

All strategies and information provided on this website are general advice only and does not take into consideration any of your personal circumstances. Past Performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Please arrange an appointment to seek personal financial and taxation advice prior to acting on this information. SmartMoney Wealth Management is the parent company of SmartMoney Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN: 67 618 468 741) a Corporate Authorised Representative (No: 001265087) of Bluewater Financial Advisors Pty Ltd (ABN: 99 153 118 533) the holder of the Australian Financial Services Licence no. 411846.
Copyright © SmartMoney Wealth Management. All Rights Reserved.