Australian Finance Podcast

Is FIRE still possible in 2026? Ft. Dave Gow

Feb 1, 2026
Guest
Dave Gow
Dave Gow, founder of Strong Money Australia and author on financial independence, shares blunt, practical thinking about reaching FIRE in 2026. He discusses boosting income over tiny savings, when property or shares serve freedom best, staged transitions out of work, and why time and purpose matter more than net worth.
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INSIGHT

FIRE Remains Possible With Adjusted Expectations

  • FIRE is still achievable in 2026 but generally slightly harder due to house prices and rents outpacing wages.
  • The same recipe—boost income, cut expenses, invest patiently—still works, just possibly slower.
ADVICE

Start With Income, Cut Costs, Then Invest

  • If starting from zero, prioritise juicing income via penalty rates, night shifts or FIFO and cut expenses hard for 3–5 years.
  • Use ETFs initially and consider one property only for diversification if your time frame is under ten years.
INSIGHT

Earning More Often Trumps Tiny Savings

  • People often obsess over saving small amounts while ignoring the easier path of earning substantially more.
  • Both saving and increasing income matter, but boosting income can rapidly widen the gap between needs and means.
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