Aussie Firebug

Today on the podcast, we have Mark LaMonica, CFA, a Director at Morningstar and co-host of the Investing Compass podcast.Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having spent time in both the US and Australia, which gives him a unique perspective on their financial systems and retirement landscapes.In today’s episode, we dive into:The current state of financial planning in Australia (00:09:18)Mark’s thoughts on his recent article, "Are We Being Ripped Off by Super?" (00:16:04)How the US and Australian retirement systems stack up against each other (00:20:58)Why he’s against super funds charging for certain financial advice costs (00:30:57)His controversial take on the 4% rule and the FIRE movement (00:47:13)LinksPodcast - Investing CompassWebsite - Morningstarwww.aussiefirebug.com/podcast

After a decade on the FIRE journey, the speaker reflects on unexpected feelings of restlessness despite achieving financial independence. Parenthood has reshaped their views on work, prompting a quest for deeper purpose beyond money. They discuss the value of discomfort and growth, how entrepreneurship reignited their passion, and the role financial security plays in family life. It’s a heartfelt exploration of balancing freedom with responsibility and the true meaning of fulfillment.

Amy and Matt share their journey in the FIRE community and how they launched a financial independence retreat in Bali. They reveal their fear-based relationship with money and the lessons learned from their family dynamics. The couple discusses the benefits of geo-arbitraging across countries like Thailand and Mexico, highlighting affordable dining experiences. Additionally, they provide insights into healthcare in Southeast Asia and stress the importance of personal growth, frugality, and overcoming fears to achieve financial freedom.

Ana Kresina, Head of Product and Community at Pearler and Co-host of 'Get Rich Slow Club' and 'ETFs for Beginners' podcasts, discusses her FIRE journey, hitchhiking through Europe, and why she wrote a money book about raising kids. They also touch on normalizing money conversations with children, philanthropy, and teaching empathy. Plus, they talk about using chat GPT for organizing thoughts and improving writing.

The podcast explores topics such as becoming a dad, shifting perspectives on FIRE, and the impact of an article on the fire community. They discuss influential books on money, tracking personal choices, and minimizing regrets. The importance of taking risks in investment strategies and defining wealth based on personal values is also explored. They compare using dividends vs. selling units in a portfolio and delve into the perspective of emotional utility and freedom of choice. Resources for learning more about the speaker and the recommended podcast are shared.

Today, my guest is fellow FIRE enthusiast/podcaster/blogger, Captain FI!He’s actually been on the podcast before but I had to take that episode down due to ASIC’s 2022 guidelines.Cap came and stayed at the Firebug household after attending the Rask event in my hometown. It was a lot of fun meeting and greeting others from the FIRE community and it was extra special to do so in my own backyard.This was very much an improv podcast and I didn’t have any set questions.We had a general chitchat about Captian Fi’s financial journey and other topics relating to FIRE.Some of the topics we cover in today’s episode are:Who is Captain FI? (00:02:36)Investing a big lump sum into the share market (00:04:47)Finding a financial planner (00:16:01)Investing psychology (00:26:24)Reaching financial independence (00:41:26)Does your FI number include a paid-off house? (00:43:43)Selling shares to pay your living expenses (00:45:46)The psychology of spending (00:52:26)LinksWebsite - Captain FIwww.aussiefirebug.com/podcast

Dive into the essential role of accountants in achieving financial independence and the FIRE movement. Discover the differences between accountants, tax advisors, and financial planners. Learn about effective tax minimization strategies and the importance of ethical standards. The discussion emphasizes finding the right accountant to build wealth and offers tips for freelancers. Explore the nuances of starting a sole trader business and understand the complexities of self-managed super funds and tax compliance. Perfect for anyone navigating their financial journey!

The host discusses various updates in their pursuit of FIRE, including becoming a father. They talk about shifting priorities and mindset, finding meaningful work and aspiring to create a co-working space. They also discuss their strategy for building passive income and the power of dividends. Finally, they explore how becoming parents has influenced their pursuit of financial independence and early retirement.

Today my guest is Carl Jensen who is better known in the FIRE community as Mr. 1500.He’s a family guy living in Colorado with his wife and two young children and managed to retire at the ripe old age of 43.Some of the topics we cover in today’s episode are:The story behind the name "Mr. 1500" (00:02:06)Investment philosophy and strategies (00:07:25)Carl’s interest in Tesla and EVs in general (00:18:44)Balancing frugality and fulfilment on the path to FI (00:23:49)The biggest benefits of achieving FI (00:26:31)How Carl handled the cultural challenges of pursuing early retirement (00:39:04)What Carl wishes he knew when he started his journey to FI (01:09:58)LinksWebsite - 1500 Days to Freedomwww.aussiefirebug.com/podcast

Today’s episode is very special to me personally.I’m speaking with my dad about how he grew up and what money and life lessons he learnt along the way. He’s probably had the biggest impact on how I view the world (along with my mum) and set the foundations early on for me to be in the position I’m in today.Some of the topics we cover in today’s episode are:What life was like growing up in Melbourne with immigrant parents (00:02:16)How Tony learned about money management as a child (00:13:08)Leaving school at 15 to help contribute to the family farm (00:19:26)Life lessons learnt from Tony’s immigrant parents (00:23:29)Comparing the housing market in 2023 to the 1970s (00:29:13)Learning about property investing (00:35:44)Stock market investing (00:48:15)Tony’s essential life lessons (00:53:47)www.aussiefirebug.com/podcast