Episodes

Housing affordability is one of the biggest issues in Australia today, but I’m not sure we’re all talking about the same thing when we use that phrase.  For some people, affordability means lower house prices.  For others, it means being able to save a deposit, qualify for a loan, manage repayments, or simply have enough money left over after housing costs to live a decent life.  And there’s another uncomfortable truth: many Australians say they want housing to be more affordable, but they also want the value of their own home or investment property to keep rising.  That tension sits at the heart of today’s discussion, and at the end of today's show, you'll have a better understanding of what all this means to you.  In today’s show, Simon Kuestenmacher and I talk about why housing affordability is far more complex than a simple slogan.  Takeaways   Housing affordability depends on deposits, repayments, and leftover household cash.  Price-to-income ratios miss the impact of interest rates and borrowing buffers. Late first-home buying forces families straight into…

Picture Budget night in Canberra. Every minister walks through the Treasurer's door with a worthy cause and an outstretched hand.   Defence wants submarines. Health wants hospitals. Aged care wants more staff. Housing wants subsidies. Education wants teachers.   Everyone has a reason - and the Treasurer has to find the money.  So where does the money actually come from? For decades, the answer has been the same place: your payslip.  More than half of all federal government revenue comes from personal income tax.  And as Australia ages - as the ratio of workers to retirees keeps shrinking - the pressure on that same narrow tax base…

Australia has been extraordinarily fortunate.  We have iron ore, coal, gas, lithium, critical minerals, agricultural capacity, world-class cities, proximity to Asia and a political system that, for all its faults, is still stable by global standards.  But being lucky and being prepared are not the same thing.  For decades, Australia…

Australia loves a good generational argument.  Boomers had it easy. Millennials can’t get ahead. Gen X has been forgotten. Gen Z has been handed the worst starting point.  But what if that whole debate is too simplistic?  In today’s show, Simon Kuestenmacher talks about the very different money problems each generation will face in the 2030s,…

Gen Z - they’ve never known a world without smartphones. They grew up through a pandemic.  And they’re entering adulthood at a time when housing feels further out of reach than ever.  But here’s what most people miss.  Generation Z is already reshaping how we work, how we spend, and how we think about money, and their influence is only just beginning.  If you’re trying to understand the future of Australia’s property market, workforce, and economy, this is a generation you need to get your head around now.  So in this episode, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss Generation Z's influence on society and the economy.  We explore how Gen Z's digital upbringing shapes their perspectives and behaviors in the workforce.  Simon and I discuss the challenges they face, including mental health and housing…

Millennials - they’ve been called entitled, they’ve been called unlucky.  And depending on who you listen to, they’re either the problem… or the future.  But here’s what’s really happening.  Millennials are now the largest generation in the workforce, they’re entering their peak earning years, and they’re starting to dominate property demand across Australia.  So if you’re trying to understand where the economy, the housing market, and business trends are heading next, you need to understand Millennials.  So in this episode, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss the profound influence of Millennials on Australia's economy and property markets.  We delve into how Millennials' values and behaviours are reshaping workplace culture and employment patterns across the nation.  Our discussion highlights the financial challenges Millennials face,…

Gen X- they’re not the loudest generation. They’re not the biggest. And they’re rarely the centre of attention.  But right now, Generation X is sitting in the most influential position in our economy, our housing markets, and our businesses.  They’re running companies, controlling household wealth, and quietly making decisions that will shape the next decade.  So if you’re an investor, a business owner, or someone trying to understand where Australia is heading next, this is a generation you simply can’t afford to ignore.  In this episode, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss the influence of Generation X on Australia's economy and property markets.  We discuss how their upbringing during economic uncertainty shaped their pragmatic and data-driven mindset and explore their impact on property markets, business, and policymaking, focusing…

Baby Boomers - they bought property when it was cheap, they built businesses, shaped policies, and accumulated enormous wealth… And now, as they move into retirement, they’re still influencing almost every aspect of our economy. So here’s the question… are Baby Boomers the luckiest generation in history - or simply…