Invest Smarter Grow Faster

Julian is joined in the podcast studio by Peter Savage, founder of Savage Money and a mortgage broker who built a multi-million-dollar property portfolio while spending fifteen years on a factory floor. Growing up in a housing-trust home with a scarcity mindset, Peter picked up a single book in his twenties, bought his first investment property at 24, and kept acquiring, eventually walking away from a six-figure factory wage to start a broking business that settled over $30 million in its first year at Savage Money. His mission is simple: show everyday Australians, especially tradies and self-employed business owners, that wealth creation is a game of finance, not luck. In this episode, Peter speaks to why land does the lifting and buildings depreciate, the three-bucket system that separates wealthy investors from pensioners, why a looming tax change should never decide your strategy, and the patient "buy one good property and get back to life" approach that quietly builds real portfolios, sparking a refreshingly honest conversation about how property wealth actually gets built.

Romesh's journey from NAB customer service phones to becoming a 2024 MPA Top 40 Under 35 broker reveals why finance strategy matters more than interest rates. Growing up watching his mum work 24/7 without financial literacy shaped his mission to ensure no one faces retirement unprepared. From mastering mortgage retention to navigating complaints, Romesh built expertise that helps clients avoid over-leveraging across multiple lenders. He shares the brutal $50K lesson from a family development deal, why he sold his home in winter against conventional wisdom, and how timing Melbourne's market secured his upgrade. Romesh reveals why interest rate focus kills strategies, how 73% of investors get stuck after one property, and why stepping stones need growth potential. His approach combines technical bank knowledge with genuine care shaped by watching his mum's financial challenges.

Axel's journey from Paris housing commission to owning a multi-million dollar Australian property portfolio is proof that background doesn't determine destiny. Arriving in 2014 with no English and $5,000, he started a landscaping business with borrowed equipment and built it into Sydney's premier garden service with Australia's first subscription model. But this isn't just a business success story. In five years, Axel went from pushing a mower to owning three Australian investment properties plus a Spanish apartment for his mum - all while working 80-hour weeks in the garden industry, where cash is king and property investing seems impossible. In this conversation, Axel reveals why he rejected cash jobs to show bank-worthy numbers, how he used 10% deposits and LMI strategically when everyone said don't, and why he bought properties he's never inspected while flying to Spain to sign papers in person. From listening to audiobooks while mowing lawns to understanding equity release and compounding growth, his self-education transformed a tradesman's income into a portfolio heading toward $100 million. Axel shares the brutal mortgage broker rejection after year one, the tax mistake that delayed his second purchase, and why cutting expenses and eating hot dogs on footpaths was his secret to rapid portfolio growth. His goal isn't just wealth - it's giving back to young people trapped in environments like the one he escaped.

Nick Georges' journey from footballer to director of one of Australia's fastest-growing offshore providers is a masterclass in turning setbacks into success. After his football dreams ended at 18, his painter father got him a job in real estate - a decision that would change thousands of lives across two countries. Now Director of Growth at Wingman Group, Nick oversees 1200 remote professionals working across 900 Australian and New Zealand real estate businesses. But this isn't just another offshoring story - it's about humanising remote work, building genuine relationships, and creating systems that allow property managers to handle 300+ managements while business development managers sign 35 new clients monthly. In this conversation, Nick reveals the brutal academy process where only 150 graduates emerge from 4000 monthly interviews, why most remote professional arrangements fail, and how AI will transform the industry without replacing the human element. He shares insights from working with Australia's top agents, the leadership lessons from Richard Branson that drive Wingman's culture, and why he believes the best agents focus on relationships and play the long game. From losing his licence and accidentally becoming a property management expert to meeting his future business partner at a Brisbane football game, Nick's story proves that sometimes the biggest opportunities come from unexpected detours.

Mat's story is one of the most compelling migrant success stories in Australian property. Arriving from Serbia at 17 without speaking English, he went from construction sites to building one of Australia's most sophisticated property analytics platforms. In this conversation, Mat reveals how he and co-founder Alex created HTag Analytics - a platform that analyses over 80 metrics and 2 billion data points to predict property growth before the market catches on. We explore the crucial difference between "hotspots" (already expensive) and "warm spots" (where smart money goes), and why 80% of property returns come from location choice, not the property itself. Mat shares the mistakes that nearly killed their business, why most property courses fail investors, and how AI is revolutionising property analysis. Plus, he gives his current buying recommendations for different budgets.This episode is packed with insights on data-driven property investing, building a tech business, and why community beats competition every time.

In this episode of Invest Smarter Grow Faster, Julian is joined by finance strategist and Entourage Finance broker Katherine Stephens. With over a decade in banking, commercial lending, and now broking, Kat shares how she helps clients go beyond a transaction to build real financial strategy. From leveraging equity the smart way, to structuring for long-term growth, and avoiding pre-approval traps, Kat reveals the common mistakes buyers make — and how to avoid them. They also deep-dive into SMSF borrowing, the power of pre-planning, and how working with the right team (accountant, buyer’s agent, broker, and solicitor) is the secret weapon of top investors.

In this episode of Invest Smarter Grow Faster, Julian sits down with economic futurist, behavioral finance expert, and bestselling author Evan Lucas. From his unexpected career journey to hard truths about rentvesting, regional trends, and the misunderstood "Bank of Mum and Dad," Evan unpacks how emotions drive our money decisions. They dive into affordability, post-COVID shifts, investing mindsets, and why owning 10 properties might not equal financial freedom. It’s a candid, insightful conversation that blends global insight with real, human behaviour. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just money-curious, this episode will challenge how you think about wealth.

In this episode, host Julian chats with Dion Fernandes — a seasoned mortgage broker, finance expert, and host of the Finance This, Property That podcast. A key member of the award-winning team at Emerge Finance, Dion has helped more than 200 investors grow their portfolios strategically. Together, they explore Dion’s unique journey — from growing up in Mumbai to moving to New Zealand, working as a professional tennis umpire, and eventually building a successful career in finance. Dion offers valuable insights into developing smart finance strategies, staying proactive, and navigating the challenges of securing finance as a self-employed individual.