Can you still retire early in Australia, invest simply and enjoy your money today? Owen Rask puts seven hard money questions to Hayden Smith, co-founder of Pearler, on the Australian Finance Podcast—and sneaks in a bonus question about building a business.
First, they ask whether financial independence is realistic amid higher living costs, especially when children and housing change the equation. Hayden explains why staying engaged with your money matters more than finding a magic income number. Then he opens up about his own investing choices, from broad US shares and ETFs such as IVV and VGS to his concerns about concentrating too heavily in tech.
Should a young person buy a home or buy shares? Owen and Hayden weigh the numbers against the practical pull of a mortgage that makes saving harder to avoid. When Owen asks what matters most for building wealth, Hayden’s answer is not a winning stock: it is the money you can save and put to work, particularly early on.
They also explore why beginners collect overlapping ETFs, how a better-paying job can change your options, and the tug-of-war between spending on life now and investing for later. In the bonus question, Hayden gets candid about the risks of starting a business and the safeguards he put in place.
It is a frank, accessible conversation about FIRE, saving, ETFs, housing and the money decisions that rarely have a neat one-size-fits-all answer.
