$750k Mortgage Paid Off in Just Over A Year | Sean & Sarah | CHANGING LIVES | Season 4 Ep 38

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]So you can really actually afford whatever you want now, but you choose not to.

[00:00:05]>> Or choose to.

[00:00:06]>> Yeah.

[00:00:07]>> Yeah.

[00:00:09]>> Or if there's something >> does it feel real?

[00:00:12]>> No.

[00:00:13]>> No.

[00:00:14]>> Money is the root of all evil. The [music] [ __ ] lack of it is >> money. The lack of understanding money.

[00:00:19]>> When I put that into emphasis, when I realized that psychological effect and how it hit our family, I fd the [ __ ] way. YOU WERE NOW WATCHING THE MONEY MENTOR PODCAST >> with Graham Holmes.

[00:00:29]>> Graham Graham Holmes.

[00:00:32]>> They had the careers and the property.

[00:00:35]What they didn't have was any idea whether it [music] was actually working.

[00:00:40]Shaun and Sarah have spent over 23 years in aviation. High performers at work running on instinct at home. They had savings, super and a couple of investments, but no [music] financial literacy to tie it together and no budget guiding any of it.

[00:00:58]A podcast led to a book. The book led to a masterass. In February 2024, they signed up. The Instinct finally had a system behind it. The mortgage [music] on their home gone. a property portfolio of five investments built across personal and super now worth close to $5 million.

[00:01:19]Meet Sarah and Sha and how [music] they changed everything.

[00:01:23]>> Welcome back to another episode of the Money Mentor on the Changing Lives Financially episodes. And today we have very special guests with us, Sean and Sarah. Hello. How are we?

[00:01:32]>> Well, thanks. How are you?

[00:01:34]>> I'm good, but we're starting to get the giggles. So, we're not going to get the giggles in this podcast. Okay.

[00:01:40]>> No.

[00:01:40]>> No. [laughter] No, seriously, welcome to the show and thank you for taking the time to come and share with everybody. Maybe first, um, if you can give us a little bit of background on yourselves, who you are, where you're from, what do you do for work, all that sort of stuff.

[00:01:57]>> So, um, Sean and Sarah, we live in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Um, I'm cabin crew, international cabin crew. Sarah works, um, in communications.

[00:02:07]>> Okay. So, both in travel airline industry. Yeah.

[00:02:11]>> Yeah.

[00:02:11]>> Yeah. Both. We got a nine-year-old daughter and a cat called Snowball.

[00:02:15]>> Snowball. Is Snowball black and white?

[00:02:17]>> Uh, no. He's gray and white.

[00:02:19]>> Oh, >> yeah.

[00:02:20]>> Okay.

[00:02:21]>> When we got him, he rolled down the >> floor and my daughter went, "That looks like a snowball."

[00:02:26]>> That makes sense. I had a cat called Fluffy when I was little cuz it was the fluffiest cat in the litter when it was little. So, that makes sense. Snowball.

[00:02:33]Fluffy.

[00:02:34]>> Very good.

[00:02:35]>> Now, where and when did you find Infinity?

[00:02:39]um back in about December 2023.

[00:02:43]>> When the I I used to always listen to the Both Sides podcast. I always like to listen to like real estate agents and like those guys at that 1% what they used to do for like their life and how they got ahead and you know trying to implement some of those practices that guys are that high and do.

[00:02:59]>> Yeah. and I'd listened to their their podcast and then um I was wandering around Los Angeles and your podcast came up and I was like, "Oh, pay your mortgage off in seven to 10 years. This has got to be interesting."

[00:03:12]>> Yeah.

[00:03:12]>> And then I listened to it and I was walking around and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry cuz I was like, "Oh, [ __ ] I've made that mistake. [laughter] I've done that mistake. I've done that mistake." And previous to that, Sarah and I both had gone to other mortgage brokers and other financial companies trying to like improve our position >> and we hadn't got there. So, >> right.

[00:03:35]>> Um, then I came home off that trip and I said to Sarah, I think I found a person for us >> or a problem, one of the two.

[00:03:42]>> Well, [laughter] bit of both.

[00:03:44]>> Yeah. But, so then I got the book. I downloaded the book and read the book and I was like, no, I think this guy's our thing. And then I was like, Sarah, you need to listen to this. And then like Sarah was a bit like, "Oh, he swears a bit.

[00:03:56]>> Just a little bit."

[00:03:56]>> And I said, "Well, my father's Irish, so I'm used to, you know, >> the fbombs coming left, right, and center." And I was like, "Hey, it's just like listening to dad really."

[00:04:04]>> Yeah. [laughter] >> Without the Guinness.

[00:04:06]>> Without Yeah. Exactly. So that's how it all started.

[00:04:10]>> Okay. Okay. And was it uh when was it initially uh when you said like laugh or cry, was it like a oh yeah, that makes sense, but ouch. Was it pain? Was it painful or was it just confronting or or frustrating?

[00:04:24]>> It was probably a little bit of everything. Yeah, cuz it was like why haven't we got this information and like why is this information not mainstream?

[00:04:32]>> Yeah.

[00:04:33]>> But I was like cuz I've made so many mistakes, financial mistakes, >> which I and they probably weren't massive financial mistakes but I could have but we could have been better positioned if we had that knowledge.

[00:04:43]>> Okay.

[00:04:43]>> Previous. And what give us a summary of your financial PO? So you so you watched the podcast. Where to from there? Cuz [snorts] there was like four back then maybe.

[00:04:53]>> Yeah, there was four. So it was I think episode 60, 67, 68, 69. I was all over it.

[00:04:58]>> Yeah. Yeah. I got right into it, you know, like cuz >> it was like this instant knowledge bombs just going bang bang. Oh, that's how you do that. That's why you wouldn't do that.

[00:05:08]>> So like I was sharing that with Sarah going, "Wow, listen to this. this is just, you know, >> so we listened to those our financial um previous to that we we had our mortgage um in N suburbs at $751,000 and we were like all right, how are we going to pay this off? We had another investment property down in Ginderbine which was nearly paid off.

[00:05:29]>> Yeah.

[00:05:29]>> And we had some land also in Ginder which we were like this is going to be our house. We're going to build a house and do a development because we're developers, you know. Yeah. like those >> I'm not going to say I got I got to let you tell the story.

[00:05:42]>> Yeah. So yeah, [laughter] you know, so I'm like I'm going to be a developer cuz we'd previously done a development in Cans like July when we were living in Cans.

[00:05:50]>> So I was like a this development thing I can do it. But then when we were running the numbers we we' secured the block of land with on with a a 5% deposit. It was a $760,000 block of land. We >> But then when we started doing the numbers, it was like this ain't going to work. Yeah. Why building cost in that pre no 23 24 started to skyrocket >> just in Gindi as a whole to get a builder. I mean I go down the snow and even as you come into town on the right on the hill there in that estate that's there there's still halfbuilt houses there years later.

[00:06:20]>> Yeah that's years later getting a quality builder >> and at like a fixed building cont or at a reasonable price was yeah really hard.

[00:06:30]So then >> I was like I was actually kind of panicking because I was like how are we going to get out of this because this is going to be at least you know a $1.2 million build.

[00:06:38]>> Yeah.

[00:06:38]>> The holding cost of the land the land was 76. We're at 2 million. How much we going to sell this for?

[00:06:43]>> And you know I think I kept saying to Sarah she goes why you not sleeping all night. I'm like I'm just worried about how we're going to do this.

[00:06:49]>> Jet lag.

[00:06:50]>> Jet lag. [laughter] Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:52]>> I wish it was jet lag. The other thing was my forehead was getting big because I kept losing [laughter] hair worrying about you know I'm like mate this is crazy >> babe you're not sleeping your hair's getting th what's going on what are you worried about here >> yeah so then the funny thing was so then I'd actually sent you a message on Instagram and this is when you really answered them all and I did a brief outline of our financial position >> I'm sure I was very polite >> absolutely really it was [laughter] actually yeah >> colorful yeah very elegant colorful [laughter] >> well the response really resonated with me because you're like the unit that we had in Gindaban was an Airbnb and you said >> sell the Airbnb pay your mortgage off >> and that's what we basically >> from the number because you gave me you said we bought it it's worth X it owes white and I'm like oh okay cool >> sell that >> get rid of the block of land cuz why the [ __ ] would you want a block of land in Ginderbind because of all of these reasons >> and go and buy two or three investment properties.

[00:07:45]>> Yeah.

[00:07:46]>> So pretty much >> I shouldn't have told you all that for free. What?

[00:07:49]>> You basically said don't do anything until >> Yeah. This is what I do, but don't do it yet. [laughter] >> Well, the caveat was on the top of it.

[00:07:56]We'd already signed up for master class.

[00:07:58]So, so we signed up for May masterass >> and then you're like, but don't do anything until >> after master class. So, that's when we we basically I wrote to the developer and said, "All right, >> let's pull out pull use the sunset clause pull out."

[00:08:13]>> Yeah.

[00:08:14]>> And then we went to masterclass.

[00:08:16]>> Okay. And then so 750 something you said on the home.

[00:08:21]>> 750 on the home loan.

[00:08:23]>> Um then the >> paid it down a bit.

[00:08:24]>> We paid it down a bit. We got it down a fair bit like so when we bought it we we paid 851 for it.

[00:08:30]>> We got it down to about uh just over 300. But then we did a reno on it in 2020 because it's a small was a small terrace. Yep. Two-bedroom terrace, one bathroom. And at the start of co we signed up to get it renovated. So then we went back up to 751.

[00:08:47]>> Okay.

[00:08:47]>> And then we had the the um property in Ginderbine which basically was around 800 at the time.

[00:08:53]>> If we had sold it when you first told us to sell it, we probably would have got more.

[00:08:57]>> Yeah.

[00:08:58]>> But we got a bit of that >> [ __ ] happens.

[00:09:00]>> Yeah. Well, you know what? We listened to the barbecue mafia being being your family.

[00:09:04]>> Send him an invoice. [laughter] >> Yeah. That Yeah. I never thought of that.

[00:09:08]>> Sent him a bill. Oh, you owe me a hund.

[00:09:10][laughter] >> Yeah. Cuz when I when we first sat down with Brentton, Brenton goes, "We'll sell that." And I was like, "Yeah, okay.

[00:09:16]We're going to sell it." And then I was like, "Oh, no." Got emotional, you know, that's I bought that when I first >> had my first flying job. That was back in the day and I worked for Anset. And I was like, you know, I bought that. My dad said, "Buy this." And I was a bit emotional, you know, >> and then he said, he just said straight off, if you don't want to sell it, don't sell it. Yeah.

[00:09:33]>> We can still work with you, but don't sell it. But down in the like in the journey >> um I think then so that was we signed up with masterclass and started working with you and then about early 24 >> 24 so we signed up I think masterass got put off until May there was a few things >> that we we'd signed up that we got a thing saying oh we're not doing master class this month it's been put off it's been postponed so then we went to May and then I want >> a blink and you were >> well it was a blink and I don't want to dive Do we in? [laughter] >> [ __ ] >> Oh, [ __ ] Please do him in while we're live. Please tell me. Did you come to REM too early?

[00:10:14]>> Ah, yeah. Like in two weeks.

[00:10:17]>> [ __ ] got him.

[00:10:18]>> We were in two weeks. We were at >> Holy [ __ ] >> Yeah. Like in two weeks.

[00:10:22]>> So lucky you I I >> You know what's funny? So last um last REM only one 850 people in the room and one family were there like less than 90 days as a client cuz I've been pumping him on it and he's like don't don't say I'm like Rachel was asking he's like don't say anything don't say and there was one person like one couple >> we talked about this hanging him out to dry like do we hang out >> hanging him out we all love Louis he's good egg >> so like we started getting the invites >> but you said you that was roster wise as well right you guys it might have 6 months before you could come.

[00:10:55]>> Yeah. Sean got to go to the beautiful Levitan Hills REM.

[00:10:59]>> Oh, the Melbourne.

[00:11:01]That was my first.

[00:11:02]>> Oh, you don't want to come to Melbourne REM anyway? It's cold. It rained.

[00:11:06]>> It's like a wedding.

[00:11:07]>> It looked like it was pretty cool.

[00:11:08]>> I was pretty cool. It was like I was sending her photos and she's like, "Are you serious?

[00:11:12]>> You seriously not like in the cellar?"

[00:11:14]>> I had to ask him to like pull it back a bit cuz I'm like, "Guys, this is too fancy. This is not like like I'm like like from the hood. like this is like this is too much for me and they're like no no no I'm like no it's too full on like it was like a wedding >> it was like a wedding >> that barrel room thing was like beautiful >> if I was Adam's you know Adam I would have asked there >> yeah [laughter] >> I would have got down the knee >> oh yeah actually that was coming in Kaden [laughter] right now he did well at NECA to be honest and then I'm like >> okay well he's proposed like I know a guy like would your family be upset that if I got Sir Richard to marry you and Chen started freaking out.

[00:11:55]I'm like, "Look, not really married.

[00:11:57]Like, you know, like he is a celebrant, but like he's a" And it was like a freak out. And then it was like, "Oh, no. It'd be kind of cool, right? It's not actual wedding." Yeah. Do it. Had rings made out of bloody palm leaves and was the best.

[00:12:08]>> Awesome.

[00:12:10]>> That's okay. So, that was the first one.

[00:12:12]>> That was the first one.

[00:12:13]>> Yeah.

[00:12:14]>> Yeah. So, then um our first ram or my first ram, I was there by myself. Walked into that um ballroom going, "Oh, well, what have I done?" Cuz I was running late. We got there and then I went and saw MJ straight up.

[00:12:27]>> Yeah.

[00:12:28]>> And then walked in there going, "Oh, wow. Wish I had Sarah with me. I need, you know, >> Yeah. [laughter] I'm all on my lones."

[00:12:34]>> Yeah. Yeah. All my lonesome. And you were up on stage just, you know, talking and then >> spraying everyone.

[00:12:39]>> Yeah. [laughter] And I was like, "Well, that's Yeah, that's real. How good's that?" And then I sat down and the testimonials come up nearly straight away. So, >> yeah, >> that So, I was like, "Listen to the testimonials." And the next day I said, "You know what? If I'm going to make the best of this, I'm going to go and speak to every testimonial."

[00:12:53]>> Yeah. right >> throughout the day. So the first that day >> smart move >> that first I just went and saw I think that um one of the guys is really funny J >> is it Jay or Jai? He's a free Gian >> Jan Rashmiss. Yeah. Yeah. He loves a beer. I give him a beer on stage. That's what you said all the time.

[00:13:10]>> I've had him on online before. We're doing the master class and then he he starts going like this >> cuz it's like 4:00 and the foot is on or something and that's when he's allowed to drink. Res me lets him drink or something and he's like I said, >> you all right, Jo? He goes, "Yeah, come on. Ask me. [laughter] You want a beer?"

[00:13:26]He goes, "Yeah, he loves a beer. Good on you."

[00:13:29]>> That was the first person I spoke to.

[00:13:30]>> He's a lovely guy.

[00:13:31]>> As we were walking into the building and um he said, "You know what, Sean? If there's one thing I can tell you, if they say you can have two properties, ask can you have three [laughter] >> because they would have worked it out.

[00:13:44]>> We do.

[00:13:45]>> They worked it out what you can put in."

[00:13:46]And he goes, "Do not be shy in what you what you're doing. try and get as many as you can because this is was been successful for us. He goes, we were probably a little bit timid at first and and withdrew a little bit and now you know. So he goes that was so that was one piece of advice I met from him. Then up on the roof I went and spoke to Adam and Chennai and >> I was just listening to that story just going wow like how can you have just changed that life? But I made sure that not like that whole thing I went and spoke to everyone.

[00:14:13]>> The only people I didn't speak to which I was intimidated by >> um was Steve and so >> Oh really? Yeah, cuz like when they were like, "Oh, we've got 16 properties." I was like, "Oh my god." Like, "How do you do that?"

[00:14:25]>> Well, funny story, he works here now.

[00:14:28]>> We got a surprise.

[00:14:30]>> We just ran.

[00:14:30]>> Is he downstairs?

[00:14:31]>> Yeah.

[00:14:32]>> Well, from that they've since become friends.

[00:14:34]>> Yeah.

[00:14:35]>> So, I was on I got called out for a duty to go to LA, not in my usual position, right?

[00:14:40]>> And I was boarding the aircraft on the upper deck >> and they came on coming back from um with you America.

[00:14:47]>> In America. Yeah. And um so then she was like like looked at me. We saw them at the and we we I touched base at the next room that we went to [laughter] was intimidated that he stalked him.

[00:15:00]>> Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much.

[00:15:01]>> Yeah. Pretty much. [laughter] Sarah's like, "You're such a groupy."

[00:15:04]>> Gosh, where's my husband?

[00:15:07]>> He'd always be talking to someone.

[00:15:09]>> Yeah. Um then so and he was like, you know, next time just come up and talk.

[00:15:13]And then so I'd met them and then on the they were walking up the air bridge and I was standing at a door that I wasn't meant to be standing at >> and they looked at me and I they were like Sean and I was like Steve so how you going and giving them a big hug and all these other customers are like looking going [laughter] >> it's an infinity thing you would know.

[00:15:31]>> Yeah. Yeah. And hence then we've had them over for dinner. Lovely people.

[00:15:35]>> Oh the best.

[00:15:36]>> The best. It's funny you know when they first become Steve was captain skeptic.

[00:15:40]You've heard the story. Okay. And then didn't have social media, didn't swear, none of the Now he's like, >> he's left medicine. He work he started working here. He swears. He's on social media. He's posting all the things. And I'm like, what have I done? What have I created? [laughter] >> He just came up and grabbed us there.

[00:15:58]And what did he say?

[00:15:59]>> Surprise, [ __ ] [laughter] >> Sorry, Eevee.

[00:16:03]>> Five bucks in the spare jar. Sorry.

[00:16:04][laughter] >> Yeah. Well, what are you doing to get my work here now?

[00:16:08]>> Yeah. We were like, "What?"

[00:16:09]>> But what a cool story, right? Cuz like we talked about it for for years and he just >> he articulates what we do so well >> and from such a skeptic from a highly intellectual person. He just he articulates it so well when he shares their journey and it's like >> he's product of the product. Like and I love that like Kim and Craig and Megan and Jeremy and Natalie like >> I don't know 20 30% of our couple hundred staff are like were clients.

[00:16:34]>> It's like you can't get any more real than that. You know what I an advocate of your business.

[00:16:38]>> Yeah. But he's just he's such they're such good human being. Everyone is, but he's just a hoot. And I remember the last um master class he's doing testimonial, but the last like six I used to say, "Oh, I just got to run and take a leak, Steve. I'll be back in a minute." And I get up and leave. But I used to just stand there and watch him run it on his own. And I [laughter] was just testing how he'd go. I'm like, I reckon by the qualifications, he's such a genuine, I reckon he can do this as a job. Anyway, when we finally spoke to him and I told him, he goes, "You [ __ ] [laughter] prick." Sorry, I [ __ ] knew. I said, "Yeah, I was just seeing how you were going. If you you got on your own, I thought like you'd be really good at this." So, and then the whole like health is wealth, but it's like for him, he's like he spent his career trying to help people with health, but he's like a lot of them can't afford the treatment they need.

[00:17:29]So, this to him is like icing on the cake.

[00:17:32]>> Yes.

[00:17:32]>> He can help people. He has the health, but he can help them get in a position to be able to cover their health.

[00:17:38]>> Yeah.

[00:17:38]>> So, yeah, it's it's it's a weird weird how things work out. It's weird >> cuz he saw us last week at the community event in Sydney at Luna Park.

[00:17:46]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:17:46]>> And he said, "I was going to tell you them, but then I thought I'd surprise you when you when when I saw you here."

[00:17:51]>> Cheeky.

[00:17:52]>> Yeah. Yeah. Like surprise. Yeah.

[00:17:53]>> I've watched the just the most quiet, >> timid, intellectual, like full doctor.

[00:17:58]You know what I mean? You're just like one of the coolest, funnest people you know now. Like >> Yeah.

[00:18:03]>> Like good person to go have dinner and a couple of wines with.

[00:18:05]>> Yeah.

[00:18:06]>> Yeah. He was [laughter] Yeah. Yeah. He bought a nice bottle of Lavitine Hill.

[00:18:11]>> Thanks.

[00:18:12]>> Made friends with Eevee. Happy Bars and Commons.

[00:18:14]>> Oh, there you go.

[00:18:15]>> Yeah.

[00:18:16]>> Small world. There you go. So, okay. So, you stal so you've you've um stalked out Suan even though you're intimidated by him and you met Joan Rashm said get too many. Who else did you just creep out and meet? Uh, we actually the at the Ram was Alex and um >> Oh, Alles and Rosa.

[00:18:34]>> Alles and Rosa.

[00:18:35]>> Or Alex and Mary.

[00:18:36]>> No, Alex. The Kings. The Kings from Melbourne.

[00:18:38]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:18:39]>> Sold his boat. Alex and Kate.

[00:18:41]>> He sold his boat.

[00:18:42]>> Alex and Kate were the They were on our table at the rim that we went to together.

[00:18:45]>> And he's in the boating industry. Sold his boat.

[00:18:48]>> So, it was amazing to speak to him about, you know, selling something that actually >> really important to was really important to to sell that.

[00:18:56]>> Yeah. Okay. So, besides all meeting all those people, then let's do a bit of a how it started, how it's going. So, obviously home loan, rena, all of that, investments, land, Airbnb, I'm assuming unit in Jindy. Where do we sit today?

[00:19:14]So, what are we on the home loan from the 751?

[00:19:16]>> Zero.

[00:19:17]>> Pardon?

[00:19:18]>> Zero.

[00:19:19]>> Zero. Like zero zero zero.

[00:19:22]>> We don't have a mortgage anymore. Big full stop on it. [laughter] >> Some big balls. Big full stop.

[00:19:30]>> So Sydney home debtree.

[00:19:32]>> Debtree.

[00:19:33]>> That must feel a bit surreal.

[00:19:35]>> Very.

[00:19:37]>> Yeah. It's It's actually pretty amazing when you see like interest rates going up and stuff like that. You just don't have to worry about it.

[00:19:43]>> Yeah.

[00:19:43]>> You just don't have to. And we do talk about a lot. It's like the pressure valve just been released.

[00:19:48]>> Yeah.

[00:19:49]>> Completely released. Does it and does it allow you to think or act a bit different knowing that that's not hanging over the head anymore >> or is just nothing's changed?

[00:20:00]>> I don't think much I don't think things have changed for us. We've definitely still got >> No, we Nothing's changed. We stick to our FF.

[00:20:08]>> We've got more choices for sure in what we can do. And >> but you're not making bad choices.

[00:20:13]You've got choices, but you're sort of staying within the the lane. Yeah, we still would stay with our in our lane.

[00:20:20]>> We still I don't know. We still stick to our FF.

[00:20:23]>> How much is the FF?

[00:20:25]>> 600.

[00:20:26]>> Okay.

[00:20:27]>> Tell the story.

[00:20:28]>> I know you tell the story. [laughter] >> Oh, this will be good.

[00:20:31]>> Oh, yeah. Well, >> I got jipped.

[00:20:33]>> Who got [laughter] jipped? You got jipped.

[00:20:36]>> So, when I was doing the master class, working out the figures that weekend, we live in Sydney and like we don't have any family around us. So Sarah was in and out, in and out, taking Eevee to sport and stuff like that, coming in >> and out and then I'd done our budget and it started at 700. I'd worked it out at about 700.

[00:20:52]>> And then our first meeting with our first RAM, >> she goes, "Oh, why don't you do 650?"

[00:20:58]And I said to Sarah, "Look, we're going to do 650."

[00:21:02]>> Yeah.

[00:21:02]>> And Sarah, >> and then it turned to 600.

[00:21:04]>> Yeah. Well, then Sarah So Sarah said to me, I said, "So our FF?" And I explained all what that was and I said, "It's 650." and she goes, "That sounds like FFS to me."

[00:21:17]>> So that's what we call our FF. We call it FFS.

[00:21:21]>> Okay.

[00:21:21]>> Yeah.

[00:21:22]>> So, but we stick to it. We, you know, and like part of our journey was talking to Eevee, our daughter, about the whole thing. So, we we say >> we very open with her about >> how's like and that involves saying no for certain things and like what level of knowledge are you sharing with her?

[00:21:39]>> Pretty much everything. everything.

[00:21:40]>> We sat her down and let her know what we >> For everyone listening at home again, just remind everyone how old she is.

[00:21:45]>> Nine.

[00:21:45]>> Nine.

[00:21:46]>> Okay.

[00:21:46]>> So, she was seven at the time.

[00:21:48]>> Yeah.

[00:21:48]>> We sat her down and said, "This is what mom and dad are going to try and achieve. It's going to some changes in our family." Y >> this is what these changes are going to mean.

[00:21:57]>> We're going to you know you you like she loves going to Yoshi. She loves going to Chai Time. And it's like you can't go there all the time.

[00:22:03]>> Yeah.

[00:22:03]>> You can go.

[00:22:04]>> So, it's a reward not a habit so to speak.

[00:22:06]>> Exactly.

[00:22:07]>> Yeah. Well, it becomes like that for for her. You can have it on a Friday. It's built into our FFF. Yeah. It's your reward for the week. Mom and dad are going to have a glass of wine. You're going to have a Yeah.

[00:22:16]>> You're going to have a a Yochi or you choose what it is, >> but it's once a week and that's it.

[00:22:22]>> And she's and and then we've told her about she was really instrumental in selling the Ginderbine property because she loved going there.

[00:22:28]>> Yeah.

[00:22:29]>> So, she loved going there. Not that we used a lot because obviously it took away from income as an Airbnb.

[00:22:35]>> So, we'd go there. There was that once a year maybe that >> like Christmas when we'd always go on Christmas time and stay there or just like off weeks of the school ski season >> and so it meant her a lot to her and I said I'm going to sell this and she was like dad I don't want you to sell it and I said look if we sell it it's going to change our life for the better >> and it was really funny I was in the bathroom I started crying and she was like are you all right and I'm like and I said yeah yeah just I was just thinking about that conversation with you and she said oh look if that's if you want to sell it, sell it. And I said, it's going to change our life. So, she's been really instrumental in that's been really important.

[00:23:12]>> Mature for seven, >> you know, like she's the only child, so you talk to them like an adult.

[00:23:16]>> Yeah.

[00:23:17]>> You know, she's always around adults.

[00:23:18]You talk to her like an adult.

[00:23:20]>> That's what happened to me. I figured it out. [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:23:25]>> Too much too early for me.

[00:23:27]>> Yeah. Too much too early. But she's been and so the whole journey she's known about the whole thing when we've bought a property when >> know you've come to us and said we can buy this.

[00:23:36]>> Well that's a good point. So so we had home Jindy and block of land contract.

[00:23:40]So we scrapped the land sold Jindy paid the home off.

[00:23:44]>> Any other investments today?

[00:23:47]>> Yeah.

[00:23:47]>> Yeah. Two on our self-managed super fund.

[00:23:50]>> Um and then >> three >> three outside of that.

[00:23:55]>> So five new properties.

[00:23:56]>> Yeah. That's better than a block of land in Gindy and a unit.

[00:24:00]>> It's [laughter] Yeah.

[00:24:01]>> And no mortgage.

[00:24:02]>> And no mortgage.

[00:24:03]>> Yeah. What a turnaround.

[00:24:05]>> Yeah. What a turnaround.

[00:24:06]>> And that >> Best Instagram message you've ever sent.

[00:24:08][laughter] >> I'm like an influencer.

[00:24:15]>> Wow. So, >> yeah. [snorts] >> And how is she processing? She understands now that there's the the um super fund for mom and dad's retirement has two properties >> and there's three in your personal names. Are you sharing that whole journey with her as well? She's understanding that now at nine.

[00:24:30]>> Everything she understand, we talk about everything. It's like um for the Christmas party this year, >> we brought her with her because like you get to celebrate this with us as well.

[00:24:41]>> So when we came up and we talked about the um came up wishing tree.

[00:24:45]>> Yeah.

[00:24:46]>> And like so that's been a big part of her learning as well is giving back. So >> she liked to choose all gifts.

[00:24:53]>> She took her shopping.

[00:24:54]>> Yeah. like you choose. She's so she chose for people her age, a boy to girl her age.

[00:24:59]>> That's cool.

[00:25:00]>> The the remarkable thing for us was when we got to the cash reg.

[00:25:06]>> No.

[00:25:06]>> Yeah. So, we were just like, "Really?"

[00:25:09]She goes, "Yeah, I I'll pay for this."

[00:25:12]>> Wow. Did you reimburse her?

[00:25:13]>> Yeah. [laughter] >> No. No.

[00:25:16]>> I started going, "I'm going to reimburse her."

[00:25:19]>> Yeah. [laughter] But for her in her like her head to think I'm going to do that.

[00:25:23]>> Yeah. It was like, "Wow, this is >> we're back."

[00:25:26]>> Pretty special.

[00:25:27]>> Cheers.

[00:25:28]>> So, it's been a big family journey.

[00:25:30]>> Huge.

[00:25:31]>> Huge.

[00:25:32]>> Were you guys actively this open dialogue around I mean, like you say, yeah, she's an only child, so you speak a lot more, but were you this open around finance and wealth and char giving back or was it a bit What was the household dynamic pre infinity?

[00:25:46]>> Infinity. Probably not.

[00:25:48]>> Not Not as open.

[00:25:49]>> Yeah.

[00:25:49]>> I've really messed [ __ ] up for you guys.

[00:25:51]>> I mean, I don't think so. I think you've actually opened it up for us.

[00:25:56]>> Okay.

[00:25:57]>> We never thought about money cuz we were doing all right.

[00:26:00]>> We were doing all right, >> but we didn't know how to get to the next level.

[00:26:04]>> Right.

[00:26:05]>> So, we were never but we're always cautious of money saying we couldn't afford that or couldn't afford that. But now we don't have to say we couldn't afford we can't afford stuff as well.

[00:26:14]>> So, you can really actually afford whatever you want now, but you choose not to >> or choose to.

[00:26:20]>> Yeah.

[00:26:21]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:26:23]>> Or if there's something even >> Does it feel real?

[00:26:26]>> No. [laughter] No.

[00:26:28]>> No. Mentally, I I think we probably feel like we're still paying our mortgage off.

[00:26:35]>> It's really weird, but >> we're money comes in and money comes out. It's true.

[00:26:40]>> As long as you stick to your FF mom and dad get a wine, the yochi's all [laughter] >> good. On a Sunday night, on a Sunday night, we sit down. We generally have a roast dinner on a Sunday night. Yeah.

[00:26:52]>> And we sit down and we go, >> "What do we got left in the FF?" I got $3.

[00:26:57]>> Boom.

[00:26:58]>> We've got $6 left.

[00:27:00]>> So, sometimes there's a roast dinner with gravy and a bottle of red.

[00:27:02]Sometimes there's no gravy and red.

[00:27:04]>> Well, sometimes we've got a neighbor behind us, an older lady behind us.

[00:27:08]>> We always >> um So, when we do a roast, we always take a plate over to her.

[00:27:12]>> So, >> she generally >> So, some weeks she might get a roast because we don't have a roast, [laughter] >> but she's gotten to the point now where she actually contributes. She's like, "I'll get the roast this week." I'll get the roast and there's a bottle of wine.

[00:27:24]>> Yeah, that's nice.

[00:27:25]>> We're very lucky.

[00:27:26]>> So, we Yeah, we're lucky in that route, but the week that we >> don't do a race, we've probably gone too hard on the [laughter] >> on the FFS.

[00:27:35]>> Yeah. Exactly. Exactly.

[00:27:37]>> Yeah.

[00:27:38]>> So, what what where to from here then?

[00:27:40]Like like five properties, home loan paid off, obviously a really strong like dynamic in the household, like really open dialogue. Where to from here?

[00:27:53]>> I think I don't know. We'd like to continue because, you know, I think we we've talked about this and we talk about like um infinity. It's actually there's not many organizations or people in your life that actually make you strive to to be better.

[00:28:08]>> We try. Not everyone buys into it. We try.

[00:28:10]>> Yeah. Well, not everyone buys into it, but if you buy into it and like you continually listen to podcasts, you see everyone's journey. So, and it's not a thing to get better and have more than someone else.

[00:28:21]>> So, I think for us >> now it's about being like becoming really more knowledgeable.

[00:28:27]>> Yeah.

[00:28:27]>> But becoming really sophisticated investors and understanding what that looks like, you know?

[00:28:32]>> Yeah.

[00:28:34]>> And is there is there a a number goal, a dollar value goal, any sort of big picture goal on the whiteboard at home or >> it always changes, don't they? The goal post. Yeah, they always I look I'd like to give the double figures.

[00:28:49]>> Yeah, if you ask she'd like a pool.

[00:28:51]>> Okay, at home.

[00:28:52]>> Yeah, just like on our next level.

[00:28:56]>> Just to go up >> live in a small terrace. [laughter] >> She goes, "Can I have a dad? Can I have a pool?" And like, >> she's got a pool.

[00:29:03]>> Clark rubber blow up special. [laughter] >> I'll get you one camera.

[00:29:09]>> Yeah. Um, no. Like, we don't really talk about that. We just want to keep achieving more properties and being pushed more >> financially like going right you can achieve this what do you what do you think about that >> and just you know then because I think like you've always talked about that gives you choice being able to have choice is like >> so important >> so important >> so important >> what's been the hardest thing along the journey in the last couple of years besides getting jipped on your budget [laughter] I mean that's a bit savage but you Yeah, I'd always Sean would always say to me that doesn't fit into the FF and my response would be oh FFS [laughter] nothing cuz we just followed the process. Yeah, >> we just if anything I'd say the paperwork.

[00:30:00]>> Yeah, >> keep it the paperwork trail.

[00:30:02]>> Okay.

[00:30:03]>> You know, like like the superanuation paper trail that just coming in and then >> that's a journey in itself, right?

[00:30:09]Financial planning and auditing your super and that's a whole [ __ ] external >> cluster [ __ ] of compliance and rigmal takes ages.

[00:30:18]>> And then when Mark goes, can I have this document for that? And you're just like, mate, where is that?

[00:30:22]>> Just send him a kebab. He'll be fine.

[00:30:24][laughter] We had um this is about 900 on the master class on the weekend and Gio's made up that comedy, you know, that meme of him with the tablecloth on.

[00:30:36]>> Everyone used it as a screen saver.

[00:30:39]>> Everyone People had buckets of chicken from KFC on their heads. They Uber Eats kebabs. I'll show you some pictures.

[00:30:45]It's the wildest thing you've ever seen.

[00:30:48]People dressed up as him.

[00:30:49]>> That is >> hilarious. I have to show you. It's got >> following. He's a funny dude. Yeah.

[00:30:54]>> Dry as toast. Like dry as toast. But funny dude.

[00:30:58]>> When are you getting him on the phone?

[00:30:59]You can't get off. [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:31:02]>> Yeah. He's out there probably with the air but working under the car.

[00:31:05]>> Yeah.

[00:31:06]>> Okay. So, paperwork the hardest.

[00:31:08]>> What's um what's been the most rewarding besid I mean obviously you pay at home off. It's like wow. Okay. Like is there anything that's been really rewarding? I mean, from the outside looking in, I think watching some of the like the journey with your daughter, I think that for me on the outside when I see that with like an Oscar, right? But any to me that's super rewarding cuz for me it's like I got so much [ __ ] in here.

[00:31:32]>> If I can give you some of that and you can pass that down, that's super fulfilling for me. But for you guys, what's what's been really rewarding? The Kmart thing sounds like it was like >> Yeah.

[00:31:43]>> Like that would have been like [laughter] >> It was tissues.

[00:31:46]>> Yeah. Yeah, we both looked at each other going, "Wow, that is >> cuz that's something that I think every parent would aspire for or dream for in their children that's very hard to embed >> or teach, >> but that sounds like it's just organically occurred for her."

[00:32:02]>> Yeah. I think also like when we walk to school, we walk past a cafe like and she'll see some families in there that are in there like all the time and she'll go, "They're just wasting money.

[00:32:15][laughter] and you're like, well, maybe they are, maybe they're not. Maybe that's important to them. But she's starting to put the cogs in place that you don't need to go there for that. So, >> I think they're the most rewarding things.

[00:32:30]>> And for us, I don't like we never fought about money anyway, but >> yeah, >> we we just don't have to worry about it >> now. We Yeah.

[00:32:40]So what would you tell someone else that's sitting because I mean one we want to celebrate your success today but if we hope that there's another family out there they go oh we're just like those guys we're in Sydney and we just renovated and we this and we're that what is what are two or three practical things you could share with them that they need to have a crack at >> listen to the free webinar would be >> well that's number one [laughter] being very selfish is number one but being like I mean obviously it is free right like you can go and do it you can the podcasts I think are great too. Like the Bows boys and we've just done a whole another four. I don't know if you've hit those yet.

[00:33:14]>> Yeah, I'm always >> got a lot of downtime when I'm away.

[00:33:19]Yeah. Yeah. So like there's I think there's there's maybe eight or nine now, but the first four were like it's the first time I've gone I'll do something external with like non and go this is how we do everything in our world and it just went crazy right like millions of hits on some of just the reals and that >> but what could you so webinar obviously help I think podcast as well but anything that you've like from what you were doing to what you are doing is there any guidance you could give someone for free that's tuning in >> you've got to have a budget >> budget Yeah, definitely.

[00:33:50]>> You've got to have a budget. You got to be on the same page as a family.

[00:33:55]>> I think that's really important. And you got to be not afraid to talk about it as a family and go, you know, this is what we're going to achieve. But everyone has to buy into it.

[00:34:03]>> Yeah.

[00:34:04]>> It's it's like I don't know, a family's kind of like a sporting team. I think everyone's got to buy into the process.

[00:34:09]Otherwise, >> if you're not, you're not going to you're not going to be successful.

[00:34:13]>> Yeah. We're going to pass the ball 20 times to get to the other end. If one guy hogs it and gets tackled, game over.

[00:34:18]Yeah.

[00:34:18]>> So, I would say to most people like one have that, you know, you got to have a budget, but it's not just the ability to have a budget. You got to turn up with intent.

[00:34:29]>> Everyone's got to have the same intent.

[00:34:31]>> Yeah.

[00:34:31]>> Everyone's got to put the same amount of effort in to to making it work. And then >> you've got to have a change in mindset a little bit. And it's not, you don't need it now. You don't need instant gratification now. You can actually go, "All right, we can have that, but not just yet. let's work towards whatever that's going to be and then or sit on your hands for 24 hours and you don't need it. But I think that's like really important one because you need that you need a budget to give you you know the destination otherwise you're just wandering around aimlessly but you've got to turn up with intent effort and and a positive mindset to actually go the information is readily available.

[00:35:08]I'm actually going to change where or we are going to change how we do things.

[00:35:13]That's we is the important one. We otherwise it's like we're doing this and this is this. You're like >> like it's really important we like as a unit family unit.

[00:35:23]>> Yes. And that that that's probably been the really learning for us to >> just stop and go all right how are we going to do this and talk about it as a family.

[00:35:32]>> Yeah. I'm getting a buzz for you guys.

[00:35:35]I'm very excited. We're going to have to get you to a couple of rims, crap, work permitting, have to steer you and get you for a couple of rams to come and share.

[00:35:43]>> I think it' be really um really inspirational.

[00:35:47]>> I think for us the Rams and talking to um you know, the testimonial has been that has one thing that's really been really positive for us is is listening to people's story. And >> you know, Sarah will drive to work and I'll say, "You got to listen to this podcast. This these [laughter] guys are really good." She's like, "Oh, shut up.

[00:36:05]I find them really enjoyable. Oh, good.

[00:36:07]Good.

[00:36:07]>> Yeah, I do.

[00:36:08]>> Um, it's always lovely to listen to someone else's journey for sure.

[00:36:12]>> So, you all have completely invested.

[00:36:14]>> Yeah.

[00:36:14]>> Yeah. Even though you dipped your budget.

[00:36:16]>> Well, yeah, Evie, because Sean listens to your podcast and both sides and lots of, you know, the podcasts. um she listens to a bedtime story at nighttime and maybe this is also why she's on the page but [laughter] uh it will flip once her meditation kids meditation podcast go to the next thing on and the next thing that's lined up is the money mentor and I'm so surprised that she does not wake up to my G my G [laughter] >> she loves play it's like a hype song for before school >> okay >> um yeah it's it's quite remarkable that she doesn't wake up in >> I often get in trouble going in you've got another financial. She's got more money mentor going on. Just go straight into >> You'll just hear it.

[00:36:58]>> Just hear it kick and be like, >> "She's going to wake up. [laughter] You're putting it down."

[00:37:03]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:37:04]>> Yeah.

[00:37:05]>> I like it. That's really cool. We'll have to um Yeah. We'll have to get get you uh get you up to share the story. We might even have to It sounds like she's wise beyond her years like Oscar. We might even have to get her to share with mom and dad one time. That might be really cool for a family.

[00:37:20]>> Yeah. watching Oscar's journey's just been absent, >> man. Yeah, we got to really like everyone's screaming out for like family sort of aspects as well.

[00:37:29]>> Um, but it's I try not to expose kids to it too much cuz I don't really want to be like, "Hey, we're kind of marketing off kid." You know what I mean? I don't want to go down. But in the same token, I know how powerful is when people listen this and go, >> "Right, their daughter's on board from like at 7 8 n. That's so powerful.

[00:37:46]>> What family wouldn't want that?" Do you know what I mean? So there there's something in that we have to explore.

[00:37:50]>> Well, we just we didn't want to actually hide from her what we were doing, you know, like she's going to hear conversations in the household about money, property, and stuff like that.

[00:37:59]So, we >> want her to be a part of it cuz at the end of the day, we're trying to build generational wealth for her.

[00:38:05]>> So, she if she knows about it early Yeah.

[00:38:08]>> then she she goes on, >> she builds on it as she gets older.

[00:38:11]>> Yeah. And she won't waste it. She won't waste that opportunity that's been >> Yeah. I love it. Well done. She'll be really proud. Hey, what do you guys want to ask me today?

[00:38:21]>> Oh, Sean, I'm sure you've got a thousand questions. [laughter] >> You know, like look, on the plane, I've I've met loads of people like, but I one thing I always find really funny was like for you and Beck, >> when was that aha moment? When did you go, look at this. This is just stupid.

[00:38:40]>> 2012. So, it's late 2012. We locked ourselves away for a couple of months.

[00:38:46]Uh we were going to and from Port McCory a lot for family stuff. One of her pop was a bit crooked at the time. We're a bit worried. So up and down, up and down. He's fine now. Um and I come out of messy divorce. So I was loaded with debt. Absolute mess. [ __ ] you wouldn't have gone near me. Like worst of the worst. And she seen something in me and I was 138 kilos and she got me to 88. And it's like at that point I think I'm going to be a personal trainer. Like I was fit then, right? I was like she's like what's wrong with you? But it was it was then. And so we took what she knew from personal training and how she applied that to what are you eating today? The coaching aspect that's what we wa right and then as we started to test it through late 12 early 13 we knew we're on to something because it's hard to be accountable to each other sometimes you just agree to do it and you know you almost enable each other.

[00:39:36]That was a true no credit card debit card only only give people access to this. they can't fail unless you deliberately agree and make a decision to fail.

[00:39:46]>> So, it was like so many little psychological technical product like tweaks to go this is if not one of the most clinical ways for them to either never fail or deliberately fail. And if you deliberately fail, you just >> it's on you.

[00:40:04]>> It's on you. You know, I mean, you're an idiot, right? So, we're like, [ __ ] we're on to something here. And we tested it and tested it and it just worked like Doug and Leticia clients from 2012 and Karines and like so many people Carlos and Lenel and each person we it just was going crazy. It was just working and working and it just it just got so much momentum. So that was like the moment. Um and then more recently probably about 3 years ago the staffing the team it was far from perfect. about two years ago like right we don't hire people with amazing resumes and industry experience anymore we get the right human like a Steve or Megan and Jeremy and like now and I interact with people like cool want a job and they're like what a job because I can teach the skill but I can't teach the human bit like try hire the will not the skill anymore and the skill is not that hard to teach so the last sort of two years like I'd say 99% of my business are [ __ ] amazing human beings and would run through a wall for us and I would take a bullet and run through a wall for them and they know that like I'll get in the trenches with anything. So the last two years was like another little like cuz it went up a notch and we don't have staff and clients. It's it's this wild crazy community and everyone it just it just goes so well. So the first bit was like, "Ah, we got this. Test it, break it, measure it, fix it." And it was like a journey. And then now it's just [ __ ] it's it's taken off. Like I think last month we had about 1,250 on the last master class for um January 31st, [clears throat] Feb 1st, and we had like a,000 people sign up and we had to say no to 350.

[00:41:51]>> Wow.

[00:41:52]>> Cuz like I can serve about 650 700 really well this month. So we said no to 300 and gave them their money back.

[00:41:58]>> That's millions of dollars. Be like, "No, here you go. Do this and come talk to us later."

[00:42:03]>> Wow.

[00:42:04]>> So to be in a position to do that as a business, it it'll be like having 10 planes on the ground. No, I just want to fly three.

[00:42:11]>> I don't need to fly the other seven.

[00:42:13]They're good. You know what I mean? Like so it's that's a cool position to be in.

[00:42:17]And >> you see it rem like we're just having fun now. like the power of the community and what would it's fun >> like everyone gets paid everyone wins you guys make like but it's fun >> so it's I don't know it's really we're very very fortunate to be where we are as a community as a business so yeah >> nice >> there you go >> for anyone else in your community that's an entrepreneur >> like how do that like I'm not an entrepreneur but like anyone because I always wonder about this about like successful people how do they jump to the next stage what was that thing that motivated you to go I know you like the divorce and stuff like that.

[00:42:52]>> Yeah, that that pains kicked it off. But >> from there and then on the journey, I mean, you've got to be [ __ ] batshit crazy like me and have more issues than Vogue to [clears throat] want to be in business and be an entrepreneur. It's it's [ __ ] >> Um, but and and it's more [ __ ] than it is good. But my answer is do one thing and only do one thing forever until you're the best at it.

[00:43:15]>> And this is the problem that everyone does five or 10 things. I've done one thing till I was the best at it and real awarded that and during that time added a second thing and we do two things really really well which is loans mortgages and real estate. I don't do what MJ does. I don't do what lawyers and accountants fin I do two things really really really bloody well.

[00:43:40]Be the best at it and don't do anything.

[00:43:42]Don't pretend you can do anything else.

[00:43:45]>> Perfect.

[00:43:45]>> Entrepreneurs give up way too early.

[00:43:48]>> No. Sometimes you'll eat a [ __ ] sandwich for 10 years. So that would be my advice.

[00:43:55]>> Perfect.

[00:43:56]>> Well, I'm really excited for you cuz I'm more like I'm actually a bit fulfilled and proud cuz it's a family thing and generation. I can feel it and see it already. So, we're going to have to do a part two of this and we're going to have to get you guys to REM. But, I just want to say big thank you for sharing the story, sharing the journey, being such good human beings and uh we'll get you back in for part two.

[00:44:15]>> No, thank you. Thanks for having us.

[00:44:17]>> Thanks, guys. Thanks for showing us the way.

[00:44:19]>> Well done.

[00:44:19]>> Yes.

[00:44:20]>> You're [ __ ] gone. See you.