360 Money Matters

Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou tackle one of the most common questions they hear from people just starting out with financial advice: I've got some savings sitting there, now what do I do with it?

Using $50,000 as an example figure, Billy and Andrew walk through the decision making process they actually use with clients before any investment is ever chosen. They start with the basics, checking whether that amount sits on top of a proper emergency fund, and whether any high interest consumer debt should be cleared first. From there, they explain why job security, ongoing cash flow, and your time horizon all shape the right approach long before the conversation turns to where the money should actually go.

The episode also breaks down the three broad options most people are weighing up, paying down a mortgage, contributing to superannuation, or investing outside of those structures, and why the right answer is often a blend of all three depending on personal circumstances. Billy and Andrew share a real example of how someone in their forties with a mortgage and kids might split their money across an offset account, a growth investment, and other structures at the same time.

They also tackle one of the biggest mistakes they see, analysis paralysis, and share some practical thoughts on when it makes sense to do your own research versus when to get professional advice.

This episode is for anyone sitting on a decent amount of savings and wondering where to start, whether that's $10,000 or $100,000. It's a genuinely practical framework for thinking it through properly, rather than jumping straight to the question of what to invest in.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why checking your emergency fund should always come before deciding what to do with extra savings.

• Why paying off high interest consumer debt almost always makes more sense than investing it.

• How job security and cash flow shape both your emergency fund and your investment options.

• Why understanding your time horizon is essential to setting the right risk profile for your money.

• The three broad options most people weigh up: paying down a mortgage, superannuation, or investing outside those structures.

• A real example of how someone in their forties might split savings across an offset account, an investment bond, and personal name investments.

• Why the underlying investment choice should come last, not first, in the decision making process.

• Why doing nothing with your savings is still a decision, and often the costliest one.

• How to know when it's worth getting professional advice versus researching your options on your own.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew take a closer look at an important part of financial planning that many people hope they never have to deal with: making an insurance claim. The focus is on permanent disability (TPD) and income protection insurance, including what happens when something goes wrong, how a claim begins and some of the key factors that can influence the process.

For many Australians, insurance may be held through superannuation or as a retail insurance policy. But understanding that you have cover is only one part of the equation. The type of policy you have, whether it has gone through underwriting, what you disclosed when the cover was established and the definitions contained within the policy can all become important if you eventually need to make a claim.

Billy and Andrew explain why the claims process generally begins with notifying the insurer and completing the required documentation, as well as why medical records and other evidence are used to assess whether a claim meets the relevant policy definition. They also discuss the importance of being transparent when taking out insurance, particularly where a pre-existing medical condition may later be relevant to a claim.

The episode also explores some of the practical differences between income protection and TPD claims. For income protection, the amount ultimately paid can depend on the income being earned around the time of the claim, while TPD policies can have significantly different definitions, including own occupation and any occupation.

The discussion is particularly relevant for anyone who has personal insurance, insurance through superannuation, or is reviewing their broader financial planning and risk management strategy. It also highlights the potential value of having professional support during a claim, when dealing with insurers and managing the administrative requirements may be difficult while someone is focused on their health and recovery.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why full underwriting can matter: Understand how insurance that has been assessed upfront can differ from automatically accepted or default cover when it comes to the claims process.

• How an insurance claim begins: Learn why notifying the insurer and starting the required documentation are important early steps after an insured event.

• Why accurate disclosure matters: Understand how insurers can compare medical information and records with what was disclosed when the policy was established.

• How income affects income protection: Discover why the benefit amount shown on an income protection policy does not necessarily mean that amount will automatically be paid at claim time.

• The importance of TPD definitions: Understand the distinction between own occupation and any occupation definitions and why they can produce different outcomes.

• Why your work history can matter: See how previous training, education and occupational experience can affect how an any occupation TPD definition applies.

• The role of an adviser during a claim: Learn how professional support can help with paperwork, insurer communication and interpreting medical or policy-related information.

• Why claims timing matters: Understand why the length of time required to approve a claim can have significant financial and emotional consequences.

• Consider the tax outcome: Learn why tax treatment can affect the amount ultimately available from a TPD or income protection claim.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou take on a topic they're seeing more and more of in their work with clients: grey divorce, or separations happening later in life, typically after the age of 60.

Billy and Andrew explain why divorce rates for people over 60 have been climbing even as overall divorce rates fall, and why this stage of life brings a unique set of financial challenges. Unlike a younger couple with decades ahead of them to rebuild and let compounding work in their favour, an older couple separating has far less time and far fewer options to recover financially.

The conversation covers how superannuation and the family home are usually the two biggest assets in play, the different ways superannuation can be split, and why focusing purely on the percentage split can lead to a worse outcome than focusing on the actual income and lifestyle result at the end of it. Billy and Andrew share a real client example of how prioritising the family home during a separation led to a costly downsizing decision years later.

They also discuss the emotional side of separating later in life, why rushing into big financial decisions during an emotionally charged period can backfire, and why collaborative law can be a more cost effective and less adversarial alternative to a traditional legal battle. The episode closes with practical tips for anyone going through a separation, from record keeping and asset valuations to setting clear interim arrangements.

This episode is for anyone going through, or supporting someone going through, a separation later in life, as well as anyone wanting to understand how these decisions can affect long term financial security. It's a candid, practical look at a topic that doesn't get talked about often enough.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why divorce rates for people over 60 are rising even as overall divorce rates fall.

• Why older couples have far less time and fewer options to financially recover from a separation than younger couples.

• How superannuation and the family home are typically the two main assets divided in a separation.

• The difference between a payment split and a flagging order when dividing superannuation.

• Why focusing on the percentage split rather than the actual income outcome can leave someone financially worse off.

• A real example of how prioritising the family home during a separation led to a costly downsizing decision years later.

• Why rushing into big financial decisions during an emotionally charged separation can backfire.

• How collaborative law can reduce legal costs and lead to a fairer outcome than an adversarial legal process.

• Practical steps to take during a separation, including record keeping, asset valuations, and setting clear interim arrangements.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou dig into what's often called the sandwich generation, those who find themselves financially supporting both their children and their ageing parents at the same time.

Billy and Andrew explain why this stage of life can be particularly difficult to navigate financially, often landing right in the middle of peak career years, rising school costs, sizeable mortgages, and the added pressure of helping to fund aged care or other support for parents. They introduce the oxygen mask analogy, the idea that you need to secure your own financial position before you're able to genuinely help anyone else, and unpack how Australia's means tested aged care system actually works.

This episode is for anyone currently supporting both children and ageing parents, or anyone who can see this stage of life on the horizon and wants to plan for it properly. It's a candid, practical look at how to protect your own financial position while still being there for the people who rely on you.

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of why the sandwich generation faces such acute financial pressure, and practical strategies for managing it without sacrificing their own financial security. The episode explains how the means tested aged care system works in Australia, why setting boundaries around financial support matters, and how getting family members into the same conversation early can prevent resentment down the track. It also covers alternative ways to support both children and parents, such as offering an income stream instead of a lump sum, and why understanding your own financial trajectory should come before committing to help anyone else. It's a grounded, practical listen for anyone trying to balance competing financial responsibilities across generations.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• What the sandwich generation is and why this stage of life often coincides with peak financial pressure.

• Why the oxygen mask analogy applies to family finances: secure your own position before you can help anyone else.

• How Australia's means tested aged care system works and why it's based on the parent's assets, not the children's.

• A real example of how funding aged care to preserve a family home created unexpected tension in a marriage.

• Why setting clear boundaries around one-off versus ongoing financial support matters from the outset.

• How supporting one side of the family can create unintended pressure on a spouse and shared household resources.

• Why getting all family decision makers in the same room early can prevent resentment between siblings.

• Why understanding your own financial trajectory should come before committing to support children or parents.

• Why offering an income stream can sometimes be a more sustainable form of support than a lump sum.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! To mark a genuine milestone, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou are celebrating five years and 250 episodes of the podcast by distilling everything they've learned into one rapid fire episode: their 25 biggest money lessons.

Rather than a deep dive into a single topic, this episode moves quickly through some of the most important ideas Billy and Andrew have shared with clients and listeners over the years. They cover the psychology behind bad financial decisions, why being comfortable with your finances isn't the same as being financially secure, and why there's even such a thing as being too good with money if discipline has no clear purpose behind it.

This episode is for long time listeners who want a refresher on the podcast's biggest ideas, as well as new listeners looking for a fast, practical introduction to the topics Billy and Andrew cover most often. It's a genuine highlight reel of five years of financial planning conversations, packed into a single episode.

Listeners will come away with a broad, practical snapshot of the financial lessons that matter most, from psychology and behaviour through to debt, property, tax structure, superannuation, insurance and estate planning. Rather than covering one topic in depth, this episode works as a quick reference point for revisiting key ideas or discovering new ones, with real examples drawn from Billy and Andrew's years of experience advising clients. It's a useful listen for anyone wanting a refresher on the fundamentals of building and protecting wealth, or for identifying which areas of their own financial position might be worth a closer look.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why most bad money decisions come down to psychology rather than the numbers.

• Why being financially comfortable is not the same as being financially secure.

• Why property versus shares is the wrong debate, and why leverage can be both a powerful tool and a major risk.

• Why the purchase price of a property is often the smallest number in the true cost of ownership.

• Why getting your ownership and tax structure right from the outset can be one of the biggest wealth decisions you make.

• Why superannuation remains one of the most underused tools for building long-term wealth.

• Why insurance is less about protecting yourself and more about protecting the people who rely on you.

• Why your reaction to market volatility matters more for your returns than the investment itself.

• Why your 40s can be the most important decade for wealth creation, and why retirement isn't the finish line for your portfolio.

• Why planning your estate and talking to your children about money early can prevent conflict and shape their financial habits.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou unpack a topic that comes up regularly in their estate planning conversations with clients: testamentary trusts.

They start with the basics: what a testamentary trust actually is, how it differs from other trust structures, and why it only comes into existence after someone passes away. From there, Billy and Andrew work through some of the main reasons families choose to set one up, including significant tax advantages when assets are left to children or minors, and the ability to stagger when a beneficiary gains access to their inheritance rather than handing over a lump sum at 18.

The conversation also covers how testamentary trusts can help protect vulnerable beneficiaries, provide for a spouse in a blended family while still preserving assets for children from an earlier relationship, and reduce the risk of family conflict after someone has passed away. Billy and Andrew are equally upfront about when a testamentary trust might be overkill, and the cost and complexity involved in setting one up.

This episode is for anyone thinking about their estate plan, particularly parents with young children, blended families, or anyone with a beneficiary who may not be well placed to manage a large inheritance on their own. It's a practical primer for understanding whether a testamentary trust deserves a place in your own estate planning conversation.

Listeners will come away with a clear understanding of what a testamentary trust is, how it can reduce tax on income earned by minor beneficiaries, and how it can be used to stagger access to an inheritance or protect a vulnerable beneficiary. The episode also explains how testamentary trusts can support blended families by providing for a spouse while still preserving assets for children from an earlier relationship, along with the trustee responsibilities involved and when the cost and complexity of a testamentary trust may outweigh the benefit. Real client examples throughout make the concepts easy to follow, whether you already have an estate plan in place or are only just starting to think about one.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• What a testamentary trust is and why it only comes into existence after someone passes away.
• Why leaving assets to a testamentary trust can dramatically reduce tax on income for minor beneficiaries.
• How a testamentary trust can be used to stagger a young beneficiary's access to their inheritance rather than handing over a lump sum at 18.
• Why testamentary trusts can help protect beneficiaries who may not be equipped to manage a large inheritance, including those with disabilities or addiction issues.
• How a testamentary trust can provide for a spouse in a blended family while still preserving assets for children from an earlier relationship.
• Why planning these decisions in advance can reduce conflict and burden on family members after a death.
• What's involved in appointing a trustee and the considerations around choosing the right person or professional service.
• When a testamentary trust may be unnecessary or overly complex for a simpler estate.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou tackle a question that catches a lot of people off guard: what should you actually do when you receive a lump sum of money?

Whether it's an inheritance, a work bonus, a redundancy payout, or any other unexpected windfall, Billy and Andrew explain why the initial instinct to spend or invest it straight away often leads to poor outcomes. They unpack why the source of the money matters, how the emotional weight of a lump sum can cloud good decision making, and why pausing before acting is one of the most valuable things you can do.

The conversation moves through practical options for anyone weighing up a mortgage payoff against investing, using an offset account, or exploring a debt recycling strategy, along with a real client example of what can go wrong when a big decision is made too quickly. Billy and Andrew also discuss the psychology behind lifestyle creep and why treating new wealth as permanent can undo years of good financial habits.

This episode is for anyone who has recently received, or expects to receive, a lump sum of money, whether that's from an inheritance, a bonus, a redundancy, or another source. It's also a useful listen for anyone wanting a clearer framework for thinking through big financial decisions more broadly. As always, Billy and Andrew bring real client stories and practical, easy to follow advice, helping listeners understand not just what to do with a windfall, but how to think about it.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why pausing before making any decision is the most important first step after receiving a lump sum.
• How the source of the money, whether inheritance, bonus, or redundancy, changes the right approach.
• Why the right question is what you're trying to achieve, not what you should invest in. The difference between paying down a mortgage, using an offset account, and debt recycling.
• A real example of how an emotional property purchase after an inheritance overlooked cash flow and affordability.
• Why your past history with money shapes how you're likely to handle a lump sum. How lifestyle creep can quietly erode a windfall if spending isn't deliberate.
• The long term impact of investing a lump sum, illustrated with a compounding example over 20 years.
• Why most people end up splitting a lump sum across several goals rather than choosing just one.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou dig into a topic that's front of mind for a lot of people right now: how artificial intelligence is changing the way we manage money.

Billy and Andrew are upfront from the outset that AI is not replacing a financial advisor, but it is changing what's possible for everyday Australians who want to get more organised, ask better questions and understand their own finances more clearly. They walk through the practical ways people are already using AI, from analysing household budgets and tracking spending patterns to researching mortgage products and preparing for meetings with a financial advisor. The conversation also covers the darker side of the AI boom, including the rise of convincing scams that use AI generated voices, images and fake celebrity endorsements to target unsuspecting investors. Billy and Andrew share a real world example of how sophisticated these schemes have become and why staying alert to them matters more than ever.

Listeners will come away with practical ideas for using AI as a personal financial assistant, including how to analyse a household budget, track tax deductible expenses like fuel receipts on the go, and research mortgage products, interest rates and investment options more efficiently. The episode also outlines the key cautions to keep in mind, from the risk of AI referencing outdated or incorrect information on tax and superannuation rules, to the growing sophistication of AI powered scams involving fake celebrity endorsements and voice cloning. It's a balanced, practical guide to getting real value from AI tools while understanding where human judgement and professional financial advice still make all the difference.

This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorised representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706.

Episode Highlights

• Why AI is best used as a financial assistant rather than a replacement for a financial advisor.
• How AI can analyse household budgets and detect unusual spending patterns.
• Practical ways to use AI for mortgage and investment research, including comparing rates and products.
• Why tracking deductible expenses like fuel receipts through AI can simplify tax time. The risk of AI referencing outdated tax and superannuation rules, and why fact checking still matters.
• Why entering sensitive information like bank details, TFNs, and dates of birth into AI carries real risk. How AI is fuelling more convincing scams, including fake celebrity endorsements and voice cloning.
• Why most poor financial outcomes come down to psychology and confidence rather than picking the wrong investment.
• Why human judgement, empathy, and understanding a client's full circumstances remain essential to good financial advice.

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew break down the financial mistakes that catch people out most, not the obvious ones like risky speculation, but the ones made by people who genuinely think they're doing the right thing. These are the quiet, compounding errors that cost the most in dollars and time.

They walk through seven of the biggest patterns they see week in, week out:

• buying assets in the wrong ownership structure,

• letting insurance go unreviewed for years,

• holding too much cash instead of putting it to work,

• treating superannuation as a problem for "future you,"

• investing without any real strategy,

• mismanaging debt (deductible versus non-deductible, and consumer debt that never truly goes away),

• and building a financial plan that never actually gets implemented.

Using a real client example, they show how one structuring decision on a home purchase led to an eye-watering land tax bill and an unexpected capital gain hit years later.

If you've ever wondered whether your investment structure, your insurance, or your cash sitting in the bank is quietly working against you, this episode lays out exactly what to check and why waiting costs more than most people realise.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why buying assets in the wrong structure is one of the costliest, least obvious mistakes people make

• A real client example: a company-owned home that triggered a huge land tax bill and an unexpected capital gains hit

• The hidden cost of "set and forget" insurance, and what changes without you noticing

• Why holding too much cash can quietly guarantee you lose money to inflation

• Treating super as "future you's" problem, and what that really costs over decades

• DIY investing without a strategy: why it's closer to gambling than investing

• Good debt vs bad debt, and the offset account mistake that undoes your progress

• Why a financial plan that's never implemented is the most common mistake of all

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!

In this episode, Billy and Andrew sit down with Dimitri Damianos from Buxton in Oakleigh to answer the question every buyer and seller is quietly asking right now: is the Melbourne property market actually falling, or just changing shape?

With ten years on the ground selling in Melbourne's south-east, Dimi cuts through the media headlines to explain what's really happening at inspections and auctions, why "wait for prices to drop further" is some of the worst advice a buyer can follow right now, and what the shift away from negative gearing and SMSF borrowing is doing to investor appetite. They also get into the emotional side of property that no spreadsheet can capture, and why timing your purchase around "readiness" beats timing it around the market.

If you're sitting on the fence about buying or selling in Melbourne, this episode explains what's driving the hesitation, why it might be costing you, and what to watch heading into spring.

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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706

Episode Highlights

• Why auction clearance rates have dropped to around 50% and what's replacing the traditional auction

• The apartment slowdown: from four to five buyers per inspection down to one or two

• Why "I'm not buying because prices might come off" is the worst advice out there right now

• How the end of negative gearing and SMSF borrowing changes are pushing investors toward commercial property

• What buyers can do to negotiate respectfully and find out what comparable properties actually sold for

• Why emotional attachment to a home almost always outweighs the numbers, for both buyers and sellers

• Dimi's read on where the Melbourne market goes from here as stock stays low heading into spring

Connect with Dimitri Damianos

• Buxton Real Estate, Oakleigh
• Phone: 0412 092 944
• Instagram: @dim.damianos

Connect with Billy and Andrew!

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