Property investment has entered dangerous new territory. What used to be about building long-term wealth has become clouded by hype, shortcuts, and unqualified advice. Investors are being drawn into speculative schemes disguised as strategy. 

In this episode, Veronica and Chris sit down with Ben Kingsley, Founding Managing Director of Empower Wealth and Chair of the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA), to unpack the alarming resurgence of speculative, misleading, and unlicensed property advice spreading across Australia.

Ben recently authored an open letter to industry associations, warning of “get-rich-quick” operators, social media influencers, and unqualified advisors encouraging investors to buy properties through risky trust structures and self-managed super funds. He reveals how these practices are distorting regional markets, luring naive investors, and potentially triggering a regulatory backlash that could reshape the entire property sector.

From “pump and dump” tactics to trust lending loopholes and the rise of volume-driven buyer’s agents buying sight unseen, this conversation exposes the systemic risks emerging from the unregulated fringes of the industry. Ben, Veronica, and Chris also explore how social media hype, FOMO marketing, and easy credit are fueling another wave of short-term speculation that could end in disaster.

If you care about the future of Australia’s property market—or just want to protect yourself from being swept up in the next boom-and-bust cycle—this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Why Risky Property Advice Is Back on the Rise

01:36 — Speculative Behaviour: The Return of Fast-Money Mindsets

02:25 — How Speculation Threatens Consumers and Market Stability

03:59 — Unlicensed Advisors and the Power of Social Media Influence

06:14 — Regional Market Distortions: When Buyer’s Agents Go Rogue

08:21 — Will ASIC Step In? The Push for Property Regulation

10:16 — The Role (and Responsibility) of Brokers and Buyer’s Agents

13:01 — What Happens Next: Ben’s Call for Industry Reform

32:06 — Rising Prices, Rising Pressure: The Human Cost of Property

33:51 — Regional Boom or Bubble? Understanding the Market Risks

36:41 — Property Prices vs. Fundamentals: When Growth Defies Logic

39:47 — Speculation vs. Strategy: The Long-Term Investment Divide

42:14 — Economic Viability: The Missing Piece in Modern Investing

49:00 — Building a Sustainable Property Business, Not a Hype Machine

52:41 — Owning Mistakes and the Power of Industry Accountability

54:26 — Final Thoughts: Restoring Trust in Property Advice

Links

• Article: https://pica.asn.au/alarm-unlicensed-advice-market/ 

About the Guest

Ben Kingsley is the Founding and Managing Director of Empower Wealth and the inaugural Chair of the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA). A Qualified Property Investment Advisor (QPIA) and one of Australia’s most respected voices in property, finance, and money management, Ben has spent over two decades advocating for professional standards and consumer protection in the property investment sector.

A multi-award-winning advisor and frequent media commentator, Ben co-authored two bestselling books — The Armchair Guide to Property Investing and Make Money Simple Again — and co-hosts The Property Couch, Australia’s #1 property, finance, and money management podcast. Through Empower Wealth, Ben leads an integrated team of experts providing holistic financial advice across property, finance, tax, and wealth management.

Driven by his belief that “anyone can improve their financial outcomes, regardless of their starting point,” Ben continues to challenge industry complacency and push for responsible, transparent, and ethical property investment practices across Australia.

Connect with Ben

• Ben’s LinkedIn
• Ben’s Email
• Ben’s Twitter
• Empower Wealth Website
• Empower Wealth LinkedIn

Resources

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

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See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris