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The Day COVID Split Australia’s Wealth - and the numbers are honestly jaw-dropping. We unpack the sharp divide between those who bought property BC (Before COVID) and AC (After COVID), why some younger homeowners saw their wealth jump 63% in five years, and why others are still feeling the interest-rate squeeze. It’s a timely reminder that timing helps… but overstretching isn’t the answer. Plus, Soph is officially back in New Zealand and we’re reunited in the studio (finally!), just in time to cover the Netflix vs Paramount bidding war over Warner Bros (hello $2.8B breakup fee), Pepsi quietly notching its 54th consecutive dividend raise, Nike’s Converse headache, and Google raising $32B through a 100-year AI bond. There’s lots we covered this week so let’s get into it…

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Dividend – A share of a company’s profits paid to shareholders.

Dividend King – A company that’s raised its dividend for 50+ years straight. Elite behaviour.

Breakup Fee – A penalty paid if a takeover deal collapses.

Shareholder – Someone who owns part of a company (aka shares).

Market Share – How much of a market a company controls.

Defensive Stock – A steady company that holds up when the economy wobbles.

Net Worth – What you own minus what you owe.

Interest Rates – The cost of borrowing money.

Tariffs – Taxes on imported goods. Higher tariffs = higher costs.

Bond – A loan you give to a company or government in exchange for interest.

100-Year Bond – A loan that won’t be repaid for 100 years. Yes, actually.

Dilution – When new shares are issued, reducing the value of existing ones.

Liquidity – How quickly you can turn an investment into cash.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode…(00:01:29) New NZ studio reveal!(00:11:29) The Warner Bros saga continues(00:19:58) Pepsi’s 54-year dividend streak(00:25:26) BC vs AC property gap in Australia(00:35:09) Nike and Converse struggles(00:40:28) Google’s 100-year AI bond(00:48:21) Community investing question(00:54:58) Thanks for listening to The Curve Weekly!(00:55:37) Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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If your income doesn’t come in a neat little monthly payslip because you freelance, contract, run a business, or your earnings are just a bit… chaotic - this one’s for you. In this month’s Property Podcast, we look at five key things to keep in mind when you go to apply for a mortgage when your money is “lumpy,” including what banks actually care about (stability and proof, not perfection), the paperwork that makes lenders take you seriously (income + tax records, accounts, contracts and future work), how to keep business and personal spending clean, what deposit expectations can look like, and how to boost your chances with simple moves like paying yourself regularly and cleaning up high-interest debt. Most importantly: this episode is here to kill the myth that getting a mortgage without a traditional salary is impossible, because it’s not. It’s just a slightly wiggly path, and you can absolutely prepare for it.

Watch our episode with Gabby: ‘A Property Story Gone Wrong’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raE9rKH-Duo&t=1315s

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that getting a mortgage isn’t always straightforward, especially if you don’t have the “standard” payslip setup. If you’re self-employed, contracting, freelancing, earning commission, or your income changes month to month, BNZ’s Home Loan Partners can help you understand what you might be able to borrow and what steps to take next. With the right tools and expert support, you can navigate the process with more clarity and confidence - from first search to settlement.

👉 To learn more, ⁠head here.⁠

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:00:20) BNZ x The Curve(00:01:48) What even is a mortgage?(00:10:12) Soph’s mortgage story(00:21:00) 5 things to keep in mind if you work for yourself & you’re trying to get a mortgage(00:24:09) 1: Why it feels harder when you work for yourself(00:27:38) 2: What banks actually need to see(00:36:51) 3: The actual paperwork the bank requires(00:42:43) 4: What deposit is needed?(00:47:02) 5: What will help you get approved?(00:51:42) Final thoughts(00:54:41) Thank you for listening to the property podcast!(00:56:16) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week on The Curve Weekly, we’re serving finance news with a side of pop culture mess: the Beckham family feud is officially giving royalty-level drama, complete with billionaire in-laws and a casual $1 million-a-month allowance (just… imagine). We also break down why silver went absolutely feral, shooting up, then dropping hard, plus the big investing lesson: if you’re buying because everyone’s screaming about it, you’re probably late (sorry, Polly 😭). Then, the genuinely groundbreaking bit: a hormone-free male contraceptive pill is in the works, and we unpack whether this could become the next big investing trend (and whether men will actually take it…). And finally, Elon Musk is back doing Elon Musk things: SpaceX + xAI rumours, IPO chatter, and the slightly terrifying possibility of the world’s first trillionaire. Love the finance chat? Help two girlies out by giving the show a rating (only a good one pls) or sending this episode to a friend! 💖

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

FOMO – Buying because everyone else is. Dangerous energy.

Safe Haven – The “world is scary” investment. Like gold.

Commodity – A tradable raw thing (gold, silver, oil).

On-paper gains – Profit that isn’t real until you sell.

Central banks – The boss banks that control money + rates.

Volatility – How rollercoaster-y the price is.

Correction – A price drop after things got too hyped.

IPO – When a company hits the stock market for the first time.

Private company – A company you can’t buy shares in (yet).

GLP-1s – Weight-loss meds like Ozempic (big economic ripple effects).

Hormone-free – Works without messing with your hormones.

Ownership – Building wealth by owning a slice of a business.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:13) Quick catch up(00:07:17) The Beckham Peltz Saga(00:18:20) The cost of being a woman(00:26:05) Why airlines are about to save $600 million on fuel a year...(00:27:57) What's going on with gold and silver?(00:34:55) Other quick updates...(00:39:40) SpaceX and xAI merger(00:48:08) Wrap up(00:49:55) Thank you for listening!(00:50:33) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Today’s episode is a little bonus drop: we’re releasing the unedited, uncut version of the cost of loneliness conversation that we shared a snippet of in Monday’s Curve Weekly, because honestly… it was too good (and too real) to leave on the cutting-room floor. Before we get into it, Soph gives you a quick sneak peek of Episode 1 of IOU (Some Money Education), our brand new money podcast + course launching next week, featuring Lucy Blakiston from Shit You Should Care About. Then we’re straight into the main event with Abi Foster: why loneliness isn’t just a sad-girl side quest but something businesses are quietly paying for in disengagement, burnout, and brain fog; how modern work (hello hybrid life) can make us feel weirdly isolated; and why you can feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by people. They get into the pressure women face around relationships, kids, careers, and the general state of the world, plus some genuinely helpful, very doable antidotes, like nurturing friendships, slowing down, and becoming the kind of person who tells strangers you’re amazing and means it.

Want to be the first to know when IOU launches? Sign up to the newsletter here. (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

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⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Alone again 😫(00:00:33) IOU (Some Money Education) Episode 1 Preview...(00:02:13) The Cost of Lonliness (uncut)(00:29:22) Thank you for listening!

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Silver had been quietly minding its business… and then suddenly decided to go absolutely bananas…

This week on The Curve Weekly, Soph’s joined by a very special guest filling in for Vic: chartered accountant + finance creator  Abi Foster (https://www.instagram.com/abigailrosefoster/) (aka that finance girl with the hair), and together they’re breaking down what’s actually driving silver’s surge, why geopolitical chaos tends to send people stampeding toward “safe” assets, and how rising silver prices could make everyday things like AI tech and solar panels more expensive. Plus: Netflix is having a wobble (down ~40% 👀), but is it truly flopping, or just behaving like the world’s biggest startup while it tries to keep up with YouTube and the chaos of modern attention spans? And then, as all good finance chats do, we take a slightly-too-relatable detour into the loneliness epidemic (apparently costing US businesses $154 BILLION a year??), with a side of that Diary of a CEO episode discourse, friendship-as-therapy, and tiny habits that make life feel less like an emotional buffering screen.

Abi's links:

The Money Manual Book

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Commodities – Tradeable raw materials (gold, silver, oil).

Safe Haven – Where money hides when the world feels chaotic.

Bubble – Price goes way too high… then pops.

Shares – Tiny slices of a company you can buy.

Share Price – What one slice costs right now.

Acquisition – When one company buys another.

Ad Revenue – Money made from ads interrupting your show.

TAM (Total Addressable Market) – The biggest possible audience a company could reach.

Fiscal Drag – You pay more tax over time without feeling richer. Rude.

Tax Threshold – The point where a higher tax rate kicks in.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode…(00:01:30) Guest alert: Abi Foster joins the pod!(00:05:29) Silver’s surging: what’s driving the hype?(00:16:36) Netflix is down…(00:29:21) The $154B loneliness problem (and why it matters)(00:47:54) Final thoughts(00:50:51) Thanks for listening (see you next week!)(00:51:30) Thank you for listening!

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Vic’s dealing with a family emergency, so today it’s a short solo update from Soph today, sharing an honest money moment she didn’t expect to be talking about - having to borrow from family after a run of unexpected costs, and why it matters more than we realise when we compare our financial “progress” to other people’s.

You’ll also hear a first listen to IOU, our new monthly money-education podcast (plus a practical course) dropping mid-Feb, built to help you get the basics sorted without jargon or judgement.

Want to be the first to know when IOU launches? Sign up to the newsletter here: (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

We’ll be back on Monday with The Curve Weekly and a very special guest, Abi Foster (@abigailrosefoster) See you then!!

Listen to the Eliza Filby ep here: https://youtu.be/PC3IfHIDB9o?si=jFUHJ_7XvCCiuepu

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Before we get into the absolute avalanche of finance and investing news, Soph cracks open a margarita for moral support and the girls have a quick catch-up on nerves, public speaking and… boyfriends. Then it’s straight into the investing news: are billionaires selling shares actually a market crash warning, or just rich people doing rich people things? They break down Buffett’s cash pile, founder stock sales, and the ethics of investing in companies whose leaders are getting a bit too cosy with politics. Plus: the Australian Open pay dispute, China’s record trade surplus and what it could mean for global trade, and a quick check-in on luxury stocks. We also introduce our new “techspert” segment with Nat, explaining the tech behind major events and why AI research (especially China’s) is a bigger deal than most people realise. And to finish: Elon Musk suing OpenAI and Microsoft for $134B, and Soho House’s latest financial wobble.

Watch our previous episode with Natalie Piucco: https://youtu.be/kQ3dKKSFbWI?si=mHObEuOvfYK6JlGc

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Founder Stock Sale – A founder cashing out some shares. Not necessarily drama.
Market Crash – Shares drop hard, everyone screams.
Trade Surplus – Country sells more than it buys.
Trade Deficit – Country buys more than it sells.
Tariffs – Extra tax on imports. Price goes up.
Ethical Investing – Investing, but with a conscience.
Revenue Share – Who gets what cut of the money.
Prize Pool – Total winnings up for grabs.
AI Research – The nerdy work that powers AI.
Not-For-Profit – Made for the mission, not profit.
For-Profit – Made to make money (and returns).
Going Private – Company leaves the stock market spotlight.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:49) Boyfriend catch-up + margaritas(00:08:14) Billionaires selling: should we worry?(00:20:19) Australian Open pay dispute(00:28:31) Our BRAND NEW series: IOU(00:31:15) China’s record trade surplus(00:46:16) Techspert Nat: AI + event tech(00:50:20) Elon sues OpenAI(00:54:32) Soho House update(00:57:47) Wrapping up(00:58:24) Thank you for listening!(00:59:00) Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Mortgage rate changes can bring new considerations for homeowners. In this episode, Vic shares her experience from 2023, when her mortgage rate nearly tripled, offering a real-world example many homeowners can relate to. In this episode, we break down what actually happened, why rate changes can feel challenging, and what history shows us about mortgage cycles so you’re better prepared for future changes. You’ll come away with five practical, actionable steps to take if you’re feeling mortgage stress right now, including how to assess your numbers, when to speak to your bank, where to find flexibility, and who can help you explore better options. This episode is designed to help you feel calmer, more informed, and more in control of your mortgage - even when interest rates are moving fast.

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that home ownership isn’t a straight line. Sometimes life throws curveballs, and BNZ is all about supporting you through the hard stuff, not just the highlights. Whether you’re planning ahead or needing a bit more support right now, BNZ’s home loan experts have the tools and people ready to help you find a way.

👉 To learn more, head here.

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:31) BNZ x The Curve(00:02:31) Vic’s mortgage story(00:28:04) A history of mortgage rates(00:42:22) Steps to take if you feel overwhelmed(00:51:51) Thank you BNZ!(00:53:26) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Money chats are awkward enough… but money you didn’t earn? That’s next-level uncomfortable.

In this episode, Soph sits down with Dr Eliza Filby, author of Inheritocracy, to unpack the Bank of Mum & Dad and how it’s quietly reshaping everything from the housing market to our friendship groups. We dig into why “inheritocracy” makes people squirm, how Eliza defines it (starting with her own story), and the less obvious privileges that come with family support: free rent, childcare, career safety nets, and the ability to take risks without everything collapsing. We also talk about why you can’t always spot who has family money, what a financial backstop does to your choices, when help can become too much (strings, guilt, and guardrails), plus Eliza’s take on raising resilient kids, what Gen Alpha is up against, why entrepreneurship is the new rock’n’roll, and her best advice for building financial independence, whatever your starting line.

Eliza’s book: Inheritocracy: It’s Time to Talk About the Bank of Mum and Dad (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476298/inheritocracy-by-filby-eliza/9780753561904)

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Episode preview(00:00:56) Meet Dr Eliza Filby(00:01:35) Why “inheritocracy” makes everyone squirm(00:05:53) Eliza’s story + what “inheritocracy” actually means(00:12:05) The quiet perks: childcare, free rent, safety nets(00:15:00) You can’t always “tell” who has family money(00:17:51) The power of a financial backstop(00:23:19) When help becomes harmful: money, guilt, and guardrails(00:26:51) Parenting with privilege (and how to not spoil them)(00:29:09) Gen Alpha’s future: resilience in a chaotic world(00:30:44) Why entrepreneurship is the new rock star dream(00:34:18) Eliza’s advice for building financial independence(00:39:27) Thank you for listening to Raising The Curve!(00:39:52) Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

You’ve been asking for it… our annual predictions episode is FINALLY HERE! We’re revisiting the calls we made for 2025, including one that genuinely made us feel like stock market geniuses, and a few that should’ve come with a “do not quote us” disclaimer. Then we roll straight into our 2026 predictions: what we think the markets are in for, whether Bitcoin’s about to have its main character moment, which big names could IPO, and the one theme we think might quietly run the whole year 👀

Also: Sophie records pantless, Vic has a travel meltdown that turns into an emergency fund masterclass, and Japan apparently has a… bear problem??

Now it’s your turn, do you think markets will be up or down by the end of 2026? Leave a comment, DM us your predictions, or send a voice note to The Curve Hotline! (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

S&P 500 – The 500 biggest US companies. The main US stock market vibe check.
FTSE 100 – The 100 biggest companies in the UK stock market (pronounced “Footsie”).
Bull Market – Stock market going up. Everyone feels like a genius.
Bear Market – Stock market going down. Everyone pretends they “invest long-term anyway.”
Volatile – Prices jumping up and down like they’ve had 6 coffees.
Market Correction – A decent dip after a big rise. The market’s little reset.
IPO – When a company joins the stock market for the first time. Its public debut.
Emergency Fund – Money set aside for life’s chaos (aka Vic at Heathrow).

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Welcome back!!(00:00:36) Quick catch up(00:09:21) Re-visitng our predictions for 2025(00:25:53) Making predictions for 2026...(00:36:31) Thank you for listening to The Curve Weekly!(00:37:08) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.