In this episode of Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Hayden Smith from Pearler to compare the money lessons they wish they had understood much earlier. What starts as a conversation about investing quickly turns into a practical discussion about the decisions that shape wealth in Australia: where you live, how you save, what tax does to returns and why good habits matter more than clever hot takes. Owen and Hayden unpack why owner-occupied property is hard to ignore in Australia, especially when cheap leverage and the pension rules tilt the game. They also explain why many investors obsess over the wrong fees, how tax quietly touches almost every money decision, and why a strong saving rate still does more heavy lifting than most people expect. The episode also explores the emotional side of investing. From scary headlines and market downturns to the temptation to constantly switch strategies, they make the case that behaviour is often more important than intelligence. Along the way they touch on diversification, ETFs such as VAS and IVV, the trade-offs between property and shares, and the value of staying invested for the long term. If you want a grounded Australian take on money, investing and building wealth, this episode is full of honest lessons, avoidable mistakes and practical perspective. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:47 Icebreakers 03:10 Wishing We Knew Earlier 04:32 Best Finance Presenter 06:18 Learning About Geared ETFs 08:41 Housing & Leverage 11:31 Fees Don't Matter Much 16:34 Tax Is Everywhere 20:08 Behavior Over Smarts 26:56 Saving Rate Matters Most 30:36 Staying Invested 37:08 Long Market Downturns 41:08 Time Horizon & Diversification 43:18 Wrap-Up & Resources Episode resources - Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”: https://amzn.to/42Uz0aK - Speak with the Rask Advice team: https://rask.com.au/advice - Ask a question (select the Finance podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest Show partner resources - View VanEck's range of funds: https://www.vaneck.com.au/vaneck-etfs/?page=etf-selector - Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit: https://bit.ly/Pearler - Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith: https://bit.ly/R-PocketSmith - Whatever comes next for your business, power it with Stripe: https://stripe.com EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 - 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers: https://bit.ly/Pearler Rask resources - All services: https://bit.ly/R-services - Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan - Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest - Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes - Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest - We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP Follow us on social media - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg