Antipodean Advisory

19/10/2026

Clients sometimes ask how I decide which investments make it into a portfolio.

The short answer? I don’t just look at whatever performed best last year.

At Antipodean, we use a mix of low-cost index investments and carefully selected active investment managers.

There’s a fair bit of homework behind those selections.

We use independent research from Lonsec and Morningstar. We look at the manager’s experience, investment process, risk controls, long-term performance and fees. We also meet directly with managers because I want to understand how they think, not simply read the fund summary.

Then we look at how the pieces fit together.

A good investment can still be the wrong fit if it adds more of a risk the client already has, costs too much or doesn’t suit their timeframe, income needs or need to access money.

Building a portfolio gives each investment a job and making sure they work together for the person relying on them.

When you look at your own investments, do you know what job each one is doing?

15/10/2026

Most people think they need to know ONE BIG NUMBER in retirement.
But I think there's three you need to pay attention to.

Do you know all of your numbers?

Most people think there's one massive retirement number, but there's really three you need to pay attention to. Do you know yours? If not, time to book a discovery call with Michael.

12/10/2026

How do you know when it’s time to see a financial adviser?

Most people don’t wake up one morning and announce, “Right, I need financial advice.” It usually starts with a conversation about something they’re trying to work out.

You ask a friend what they’re doing about retirement, and they admit they don’t know when they can afford to stop working.

Someone receives an inheritance and feels unsure about what to do with it. A business owner has built a successful business, but their personal finances haven’t kept pace.

Another person wants to downsize, invest some money or help their children buy a home. They want to help without putting their own plans at risk.

Sometimes the conversation is less specific.

“We’ve been meaning to sort that out.”

“I know I should be doing more.”

“I don’t know where to start.”

People rarely talk about needing an adviser. They talk about the question or decision that keeps sitting in the back of their mind.

If you recognise one of these conversations, either for yourself or someone you know, it may be time to talk.

👋🏻 I'm Michael, a Sydney Financial adviser.
Book a discovery call [email protected]

06/10/2026

You want to make good money decisions.

Then you see a better rate, the market takes a dip, or a mate tells you how much they’re saving for retirement. It’s easy to wonder whether you should change something too.

Here are three things I’d tell you to stop.

1. Chasing the highest interest rate

A better rate is worth checking. Just read beyond the headline. What conditions apply? Can you access the money when you need it? How long does that rate last?

2. Swapping investments every time the market moves

It’s hard to sit still when the news gives you a fresh reason to worry.

Before making a change, I’d ask: has something changed in your life, or has the value of your investments moved?

Reviewing your plan helps you decide whether a change makes sense or there's a good reason to keep things going as they are right now.

3. Working towards someone else’s retirement number

Your mate says they need $2 million. Now you’re wondering whether you do too.

But are you planning the same retirement? Same spending? Same debts? Same family commitments?

I’d rather start with the life you want and work out what it could cost. That gives us something useful to plan around.

Which would you add to the list?

👋🏻 I'm Michael, a Sydney Financial Adviser.
Book a discovery call at [email protected]

01/10/2026

Higher interest rates mean different things depending on where you’re at.

If you’re paying off a loan, they put more pressure on your cash flow. If you’re drawing an income from savings, higher rates can help. And if you’re investing, they change borrowing costs and the return you should expect from the money you commit.

Does that mean buying bonds at these higher rates? My view is no—for now. With governments continuing to borrow and spend, my concern is the seemingly unlimited supply of government debt and the lack of fiscal discipline. A higher yield alone doesn’t make an investment attractive. Put a 6 or 7 in front of that yield, however, and I’d reassess whether the return adequately compensates for the risk.

My preference is quality credit: lending to businesses with strong balance sheets, reliable cash flow and the capacity to repay their debt. Boards and CEOs need to understand their numbers and manage within them. The opportunity lies in skilled fund managers selecting the strongest borrowers, negotiating appropriate terms and securing a return that justifies the risk.

That’s why I look beyond an investment’s headline return. What does it cost to hold? How much debt sits behind it? Can it provide the income you need, when you need it?

There’s plenty happening in AI, infrastructure and global markets. The opportunity still needs to make sense at the price you pay.

For anyone who hasn’t started planning, waiting for everything to improve can leave you with less time to prepare. Start by understanding where you stand and which decisions need attention.

My September market update is out today, with more on these themes and my investment outlook.

Market OverviewSeptember produced mixed equity-market returns. The S&P 500 declined 0.20% and the ASX 200 fell 2.42%, while the Nasdaq gained 2.45% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 3.77%. The Dow Jones fell 4.06% and the Russell 2000 declined 5.29%. The contrast between markets reinforces the value of ...

28/09/2026

I was reading the latest Value of an Adviser report last week.

As you’d expect, says all the things you'd want to hear when you see a financial adviser.
People make better financial decisions, make less costly mistakes, stay invested and improve their position.

All good, reaffirming stuff.

Now, I love good research. But the part that's missing is something a report can’t easily put into a chart.

👉🏻 What does advice actually feel like?

So I did something a little less scientific and went back through some of our client testimonials.

My clients talk about feeling good because they had someone (me) on their side. Someone they can use as a sounding board when the answer isn’t obvious, or as a calm head when money, markets or life get complicated. And one of my favourites, Michael's my money coach.

I'm here for the good times and when life throws the curve balls you need help navigating.

One client summed it up better than I could:

“Michael has my back.”

I really liked that one, because that's how I see my job.

Good advice should improve the numbers, of course. But it should also leave you feeling good about your financial decisions and a little less alone when life throws curveballs your way.

👉🏻 If you’ve experienced financial advice, what did it feel like for you?

23/09/2026

I'm going to say it - Inheritance comes with unintended baggage.

You’d think receiving an inheritance would feel like a positive thing. But it’s tied to losing someone, and that can make every decision about the money feel much harder than you expected and decisions weigh heavily on your mind.

When people come to see me, more often than not, they say, “It’s sitting in the bank because I’m worried about making the wrong decision,” or, “Mum and Dad worked hard for this. I don’t want to waste it.”

I really feel for you. It's complicated.

So when we meet, the first thing we talk about why this money is important to you and what you'd feel good about it doing.
Some for feel good moments? Should some stay accessible? Would paying down debt help? Is there an opportunity through super? Do you want to help the kids?

Sometimes the sensible first decision is to leave the money where it is until you’re ready. But not too long so you inadvertently pay too much tax on it. I talk you through that too.

👇🏻
Hello I'm Michael, a financial adviser based in Sydney.
I'm hear to help you get a clear view of your finances and put a plan in place to help you live the life you want.
[email protected]

21/09/2026

I’ve been doing this a long time, and almost every new client arrives with one of these questions.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re 35, 55 or already retired. They might run a business, manage family wealth or simply want to make the most of what they’ve built. The circumstances change, but the questions are remarkably similar.

Most aren’t arriving in a financial crisis. Many are doing well. They have super, savings, investments, property or a business.

What they don’t have is a clear view of how it all fits together, whether they’re missing anything or if their money will support what they want to do next.

That’s why my first conversation begins with the question that’s been taking up space in their head.

If one of these questions sounds familiar, a discovery session is a good place to start.

👇🏻
Hello I'm Michael, a financial adviser based in Sydney.
I'm hear to help you get a clear view of your finances and put a plan in place to help you live the life you want.
[email protected]

14/09/2026

What to look out for in your investment portfolio

Choosing investments are never about one thing. What may look good on paper, but not always be what's happening underneath.

Here's what questions sit underneath your investment portfolio.

👇🏻
Hello I'm Michael, a financial adviser based in Sydney.
I'm hear to help you get a clear view of your finances and put a plan in place to help you live the life you want.
[email protected]