Money on the Mic

RBA DECISION: Why The Big Four Can't Read Rates + Is Your Lending Strategy Working For You?

Fundd — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:31:12 GMT

In this episode, Darren and Brodie unpack why economists at Australia's major banks have been changing their rate forecasts so often, what that means for property buyers and investors trying to make decisions, and what they actually expect from the RBA over the next several months.

THE BREAKDOWN

In the past twelve months, the big four have held several differing positions on the cash rate trajectory. The most recent NAB call (rate cuts to continue) is the opposite of their call a month earlier (rate rises coming). That kind of forecasting volatility from one of the largest banks in the country should make every property buyer wary of building a strategy around any single prediction.

Darren and Brodie work through the risk-profile framework they use with clients. The framework is simple: what's your best case, your realistic case, and your worst case? Investment decisions made through that lens hold up regardless of which direction the RBA actually moves.

The episode also covers what auction clearance rate data actually tells you. The state-by-state variability of clearance data is significant. Auction is the dominant sales channel in Sydney and Melbourne, marginal in Queensland, and almost irrelevant in Western Australia. National clearance figures therefore say more about the New South Wales and Victorian markets than about the rest of the country.

In this episode, we chat about:

- Why nine out of ten property headlines are fear-driven and how to read them anyway.
- The risk-profile framework: best case, realistic case, worst case.
- Why the RBA is likely to hold at today's meeting.
- Why the next RBA move is more likely a cut than a rise.
- What auction clearance rates actually tell you, and what they don't.
- Why Sydney and Melbourne auction data does not generalise to the rest of Australia.
- Why auctions don't suit first home buyers, and what that means for the market.

SOURCES

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXvC6lftI5t/

NAB - May 2025

NAB - May 2026
NAB (Yahoo Finance) - June 2026

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This podcast provides general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances.

All information is correct at the time of filming.

NO PROPERTY CRASH? Why Rising Unemployment Could Push Property Prices Higher

Fundd — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:47:39 GMT

This week on MOTM, we unpack two of the biggest economic headlines of the week, the 5.97% minimum wage increase that lifts the minimum above inflation for the first time in several years, and the shock 4.5% Australian unemployment rate. Together, these two data points point clearly toward the next move from the Reserve Bank of Australia, and what that move means for property prices.

THE BREAKDOWN

The RBA has two inputs that materially affect its rate decisions: inflation and unemployment. Inflation is broadly tracking near target. Unemployment surprised on the upside, climbing to 4.5%. Most major bank economists had forecast 4.3%.

Layered over that is the federal minimum wage increase of 5.97%, taking the minimum wage above $1,000 a week and $52,000 a year for the first time. The increase is welcomed at the household level. At the macro level, the same increase adds friction to entry-level hiring decisions and reduces employer willingness to take a risk on new staff. That dynamic will likely push the unemployment rate higher rather than lower over the coming months.

The combination points to a rate cut from the RBA before the end of the year. A cut would reduce mortgage repayments, lift borrowing capacity, and re-enter cohorts of buyers who have been on the sidelines for most of 2025 and 2026. The structural undersupply of Australian housing remains intact, so the most likely outcome of a rate cut is support for existing property values rather than a fall. Brodie and Darren also unpack the wealth divide implication, namely that minimum wage earners are not the cohort entering the property market.

In this episode, we chat about:

- What the 5.97% minimum wage rise actually changes in practice.
- Why the 4.5% unemployment figure was a shock to most forecasters.
- Why a $57 a week pay rise is worth less to most borrowers than a 0.25% rate cut.
- Why minimum wage earners are not the cohort buying property.
- How a rate cut later this year would change buyer activity.
- Why property prices themselves do not trigger RBA decisions.
- The forecast: where unemployment, inflation, and rates land by the end of 2026.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Wage Rises Meet 4.5% Unemployment
00:30 What the Minimum Wage Increase Actually Means
02:00 Why $57 a Week Versus a Rate Cut Is the Real Question
03:30 Youth Unemployment and Entry-Level Hiring Pressure
05:00 Why the RBA's Next Move Is Likely a Cut
06:30 Why a Bad Employment Headline Could Be Good for Property
08:00 Who Actually Benefits From a Rate Cut
10:00 Why Property Prices Don't Trigger RBA Decisions

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Got a question? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to the team via our website https://fundd.com.au/contact/.
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This podcast provides general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances.

All information is correct at the time of filming.

THE SILENT KILLER: How Bracket Creep Quietly Eats Your Pay Rise AND Your Tax Offset

Fundd — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:40:26 GMT

In this episode of Money on the Mic, Darren and Brodie go deep on bracket creep, the hidden tax inside the Australian tax system that quietly eats every pay rise and effectively cancels most of what was sold as the working person’s budget.

THE BREAKDOWN

When your wages move up in line with inflation, your buying power stays the same. But the Australian tax brackets don’t move with you. You cross into a higher marginal rate, pay a slightly bigger share of your income in tax, and end up worse off in real terms. That’s bracket creep. It’s the tax increase nobody votes on, because they don’t have to.

Over the last ten years, the buying power loss for lower income Australians has been roughly 30%. The tax free threshold today should sit at $25,844 if it had been indexed to inflation. It’s still $18,200. The mid-tier brackets were partly addressed by the stage three reforms, but the top and bottom of the income range have been hit hardest.

If those brackets had been indexed against inflation across the decade, federal tax revenue would have been roughly $200 billion lower. That gap is now baked into every Australian budget.

The most concrete example is this year’s headline "working person’s budget" offset. After bracket creep is factored in, the average Australian worker walks away with around $111 of the $250 they were promised. The headline survived. The numbers didn’t.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: The Hidden Tax in Every Budget

01:00 What Bracket Creep Actually Is and Why It Costs You

02:30 Why governments never need a vote to raise this kind of revenue.

05:00 The Stage Three Reforms and What They Didn’t Fix

05:50 Who gets hit hardest, and why lower income earners have lost the most.

07:00 The Tax Free Threshold That Should Be $25,800

10:00 The $200 billion in federal revenue that bracket creep has quietly collected over the decade.

16:30 Why a $250 Tax Offset Becomes $111 for the Average Worker

17:00 Why This Wasn’t Actually the Working Person’s Budget

20:00 Final Thoughts On Bracket Creep

RESOURCES

AFR - No escape from bracket creep under Labor or Coalition

ABS - Taxation Revenue Australia

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Got a question? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to the team via our website https://fundd.com.au/contact/.

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This podcast provides general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances.

All information is correct at the time of filming.

MONEY FIGHTS: 9 Property Debates Most Investors Get Stuck On

Fundd — Wed, 27 May 2026 05:38:42 GMT

Darren and Brodie go head to head on 9 of the most heavily debated questions in property and Australian lending - buy or rent, offset or invest, property or shares, fixed or variable, broker or bank, and the biggest one of all: should negative gearing exist?

THE BREAKDOWN

Round by round, no easy answers. Brodie picks his side on each topic and explains why - Darren takes the other side. Some picks land where you’d expect, others don’t. Brodie picks apartment over house for the first time, citing higher yields and a low-growth stretch ahead, plus an immigration-led shift toward high-density living. He defends negative gearing in a limited form, while Darren argues the other side as devil’s advocate, naming the impact on renters most coverage isn’t talking about.

A free post-budget investment report is still in the works for a 2–4 week drop.

In this episode, we chat about:

Buy vs rent: Why capital growth makes buying the obvious play for most.
Offset vs invest: Why a risk-taker chooses growth assets over a cash buffer.
Property vs shares: Why Australia’s biggest asset class still wins.
Interest only vs P&I: How to structure investment debt against good debt and bad debt.
Broker vs bank: Why nearly 4 in 5 loans now skip the bank entirely.
House vs apartment: Brodie’s surprise apartment pick and the regional yield case.
Fixed vs variable: Why a fixed rate is a bet against the economist.
SMSF property: Why super has no living expenses and what that does to your borrowing capacity.
Should negative gearing exist: Brodie’s "yes for mum and dad," Darren’s "no" for renters.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: A 9-Round Money Fight

01:00 Buy vs Rent: Capital Growth Settles It

03:30 Offset vs Invest: Why Risk Wins Over Cash

06:30 Property vs Shares: Why Australia Still Picks Property

08:30 The "Economists Always Get It Wrong" Take

11:00 Interest Only vs P&I: How Investment Debt Should Work

14:30 Broker vs Bank: Why Nearly 4 In 5 Loans Skip the Bank

17:00 Best Interest Duty Explained

20:30 House vs Apartment: Brodie’s Surprise Pick

27:30 Fixed vs Variable: A Bet Against the Economist

31:00 SMSF Property: Why It’s a Good Idea (And When It Isn’t)

39:00 Should Negative Gearing Exist? The Mum-and-Dad Case

43:00 The Impact On Renters Most People Aren’t Talking About

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All information is correct at the time of filming.

THE BUDGET WON’T BUILD HOUSES: Builders Are Under Pressure And Investors Will Adapt

Fundd — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:06:07 GMT

Welcome back to Money on the Mic. In this episode, Darren and Brodie deliver on last week’s cliffhanger - the post-budget winners and losers. From the trust-to-company restructure that probably won’t actually change much for most investors, to the builder backlash that nobody’s covering, and the property types that look strongest for the next phase of the Australian property market.

THE BREAKDOWN

The headline trust crackdown is far less significant than the media is making it. A side-by-side calculation across a discretionary trust, the new 30% trust floor rate, and a company structure shows the tax outcome is effectively the same for most mum-and-dad investors - so most will simply pivot to companies, which the banks already prefer anyway.

The bigger story is supply. The budget pushes new-build investment but doesn’t actually help builders deliver it. Brodie floats a shared-risk lending model as a possible way forward. Darren then turns to specific property types worth watching. The episode wraps on a client question: Will grandfathering apply to an owner-occupied place of residence becoming an investment property?

In this episode, we chat about:

Why most investors won’t actually bother restructuring trusts.
How banks have already been quietly moving away from discretionary trust lending.
Why the building industry isn’t backing this budget and what HIA / Master Builders are saying.
The cost-plus vs fixed-price contract problem and why lenders won’t touch cost-plus.
Brodie’s shared-risk lending model: lower construction buffer plus built-in contingency.
Alternative arrangements for investors

CHAPTERS

01:00 What Property Investors Are Actually Doing Now

03:30 Why the Trust Crackdown Is Mostly a Headline

04:30 The Wife-as-Sole-Shareholder Strategy

05:30 Why Banks Have Already Moved Away From Trust Lending

08:59 Why the Building Industry Isn’t Backing This Budget

11:38 Cost-Plus vs Fixed-Price Construction Contracts Explained

20:05 What Happens If Builders Sit on Their Hands

21:02 Property Types That Will Win Post-Budget

21:45 Rooming Houses

26:00 Class 1A Co-Living

30:00 The Granny Flat Comeback

33:00 The Free Post-Budget Investment Report

34:30 Client Question: Grandfathering On A PPR Becoming A Rental

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All information is correct at the time of filming.

THE 25 YEAR SHIFT: How Labor’s budget just rewrote property

Fundd — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:40:24 GMT

The federal budget just delivered the biggest shake-up to negative gearing, capital gains tax, and property trust structures in 25 years. In this episode of Money on the Mic, Darren and Brodie unpack exactly what Treasurer Jim Chalmers has changed and what it means for Australian property investors.

THE BREAKDOWN

Why Labor just reversed their negative gearing promise - and what’s grandfathered.
How the new-build exception is designed to push investor capital into housing supply.
What the capital gains tax indexation model actually means with real worked numbers.
Why CGT reform could help investors in a stagflation economy, not hurt them.
How the new flat 30% tax on discretionary trust distributions changes mum-and-dad investing.
Why property investors are likely to pivot to company structures, and what franking credit reform could mean next.

CGT DISCOUNT WORKINGS

Example 1

Moderate inflation, strong investment return

Current system (50% discount)

You buy shares for: $100,000

Sell 10 years later for: $200,000

Capital gain: $100,000

Held >12 months, so taxable gain becomes: $50,000

If your marginal tax rate is 47%: Tax = $23,500

Inflation-indexed system

Assume inflation averaged 3% per year for 10 years.

Your indexed cost base becomes roughly: $134,000

So your real gain is: $200,000 − $134,000 = $66,000

Taxable gain: $66,000

At 47% tax: Tax = about $31,000

Result

System Tax 50%

Discount $23,500

Inflation indexing $31,000

You pay more tax under indexing because the asset strongly outperformed inflation.

Example 2

High inflation, weak real growth

Current system (50% discount)

You buy an investment property: $500,000

Sell 15 years later: $800,000

Nominal gain: $300,000

Current 50% discount

Taxable gain:

$150,000

At 47%:

Tax = $70,500

Inflation-indexed system

Assume inflation averaged 4% for 15 years.

Indexed cost base becomes roughly: $900,000+

Meaning: You actually made no real gain

Under a pure inflation-indexed model:

Taxable gain = $0

Result

System Tax 50%

Discount $70,500

Inflation indexing $0

This is where indexing massively benefits investors.

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All information is correct at the time of filming

THE INTEREST RATE TURN: Are we done with increases yet?

Fundd — Tue, 05 May 2026 06:03:47 GMT

Welcome back to Money on the Mic. In episode five, Darren and Brodie sit down on the day of an RBA meeting to discuss the immediate impact of interest rate hikes and the shifting tide of market sentiment in the Australian property sector.

THE BREAKDOWN

This week, the team explores the "feathers in the wind" nature of economic forecasting, noting how quickly the national narrative flipped from predicting 2026 rate cuts to bracing for multiple hikes. Darren and Brodie debate what happens if we have finally hit the peak of the rate cycle and why waiting for the "perfect time" to buy often leads to missing the boat. They dive into why smart investors often act during periods of "good chaos" and high fear, capitalizing on reduced competition at open homes before the media narrative inevitably flips and triggers a fresh wave of FOMO.

In this episode, we chat about:

The RBA Meeting: Analyzing the 90% probability of a rate hike and what it means for the immediate future.
The Sentiment Flip: How market expectations moved from three rate cuts to three rate rises in just a matter of months.
Discussing the most hawkish big-bank projection of a 4.85% cash rate by August.
Buyer Hesitation: Why sitting on the sidelines during budget season and rate cycles can be a strategic error.
A look back at how bank predictions during COVID were off by as much as 65%.
Migration Records: The fundamental impact of 3,000 migrants arriving per day and the resulting pressure on supply.
The Winner's Circle: Why those who get their finance ready and act during uncertainty are positioned to flourish.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: The RBA Context

01:40 Sentiment vs. Reality

04:00 One Bank’s Hawkish Projection

06:42 The End of Financial Year

09:21 The "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" Buyer

11:40 The Disagreement: FOMO

14:40 Winners and Losers

18:00 A History of Wrong Predictions

21:00 Advice for Active Buyers

23:35 The Long-Term View

26:00 Outro

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THE PROPERTY SHAKE-UP: How Tax Changes Could Reshape Property

Fundd — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:45:37 GMT

Welcome back episode four of Money on the Mic. Darren and Brodie dive into the upcoming federal budget and the potential tax reforms that could reshape the landscape for Australian property investors. From negative gearing limits to Capital Gains Tax overhaul, Brodie and Daz break down what these changes might actually mean for the market.

They explore how these tax changes could inadvertently spark a spike in rents as landlords look to offset costs, and why the "contrarian" approach - buying when everyone else is tentative - might be the smartest move for long-term investors.

THE BREAKDOWN

Budget Speculation: Analyzing the rumors surrounding Labour’s upcoming property tax shakeup.
The CGT Discount: What happens if the 50% discount is reduced to 25% or 30% across all capital assets.
Negative Gearing Limits: The flow-down effect of limiting tax incentives to only two investment properties.
Rent Spikes: Why experts warn that tax overhauls could lead to a significant increase in weekly rental costs.
The Under-Supply Issue: Why tax reform won't fix the shortage of physical "roofs over heads".
Stamp Duty vs. Speculation: Brodie’s take on why abolishing stamp duty is a more effective solution for housing mobility.
Migration and AI: How record net migration and the rise of AI agents are complicating the planning and construction sectors.
Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals: Listener comment: whether short-stay accommodation is the primary cause of the long-term rental shortage.

SOURCES

Abolishing capital gains tax: Landlords could face huge tax hit under Labor budget shake-up

Property tax overhaul could spark 30 percent rent spike, real estate boss warns

CONNECT WITH FUNDD

Subscribe and follow the podcast for weekly deep dives into the Australian lending landscape.

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All information is correct at the time of filming.

THE HOUSING BUBBLE DEBATE: Why the Market Isn’t Crashing Anytime Soon

Fundd — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:38:06 GMT

Welcome back to Money on the Mic. In episode three, Darren and Brodie tackle the controversial question on everyone's mind: Are we in a housing bubble? As global tensions shift and technology rapidly advances, the team explores whether the Australian property market is due for a burst or a steady plateau.

THE BREAKDOWN

This week, the guys debate the stability of the Australian housing market from two different angles. Brodie argues why the current lack of supply, record-low vacancy rates, and high rental yields mean we aren't in a bubble, but rather a market simply meeting demand. On the flip side, Darren looks at the "unhinging" factors that could cause a correction, including the rising impact of AI on the workforce, potential policy changes to negative gearing, and the cooling sentiment in major hubs like Sydney and Melbourne. Whether you believe a crash is coming or growth is permanent, this episode provides the data-driven context you need to understand the 2026 landscape.

In this episode, we chat about:

The Bubble Debate: Why the detachment from market fundamentals is the key indicator of a bubble.
Supply vs. Demand: How record-low listings and migration are propping up property values.
AI and Employment: Why the rapid adaptation of AI agents could be the "undersold" risk to the property market.
Negative Gearing: The potential fallout if policy changes are tabled in the next election.
State vs. State: Why WA and QLD are expected to remain strong while Sydney and Melbourne face downward pressure.

CHAPTERS
01:33 Brodie’s case: Why Australia is not in a housing bubble
02:20 What a real housing bubble usually looks like
06:14 Why housing supply is still not catching up
07:45 Darren’s case: What could actually pull the market down
08:20 Risk 1: Rising unemployment and underemployment
09:42 How AI could start changing jobs and borrowing power
10:41 Risk 2: Policy changes like negative gearing
14:03 Risk 3: Higher construction costs and weaker borrowing capacity
16:56 Net migration and how population growth keeps pressure on housing
18:13 Why theory and reality often don’t match in property markets
19:39 Would negative gearing changes really burst the bubble?
24:36 Why Sydney and Melbourne stay expensive
26:18 12-month property market predictions

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All information is correct at the time of filming.

THE FIXED RATE COMEBACK: Why Rising Rates Are Changing Borrower Decisions

Fundd — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In episode two of Money on the Mic, Darren and Brodie dive deep into the world of fixed rates, split lending, and the hidden costs of breaking a mortgage contract. With the Australian economy facing significant uncertainty and shifting inflation data, understanding how to structure your loan is more important than ever.

THE BREAKDOWN

The psychological and financial battle of fixing your mortgage in a high-rate environment is real. We move past the surface-level news to explain why "certainty" often comes with a premium and why the biggest mistake borrowers make isn't the rate they choose, but failing to account for their future plans. Whether you are looking to hedge your bets with a split loan or wondering why the bank won't let you use an offset account on a fixed sub-account, this episode covers the essential mechanics of modern lending.

In this episode, we chat about:

The Fuel Update: A quick look at how the recent fuel excise halving is impacting the broader economy since our last discussion.
Fixed vs. Variable: Why fixed rates are currently higher than variable rates and the psychological shift for borrowers in 2026.
The Split Strategy: How to spread your risk by dividing your loan between fixed certainty and variable flexibility.
Best Interest Duty: The legal difference between walking into a bank branch versus working with a broker who is mandated to put your needs first.
Global Comparisons: Why does America have 30-year fixed rates while Australia remains limited to five-year terms?

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome back to episode two

02:20 – The fuel excise halving: What it actually means for the 2026 market.

03:55 – Comparing COVID-era rates to today’s lending landscape.

08:55 – Risk profiles: When the peace of mind of a fixed rate is worth the extra cost.

14:41 – The math of rate cuts: Why waiting for the RBA might be a losing game.

18:00 – Split lending 101: How to find the middle ground for your portfolio.

22:50 – Offset accounts and fixed rate limitations.

31:12 – Break costs explained: The $40k mistake you need to avoid.

34:50 – Fiduciary duty: Why your bank employee isn't necessarily your advocate.

37:55 – The US vs. Australia: The ludicrous reality of 30-year fixed loans.

41:00 – Rate Lock Fees: How to guarantee your rate before settlement.

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THE UNDERSOLD IMPACT: How Fuel & War Are Changing Australian Property

Fundd — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:58:59 GMT

This first episode of Money on the Mic tackles a massive shift in the property market that the mainstream media isn't talking about. While everyone is talking about interest rates, Darren and Brodie look "under the hood" at the real engine of the Australian economy: fuel and logistics.

If you’ve been wondering why your building quotes are skyrocketing or why your pre-approval suddenly buys you less house, this episode connects the dots between the conflict in Iran and your front door.

The Breakdown

In this debut episode, we discuss the "undersold" impact of the Iran War. We move past the fear-mongering to look at the cold, hard facts of how fuel costs flow through to property prices, construction, and your borrowing capacity.

Trucks Drive Australia: Why fuel is a "hidden tax" on every single asset in the country.
The Construction Crunch: A deep dive into why PVC, timber, and trades are seeing 15–30% price hikes.
The Borrowing Gap: Real-world examples of how a rate rise can strip down borrowing power just like that.
State of the Nation: Why Victoria is feeling the pinch while QLD and WA remain the "optimistic" frontiers.
First Home Buyer Survival: Is the Australian Dream dead, or just changing? We discuss Rentvesting, Co-buying, and the "Building Up" shift.

Episode Chapters

00:40 – Intro: The first episode of Money on the Mic.
01:45 – The Iran Conflict: Why this impact is "Undersold."
03:53 – Logistics 101: Why fuel is the most important variable in the Aussie economy.
06:00 – Market Sentiment: The divide between Melbourne, Sydney, and the West.
08:30 – The RBA’s Hammer: How inflation forces the hand of interest rates.
10:30 – The $100k Borrowing Hit: A cautionary tale for pre-approved buyers.
15:00 – Regional vs. High-Density: Where is the "answer" for first-time buyers?
23:15 – The 30% Construction Spike: Why PVC and plumbing just got expensive.
33:50 – Strategy Shift: Rentvesting and buying with friends.
40:00 – Final Thoughts: Why you need to talk to a broker before you give up.

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