For years, owning your first home in New South Wales has felt like chasing a moving target. Between rising prices, limited supply, and steep upfront costs, many young professionals and families have felt that the goalpost kept shifting further away.

But 2025 could be the year things change.

With new government measures expanding stamp duty concessions, increasing property caps, and simplifying access to the First Home Buyer Guarantee Scheme, opportunities are opening up not only in Sydney but also across regional cities and towns throughout NSW.

If you have been waiting for a chance to enter the property market, this might be it, provided you know how to plan strategically and think beyond postcode prestige.

I’ve been asked more than once lately: “Brett, with AI tools like ChatGPT around, why would I need a financial adviser?”

It’s a fair question. Technology is changing how we all access information. You can now type in a question about superannuation, retirement, or investing, and get an instant, seemingly intelligent response.

But here’s the truth: while AI is an incredible tool, it doesn’t replace the role of a human financial adviser. Understanding the difference could save you from some painful mistakes.

A few months ago, I met with a client who looked both relieved and uneasy. Her daughter had just finished uni and moved back in, not because she wanted to, but because Sydney rents were squeezing her out.

“On one hand, I’m glad she has a roof over her head. On the other, I thought I’d finally get some financial breathing room. Now it’s back to being everyone on edge.”

This scenario is becoming more common than many parents realise. And it’s not just about extra mouths at the table.

A client came to me recently with a story that, unfortunately, I’ve seen play out more than once.

Twelve years ago, she divorced her husband. She had been working for herself as an angel investor in property, not with a steady salary but with irregular income depending on deals.

When the divorce settlement came through, she decided to keep the family home. It felt safe and familiar, a place where she could rebuild after the marriage ended. She paid out her ex-husband and took on the 40% remaining mortgage herself.

But here’s the problem: without a regular income, the debt became unmanageable. Within a year, she was forced to sell.

Not long ago, I was chatting with someone at the beach when they asked me a simple question:
“So, what do financial planners actually do?”

I started to answer, but then I realised most people already have a picture in their head. They think financial planners are just about superannuation balances, retirement planning, or maybe helping you pick a few investments.

And while yes, those things are part of it, that is only the surface. The truth is, the work I do often has as much to do with someone’s life as it does with their bank account.

If I told you that your superannuation and your squats have a lot in common, you’d probably give me that “Brett’s lost it” look.

But hear me out.

I’ve spent years talking to clients about their money, and I’ve noticed something: the people who do well financially tend to treat it the same way people treat a successful exercise routine as a habit, not a once-a-year guilt trip.

And if you’ve ever joined a gym in January and stopped going by March, you’ll know what I mean.

Not long ago, I sat down with a client who asked me something simple:
“Am I too late to start getting things sorted?”

She was in her 50s, had been through a divorce, supported kids into adulthood, and was only just beginning to think about retirement. And she felt like she was already behind.

But here’s what I told her, and what I want you to know too:
It’s never too late to make the next decade better than the last.
You just need to know what season you’re in and what kind of life it supports.

Three weeks ago, my wife Michelle and I sold our family home.

Not because we had to. Not because we were retiring tomorrow. But because, after years of working with clients on downsizing strategies, it was time we took our own advice.

We found a beautiful apartment, 50 metres from the ocean, 150 from the lake. It’s a bit smaller. It’s a bit simpler. And it suits us perfectly.

This wasn’t just a property decision. It was a lifestyle choice, and one that came with some big lessons I want to share.

I’ve had this conversation a lot lately with clients, colleagues, and even with my own family.

It usually starts with something like:
“Mum’s doing fine, but we think she’s getting lonely.”
or “Dad’s still independent, but what happens when that changes?”

And sometimes, like just last week:
“She’s 95 and still living on her own, but now we’re thinking about care options.”

If you’ve ever wondered when the right time is to start planning aged care, the answer is simple: before it becomes urgent.

In my 30s, I barely thought about superannuation. Like a lot of people, I figured my employer was making regular contributions and that was enough. Retirement felt far away, and there always seemed to be more pressing financial priorities, mortgage repayments, travel, the occasional splurge etc.

It wasn’t until my 40s that I took a closer look, and got a bit of a shock.

I’ve had this conversation more times than I can count.

It usually starts with something like:
“Mum’s had a fall. She can’t live at home anymore.”

From that moment on, everything changes. Suddenly, the adult child becomes the carer, the coordinator, the decision-maker. You’re managing doctors, hospital discharge plans, care assessments, legal paperwork, all while trying to hold together your own family, job and sanity.

I’ve walked alongside many clients through this exact scenario. And I know just how overwhelming it is when you’re not prepared.

So here’s what I’ve learned, both professionally and personally, about how to support ageing parents through a transition to care, without losing control of your own life in the process.

This week, ASIC once again stepped in to clamp down on a dodgy financial investment scheme. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the action came too late for many investors with around $500 million set to be lost collectively.

If you're thinking, “How does this keep happening?”, you're not alone.

These aren’t shady backroom operators. Many of these schemes are advertised in reputable newspapers, are registered with ASIC, and come with well-designed brochures and a promise of 8–10% returns. On the surface, they seem completely legitimate.

Earlier this week, I was chatting with a client about the holiday my wife and I had recently in the Whitsundays. I made an offhand comment about how expensive it was, which, to be fair, it absolutely was.

Without missing a beat, he laughed and told me I was just being a tight arse and should sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. And you know what? He was spot on. As the younger crowd would say, he was 100% right.

But it did get me thinking.

If you’re in your late 20s or early 30s, there’s a fair chance you’re juggling two big financial goals: paying down your HECS debt while also trying to scrape together a decent deposit for your first home.

It’s a common dilemma, the one I talk through with young Australians almost every week. The good news is, with a bit of strategy, you can make progress on both without feeling like you’re treading water until 40.

Here’s how I help clients in your shoes think about it.

If you’re in your 20s, 30s or 40s and raising a family, there’s a fair chance 2025 feels financially exhausting. Nearly every conversation I have lately comes back to the cost of living, high interest rates, or uncertainty about the future.

The usual advice such as budget better, pay down debt, save a buffer is still important. But most people I work with already know that. What they don’t often see are the overlooked opportunities sitting right under their nose.

So here are some fresh ideas, based on what I’m seeing with clients right now, that could help you take back some control.

One of the most common things I hear in our first session is:
“I feel like I should be further ahead by now.”

Whether they’re in their 30s or late 40s, earning $80K or $280K, that feeling doesn’t discriminate.

The truth is, it’s not about how much you earn. It’s about what you do with it. And when people feel behind, I don’t give them a lecture or a complicated spreadsheet. I give them a clear starting point.

If that’s where you’re at right now, unsure how to get ahead financially, here are the practical foundations I walk through with every client.

Forget the headlines. In my experience, real wealth isn’t about timing the market, it’s about time in the market.

I’ve worked with so many people over the years such as clients, colleagues, friends, and one thing has remained true no matter the interest rates or property cycle: slow and steady still wins the race. Especially when you’re building financial resilience that needs to last.

The reality of housing affordability has shifted, are you adjusting your strategy?

The average house price in Sydney has hovered around the $1.1 million mark for the past year, with CoreLogic data showing an annual increase of 8.7% to April 2025. This makes it incredibly difficult for first-home buyers and young professionals to enter the property market unless they are willing to compromise somewhere else, like on lifestyle or debt levels.

So what are your options if you're sitting on some savings and ready to invest?