221. The financial middle class squeeze - Earn more, feel poorer
Release Date: 02/17/2026
247. How AI Is Changing Money Management and Financial Advice
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! This week, hosts Billy Amiridis and Andrew Nicolaou dig into a topic that's front of mind for a lot of people right now: how artificial intelligence is changing the way we manage money. Billy and Andrew are upfront from the outset that AI is not replacing a financial advisor, but it is changing what's possible for everyday Australians who want to get more organised, ask better questions and understand their own finances more clearly. They walk through the practical ways people are already using AI, from analysing household...
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246. Financial Mistakes We See Every Week (And How to Avoid Them)
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew break down the financial mistakes that catch people out most, not the obvious ones like risky speculation, but the ones made by people who genuinely think they're doing the right thing. These are the quiet, compounding errors that cost the most in dollars and time. They walk through seven of the biggest patterns they see week in, week out: buying assets in the wrong ownership structure, letting insurance go unreviewed for years, holding too much cash instead of putting it...
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245. Melbourne Real Estate with Dimitri Damianos
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew sit down with Dimitri Damianos from Buxton in Oakleigh to answer the question every buyer and seller is quietly asking right now: is the Melbourne property market actually falling, or just changing shape? With ten years on the ground selling in Melbourne's south-east, Dimi cuts through the media headlines to explain what's really happening at inspections and auctions, why "wait for prices to drop further" is some of the worst advice a buyer can follow right now, and what the shift away from...
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244. The Hidden Costs of Buying Your Dream Home
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle the question most buyers never ask until it's too late: what does a dream home actually cost once you move past the purchase price? Timed against recent federal budget changes, they break down why more people are pouring money into their own home instead of investment property, and why that decision carries far more hidden expenses than most realise. They walk through the layers that quietly stack up after settlement: rates, insurance, maintenance running 1 to 2% of property value every...
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243. What Would Happen If Something Were to Happen to Your Business Partner
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle a question most business owners have never stopped to ask: what actually happens to the business, and to the people left behind, if something happens to your business partner? Using their own partnership as a real-world example, they break down why this isn't about replacing a role or keeping operations running. It's about what happens when a grieving spouse suddenly becomes a shareholder, the surviving partner needs to find hundreds of thousands of dollars they don't have, and neither...
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242. Should you pay off your mortgage before you invest
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle one of the most common questions they get asked: should you be debt free before you invest? With Australia's 30-year mortgage terms, waiting until the house is paid off before investing can mean losing decades of compound growth — so the real answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. They break down good debt versus bad debt, why psychology often beats mathematics when it comes to money decisions, and how tools like offset accounts and debt recycling can let you pay down...
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241. Changes to Tax Rules - Joined by Ryan Finlay
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew are joined by Ryan Finlay from Willis Partners. Together they unpack the most significant tax reform Australia has seen in 30 years, breaking down what's coming, who's affected, and what you need to do before July 1, 2027. The federal budget introduced sweeping changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing, and trust distributions that will impact investors, business owners, and families planning for retirement. The government says these changes help younger Australians into housing. But the...
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240. Investment and education bonds
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore investment bonds and education bonds, a tax-effective vehicle most people have never heard of. But with recent federal budget changes, these are about to become far more popular. If you're a high-income earner looking for tax-efficient investing outside of superannuation, or a parent planning to fund school fees, investment bonds offer a compelling alternative. They cap your tax rate at 30% (often reducing to 21-22% effective rate), eliminate capital gains tax when held for 10+ years,...
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239. The Hidden Cost of Being Comfortable
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore the hidden cost of being comfortable, and why financial comfort can actually sabotage your wealth-building. When your bills are paid, money's left over each month, and life feels good, it's easy to stop pushing forward. But comfort breeds complacency. Andrew and Billy break down why getting comfortable is just the first step, and the real danger lies in mistaking it for financial security. If you're earning solid income and feel like you're doing okay financially, but you're...
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238. The Next Generation Won't Retire Like Their Parents
360 Money Matters
Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast! In this episode, Billy and Andrew In this episode, Billy and Andrew explore why the traditional retirement model—work until 65, collect your gold watch, live on age pension—is completely obsolete for the next generation. They unpack the real reasons retirement looks so different now: property costs, extended mortgages, lifestyle expectations, and longer lifespans have fundamentally shifted the goalposts. If you're wondering whether you'll actually retire, or how your retirement might look different from your parents', this...
info_outlineWelcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!
In this episode, Billy and Andrew tackle the paradox plaguing middle-class households: wages are up, but financial stress is higher than ever. We explore the hidden forces draining your wallet—from subscription creep and lifestyle inflation to housing costs and Australia's tax burden—and why it's exponentially harder to manage money today than even a decade ago.
This episode unpacks why middle-class Australians are experiencing the squeeze despite rising incomes—and what you can do about it.
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This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis & Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706
Episode Highlights
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Why the "middle-class squeeze" hits hardest between upper and lower income brackets
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How businesses have become smarter at getting you to spend without noticing
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The real cost of social media comparison and lifestyle creep
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Why housing and taxation are compounding the problem
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Practical strategies to prioritize financial flexibility over lifestyle optimization
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