Challenge the Standard in Financial Advice
Welcome to the Challenge the Standard podcast - a podcast for financial advisers, by financial advisers. Your hosts, Nathan Fradley and Jordan Vaka, will examine the biases, fixed thinking and status quo in advice. In every episode, we'll dive deep into the world of financial advice, questioning the norms, sparking new ideas and exploring how we could do things better. Our goal is to elevate our professional practices and 'uphold and promote the standards of our profession. So, whether you're a seasoned adviser or a bright new entrant to the Australian market (and beyond), this is where we challenge the standard, together.
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S8E15 Hiring
08/13/2026
S8E15 Hiring
This week's episode is centred on important question - when should you hire staff? Inspired by a post from Matthew Jarvis on LinkedIn, Nathan and Jordan are asking just when is the right time to bring on new people? And then, when the time IS right - just what do you have them actually do? Do you compensate for weaknesses? Push for efficiencies? Emphasise your strengths? And where do you get them from? Salary? Outsourced? Contract? Casual? Egads - family? These questions and more are asked - if not necessarily answered! Plus, a new entry coming right out of the VaULT, a well Jordan's racing to the bottom of with an unseemly enthusiasm. If you want to get involved in our UNAFFILIATED Pre-Congress Session You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26081312-42290001 Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E14 Walking the Talk with Kate Mitterer
08/06/2026
S8E14 Walking the Talk with Kate Mitterer
How well do you remember your higher education? Beyond that - how much did you give back during your uni days? Then, coming out of those halcyon / dreaded days, how did you find those first steps into the real world? Were you wobbly, stumbling around like Bambi, trying to make your way in the mean streets of financial advice? Or were you, like our guest this week, more of a take charge, grab the bull by the horns type? Kate Mitterer, long-suffering employee of one of your hosts, joins us this week to discuss her path into financial advice, from: Going from tour guide to handwriting amortisation tables on a mine site Being motivated, like your other pod host, by a spiteful irritation at the poor effort of somebody undeserving of the title 'financial adviser' Finding her people at university, and revitalising the moribund 'Financial Planning Club' there And how being authentically herself on LinkedIn has presented a multitude of opportunities - culminating in her 2025 FAAA University Student of the Year Award. Let us know your thoughts over on LinkedIn! Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info.
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S8E13 The Industry vs Retail Fund Dilemma
07/30/2026
S8E13 The Industry vs Retail Fund Dilemma
It's the debate that doesn't go away, the frustration that infuriates, the conflict that challenges - the age-old argument adviser have every day, about which super fund their client should be using. Our views are often infected by ideology, but then as we discuss in this week's episode, the counter can be true as well - the desire to avoid what we see as an ideological position can drive us into hard-to-defend positions. We also discuss the role your employer's 'houseview' can have in either amplifying, or forcefully quietening, that dissenting voice at the back of your mind. This one is based on some recent frustrations both Nathan and Jordan have found with different super funds, and attempts to propose some methods, approaches and ideas to help us all keep fighting this good fight. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26081312-26050001 Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info.
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S8E12 Everyone's Wrong About AI (Except Us)
07/23/2026
S8E12 Everyone's Wrong About AI (Except Us)
Leaving aside the deeply tongue-in-cheek title, this episode was a challenge to record. After all, both Jordan and Nathan use AI every day - they're very conscious of how much efficiency, effectiveness and, um, enthusiasm it brings to their practices. But, at the same time, they also have some reservations and notes about it all. So this episode is all about examining those reservations, exploring their concerns, declaring their blatant hypocrisies and putting the realities of using AI under a microscope. Now, that microscope being clouded with doubt, experience and a determination to avoid being all 'the yoof don't understand' about it is what made it so challenging (and fun!) to record. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E11 Vulnerable Clients
07/16/2026
S8E11 Vulnerable Clients
How do you recognise, assess and accommodate the vulnerabilities your clients bring into your meetings? In this week's episode, Nathan and Jordan explore the many different vulnerabilties clients carry in our work together. Bouncing from their work in the divorce, bereavement and aged care spaces, they discuss: How vulnerability is not, and shouldn't be seen as, an impairment or disability The different ways vulnerability can manifest in our meetings How people can mask their mental disengagement in our process so well that we don't notice What you and your firm can do to work around these vulnerabilities How different approaches can influence our work The distinction between the power of good vulnerable client policies and on-the-ground experience Heavy? Sure. Vital for those of us working with actual humans confronting the second most sensitive part of their lives? Absolutely. But don't worry regular listeners, there's also plenty of discussion about the latest stop on Nathan's Journey of the (Tea) Leaf. And tune in for what Jordan confidently believes is the greatest two-word combination he's ever uttered. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E10 SMSFs in 2026
07/09/2026
S8E10 SMSFs in 2026
Do you wind up more SMSFs that you open? So does everyone else apparently, so who is opening SMSFs then? In this episode Jordan and Nathan open SMSF discussions with little regard for recourse, discussing The CSLR Treasury paper and it's comment on SMSF inclusion The recent changes to residential LRBAs Accountant exemptions Working with vulnerable clients who have SMSF Served piping hot like a pot of herbal tea, this ep is also full of sidebars and distraction. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E9 ASIC REP 833
07/02/2026
S8E9 ASIC REP 833
Hot new ASIC report dropped this week and just like the classic, finger-on-the-pulse tastemakers they are, Nathan and Jordan are here to unpack it. Donning their best Meldrum-style hats, Nathan and Jordan dive into REP 833, which examines ASIC's concerns with the way platform trustees just don't seem ready to get their act together. There's a fair bit of ground covered: What ASIC's concerns seem to be Why they're actually pretty justified in being annoyed at how little has changed since that little thing we know as the Royal Commission The horror stories contained within the report Why this report reinforces Jordan's thinking that it's only a matter of time before fees-from-super is a thing of the past Although, really, let's face it - none of you are here for the actual content of the podcast. No, you're here to hear the latest on Nathan's obsessive journey into the land of tea leaves, and Jordan's bewilderment at Nathan's hard-earned online knowledge. That, and having Nathan sing at Jordan. Links You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26070209-16520001 Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E8 - Q&A #3 (Careers and Ethical Dilemmas)
06/25/2026
S8E8 - Q&A #3 (Careers and Ethical Dilemmas)
Take a short flight, with a hot cup of tea (but bring your own teabag) for this episode, where Jordan and Nathan answer some listener questions. They discuss How they got a break into the profession Their advice for new entrants on how to break into the profession Remuneration for junior advisers, and whether profit share is common Whether a power of attorney can/should appoint a beneficiary nomination in super The lawyers tell us they have broken a show record in how far they get into the episode without getting on topic, so be warned. Lastly, a quick appreciation to the listeners who send in questions and ethical delimmas, keep em' coming. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E7 Your Capacity
06/18/2026
S8E7 Your Capacity
How much work can you reasonably get done? How many SOAs per week, per quarter, per 40 week year is youre realistic capacity? Or is that approach old fashioned, and missing so much of the nuance in your capacity to meet your goals, in the short term but in the long term? Given it's the end of financial year, Jordan and Nathan reflect on The difference between motivation and consistency The factors that influence your capacity How time, output, culture, systems and processes influence capacity How knowing yourself and your team, and setting boundaries is just as important as the numbers How a burrito in the sun is the key to happiness As usual this episode sets out to deliver a structured approach to capacity planning, but quickly meanders to philosophy and nonsense. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E6 IPOhhhhhhs...
06/11/2026
S8E6 IPOhhhhhhs...
Well, isn't this all very exciting?! Some big new listings hitting the market and it's such fun watching everybody lose. their. goddamned. minds. Rules no longer need apply which, in the world of index investing, is kind of a big deal. So, this week, Nathan and Jordan try (honestly, we really tried) to focus on the client-facing-reality of all the noise your clients are hearing about these big floats. How relevant are they? How worst case could the worst case scenario be? And, crucially, what can we advisers do when confronted by clients either ecstatically embracing Elon-brain, or petrified by the pension plundering? (Sidenote - maybe don't listen to this one in the car with the kids...Jordan has a real moment part of the way through with language that made Nathan blush...) You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. Video of relative motion physics mentioned in the ep: CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E5 Aged Care II: Retention Boogaloo
06/04/2026
S8E5 Aged Care II: Retention Boogaloo
We've talked about Aged Care before, but things have changed. Lots of things! There are new rules about how fees are calculated, applied and, most importantly for any government agency, renamed. (Who knew 'hotelling' was a word...look it up though) Nathan's been doing some even more interesting work in this valuable, important space - and written many a CPD piece on it. And even Jordan's getting involved in it now, gingerly stepping on the learning curve and realising it's not quite as steep as he feared. Which is why we're revisiting the topic in this week's episode. Throughout, we're trying to answer the underlying question: if your clients need Aged Care advice (and they will), how will you help them? CPD Quiz thanks to CPD Check: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E4 Fine, We'll Do One On The Budget
05/28/2026
S8E4 Fine, We'll Do One On The Budget
Apparently the Federal Government dropped some sort of Budget thingamajig the other day. It's got many people in a lather with the injustice of it all. Dragged into the discussion with their characteristic reluctance to share an uninformed opinion, Nathan and Jordan thought an episode on this epoch-ending disaster* (going by the reaction of some of the panic merchants out there) would be a good idea. Or at least a chance to further expose their vicious leftie sensibilities for their patient, wonderful listening audience. They also enter what hopefully becomes another phrase for the CTS community to use at the various Chicken Little's in their lives. Complete your quiz to get CPD For this episode, thanks to CPDCheck: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E3 Paraplanning
05/21/2026
S8E3 Paraplanning
Say it with us...paraplanning. Paraplanning. Paraplanning. Para - planning. What is it, why is it important, who's doing it and how are they doing it? This week's episode - likely the first of a series we'll return to - is all about the noble art of paraplanning. Because Jordan and Nathan know that hitting the kind of collaborative alignment that can occur between a financial adviser and paraplanner is one of the joys of the profession. But they also know that finding that synchronicity takes work and more than a dollop of luck. They also end up quite enjoying whispering the word... Paraplanning... You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E2 CSLR Consultation
05/12/2026
S8E2 CSLR Consultation
We get serious this week. No guest. No banter about dentists or Jordan's latest grievance with... well, you know. Just Nathan and Jordan, a Treasury consultation paper, and a genuine call to action for every financial adviser, business owner, PY, associate, paraplanner etc that'll listen. The Compensation Scheme of Last Resort is broken. Not broken in a subtle, nuanced, needs-a-closer-look kind of way. Broken in a we-are-paying-for-other-people's-fraud-and-the-people-who-caused-it-are-on-a-golf-course kind of way. Treasury has opened a consultation on reforming the CSLR, submissions close 22 May 2026. The big end of town will be lodging submissions. The institutions, the product providers, the fund managers; all of them have people whose entire job it is to argue why this shouldn't be their problem. We need voices too. Lots of them. In this episode Nathan and Jordan have read the paper so you don't have to (although you should), and discuss What the CSLR actually is and why it isn't working the way it was supposed to All eight proposals; what Treasury is asking, what they think, and what you should probably think about before the 22nd The SMSF question that will either make your blood boil or make you think harder than you expected The one proposal that actually fixes the problem rather than just spreading the cost around Why volume of submissions from advisers matters and what happens if we stay quiet How to structure your own submission without it taking all weekend Submissions close 22 May 2026. The window is open. Let's flood it with sense. Challenge the Standard Submission Helper: Consultation Paper: The Treasury guidelines: FAAA CSLR Hub: You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S8E1 Tax Planning with Martin McGrath
05/07/2026
S8E1 Tax Planning with Martin McGrath
We're proud of all our episodes, but the level of useful gold in this one is incredible. Joined by regular guest, Martin McGrath, who seems to enjoy ganging up on Jordan as he attempts to corral the conversation into some sort of structure, they explore the world of tax planning for financial advisers. What is it Why do it Is it really our job How to do it How to do it (badly) And so much in between Share this episode with every other financial adviser you know, because there are at least three tips in here that Jordan and Nathan have shamelessly stolen for their own practices - if everybody else can do the same, what a massive impact. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Martin: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E20 The Next Stage with James D'Apice
04/30/2026
S7E20 The Next Stage with James D'Apice
It's hard to believe that this show has been going long enough to start building traditions, but this is absolutely one of our favourites - our annual check-in with full-time podcaster, part-time lawyer James D'Apice. James was good enough to join us early on in his Gravamen journey, then come back last year to talk about how he's finding the growth path in his second year of operations. Now, in year three, James returns to chat about: The joy, responsibility and depth adding a senior associate has brought to Gravamen How his branding and marketing might seem relatively 'non-traditional' - but are deeply rooted in classic ideas around specialisation Why community is our best defence against the financialisation and artifice of the modern economy (yeah, we still haven't worked out how to stay on topic) The path he's walked to his latest - and perhaps proudest - marketing venture: sponsoring the North Sydney Bears NRLW team. The impact of his recent opportunity to interview the incredible Michael Kirby. These chats and check-ins with James are incredible fun for Nathan and Jordan, and we look forward to checking in again next year. And the year after that. Etc etc. James D'Apice Find James on Visit the Watch James' interview with Michael Kirby Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E19 ID, Advising Non-Couples, Scoping and Insurance Bonds
04/23/2026
S7E19 ID, Advising Non-Couples, Scoping and Insurance Bonds
Following a run of outstanding and informative guests, this week we return to our normal programming - Jordan and Nathan mouthing off about a stack of different things - but this time prompted by listener questions! In this week's episode, they cover: The best U2 Album The conflicts that can arise when advising people who's romantic life is over, but have chosen to continue their shared life. Advice Fees from Super How advisers can navigate limits imposed by other, non-qualified, professionals in a clients life Civil mascotts And why is it that we don't really talk about investment bonds It's a fun discussion, zooming in on matters that are relevant to advisers out there. That, and a revealing discussion about sippy cups and why Jordan finds them so discomforting in a conversational setting. Enjoy! CPD Quiz thanks to CPD Check: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E18 Human Side of Advice with Brendan Frazier
04/16/2026
S7E18 Human Side of Advice with Brendan Frazier
In this episode Jordan and Nathan are joined by none other than Brendan Frazier, most well known as host of The Human Side of Money Podcast. The boys discuss How to just get started, and not be a perfectionist The power of questions, but why the words themselves are not the most important aspect in a client engagement. How leaning into the Human side creates a moat in a world of AI (yes of course we talked about AI) This ep has been a long time coming, and its well worth it! Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info.
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S7E17 Special Disability Trusts with Kathy Havers
04/09/2026
S7E17 Special Disability Trusts with Kathy Havers
Our recent episode on collaborating with other advisers - 'Playing Well With Others' - is one we're really proud of. And in that episode, Nathan and Jordan both mention the eye-opening experience of working with one specific financial adviser in a deeply specialist area. Well, this week, that adviser - Kathy Havers of Viridian Advisory - is good enough to come on and introduce us and our listeners to some of the many complexities that arise when helping people with additional needs. From Special Disability Trusts, to Centrelink, to the importance of (good) accountants and lawyers in the process, to the intricacies of guardianship, estate planning and Powers of Attorney - this episode is deep, technical, educational and, surely, useful as hell for all financial advisers out there. Kathy Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info.
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S7E16 Scaling Advice
04/02/2026
S7E16 Scaling Advice
Is it possible to scale good, quality, personalised financial advice? If it can be done - then how can we do it? Can we scale the advice without scaling the discovery? How can we find out enough about somebody to know what advice they don't need - and how do we have to charge for that work? How can you, as a professional adviser, exercise and evidence your professional judgment about what a client needs - while not being bound only to what they want? Why is an episode on the efficiency of scaling advice to keep it within limits the longest episode we've recorded? Why are there so many questions? Is it because these knuckleheads have no answers? Perhaps... You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E15 Collaborative Estates with Zinta Harris
03/26/2026
S7E15 Collaborative Estates with Zinta Harris
Financial advisers - you've spent your entire working relationship with your clients helping them build their wealth. How prepared are you to help them make sure it passes to the next generation/s, without triggering the next War of the Roses? In this week's episode, Jordan and Nathan explore one of the alternatives to the 'traditional' view of estate planning and disputes; 'interdisciplinary collaborations'. This method, familiar to regular listeners from Jordan discussing it on the divorce side, is a powerful way to help family's properly plan how their estate will play out, minimising acrimony, family ructions and estate annihilation (Zinta's word that we're shamelessly stealing). It's a broadranging, expansive discussion about this topic and we sincerely hope it helps our listeners think of introducing clients to this option - because after helping them grow their wealth, wouldn't it be great if we could help their family keep it? Resources - 29th April 2026 - website k Zinta Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E14 Discovery
03/19/2026
S7E14 Discovery
Quick question for you - is the 'old' way of doing fact finding enough in the current financial advice profession? If it is, great - let us know! But if you don't think it is, if you think that the bar has been lifted, over and over and over again, then this episode might be for you! In this weeks meander Jordan and Nathan start to tackle the battle of gathering and evidencing a clients situation to an adequate level for the advice we provide - and what does that even mean?! Pats Blog - The Trust Canyon You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E13 Playing Well With Others
03/12/2026
S7E13 Playing Well With Others
Financial advice is a fairly solitary pursuit - the burden sits heavy on our individual shoulders. But, does it necessarily need to be so? In this week's episode, Nathan and Jordan explore how advisers can, and are, work collaboratively to help meet our clients best interests. From sharing ideas, discussing cases and referring to specialists within the profession, the opportunity to find the best advice for your client, has never been greater. But how do we do it? Especially now that we are seeing so much specialisation within advice - what's the 'best' way to bring in other advisers to help your client? How do you put your own concerns, worries and, yes, even ego to the side in the interests of your client. And what of the mechanics of actually doing it? It's a fun episode and we can't wait to hear from listeners about how they're fostering collaboration in the world of advice. Tim Moores Blog: You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E12 QAR Revisited
03/05/2026
S7E12 QAR Revisited
Remember QAR? The noise, the fury, the outrage? The column inches, breath and spittle diverted into 'discussing' the Quality of Advice Review? Would it surprise you to be reminded that the final report dropped way back in February 2023 - 3 years prior to this week's episode? And, when you look around and see what a big difference it's made (...), isn't it quite astonishing? This week, prompted by Nathan discovering how funny the report was while researching another piece, he and Jordan discuss the QAR report in some (read: excruciating) detail. The report's actually a really interesting insight into the operations of the financial advice profession, and well worth a read. But absolutely stuffed if we can find the Big Lebowski reference. Links Etc: You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E11 Ethics of Engagement
02/26/2026
S7E11 Ethics of Engagement
We all know what bad engagement looks like. The shiftiness in the face of the truth, the big sales pitch, over-promises and, sadly, inevitable pain when the truth comes to light. And we know what good engagement looks like - if I asked you, you could name a handful of advisers doing great work in engaging with the public. But, what about that space in between? How big is the gap between good and bad engagement? Why does it matter? Why, after all, are we all in this race for attention and engagement? This week, Nathan and Jordan explore this topic in (arguably excruciating and hypocritical) detail, discussing: Why advisers need to compete with the unqualified noisemakers out there Why it's so important that advisers own the space, instead of ceding it to product providers etc - not just for those of us in it now, but also for the future Why the slippery slope of chasing metrics can tempt the best of us to sliding towards the wrong end of the spectrum And you'll also get to know a little more about the newest character in the CTS universe - Conscience Chicken. Riding atop Theseus's Train of Trolley Carriages all the way to roost. (It gets weird) You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E10 AI in Advice with Stuart from Claras.ai
02/19/2026
S7E10 AI in Advice with Stuart from Claras.ai
This week, we're joined by Stuart Riddle, of Claras.ai - one of the AI offerings in the financial advice market. Nathan and Jordan start by asking him about the state of AI in financial advice, and expand into: The questions advisers should be asking about AI The questions licensees are asking about AI How AI can help advisers be more efficient, effective and balanced The specific workflows and implementations they've used with Claras, and the difference it's made How these AI products actually work Be sure to stay tuned for Jordan to throw any semblance of integrity and calm out the window and instead become a shameless shill for Claras.ai. It feels, at times, as though you're eavesdropping on a very specific, very irrelevant product support query between a product and it's bumbling user. Enjoy! You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26021904-04440001 Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Stuart: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E9 Implementation
02/12/2026
S7E9 Implementation
This week, Nathan and Jordan try to answer the question - how involved should you, as an adviser, be involved in implementing your advice? Well, they don't try all that hard, but they have a shot at it. Starting at fairly opposite ends of the spectrum, they try to discuss: Working out who's job it is to get the forms signed If it's not your job, who's is it? How involved should you still be, even if you're not the one doing the forms? Now that how we get paid has been (should be?) severed from whether somebody implements our recommendations, does implementation have the same weight? Why are printers so rubbish still? This isn't a topic people discuss very much, but Nathan and Jordan are confident that it's an area ripe for challenging...and discussing...and questioning. So, have at it and let us know how involved YOU are with implementing your financial advice! You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26021111-24240001 Thanks again to the team at CPD Check for letting us publish our episodes using their AI-CPD certifying engine. Check out Clayton's episode on the pod for more info. Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E8 Gettin' Paid
02/05/2026
S7E8 Gettin' Paid
Managing to keep the meandering at the start of the ep to a - wide ranging and flower-heavy - minimum, Nathan and Jordan quickly get on task today to discuss getting paid. From choosing how to structure the timing of when you get paid for your work as a financial adviser, to the methods you offer clients, to handling that blessedly rare occasion of a client stiffing you on a bill, they try to explore all the considerations of the topic. Because, as a professional financial adviser, you add immense amounts of value to your clients lives. But do you believe in that value enough to expect to be paid your full worth? And what decisions, steps and systems have you put in place to make sure that happens without the biggest impediment (i.e., you. Us. Advisers.) getting in the way? You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26020906-00480001 Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E7 Ethics of Age Pension Advice
01/29/2026
S7E7 Ethics of Age Pension Advice
As a financial adviser, you no doubt know some stuff about the Age Pension. The Income Test. The Assets Test. Thresholds, limits, reduction factors - a fair bit of stuff. But how do you tackle some of the ethical considerations? How do you balance client best interests with client intentions - especially when some of those intentions can be a bit dicey? In this week's episode, we explore this fundamental part of retirement advice and try to add some new details and nuance to your approach. And, for keen listeners, let us know your answer to the $10,000 question - where has this 'rule' come from? Some links for you: You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: https://quiz.ensombl.com/NATH-26012910-42380001 Client Care and Practice - 0.75 Professionalism & Ethics - 0.25 Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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S7E6 Episode 100: POWER!
01/22/2026
S7E6 Episode 100: POWER!
100 episodes! 100 episodes of these two goons meandering around topics that affect, interest and bewilder financial advisers in Australia. To celebrate this milestone, Nathan and Jordan have decided to meander around the topic of 'power' in financial advice. Who has it, who doesn't, why they do (and don't), how they can exercise it and how we can increase it. It is, like most of our oddly popular ones, very philosophical, very meandering and filled with outdated pop culture references (they fly together, just so you know). Enjoy the pod and here's to an undetermined number of more episodes into the future! Thanks for listening. You can now get CPD points for listening to two knuckleheads (and guests!) wax lyrical about financial advice for an hour at a time. CPD For this Episode: Client Care & Practice – 0.25 Professionalism & Ethics – 0.75 Chuffed - Aunty Donna: Nathan: Jordan: LinkedIn: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Jordan and Nathan are both authorised representatives of PlanningSolo Licensing, AFS Licence 526143.
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