Case Study: The road to early retirement

In this case study episode, Stuart explores the remarkable journey of a couple on the road to early retirement. When they began working together in 2015, the couple had a net worth of $420k. Fast forward to today, their net worth has soared to $2.5m, driven by strategic property decisions and smart investment moves. They purchased their first investment-grade apartment in 2016 for $488k, followed by a house in Brisbane in 2019 for $885k, which is now worth $1.4m. They also upgraded their home in 2022 and have accumulated $220k in shares through diverse ETFs. The couple's family income has seen a substantial increase from $270k in 2017 to $570k today. With this growing income, they have balanced improving their lifestyle and making prudent long-term investments. Stuart highlights their unique approach of being very hands-on with tracking their wealth and cash flow while also diligently following professional advice. The next phase of their strategy involves investing in shares to build what Stuart calls a "third super fund," aiming to retire within the next decade. This episode offers valuable insights into achieving financial independence through disciplined planning and investment. Read Stuart's latest book? He's only got 19 reviews on Amazon so far, if Wealth by Design helped you, leaving one would mean a lot: https://www.amazon.com.au/review/create-review?asin=192318654X Run your own business? Check out Business by Design, Stuart and Mena's show on starting, growing and exiting a business, at https://www.businessbydesignpodcast.com/ Our most popular free guides: Over the years we've written hundreds of articles. These three bring our best thinking together on the topics that matter most right now: choosing a super fund, debt recycling, and navigating the new tax changes. Download them here Got a question for the podcast? Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to my weekly blog: Stay connected here Important This podcast provides general information about finance, tax and credit. It doesn't take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs, so you need to assess whether it's relevant to your circumstances before acting on it. If you're not sure, speak to a licensed, trustworthy professional.