Sam Woodhouse - Financial Adviser, 2/14 Dene Avenue, Malvern East (2026)

23/09/2026

I commonly see well meaning parents make the mistake of ineffectively putting money away for their kids a decade or more in advance.

They set up a bank account for each kid and give it a name like “Frank's future”.

It makes sense on the surface. You have a clear goal, you are putting money aside and you can see the balance building over time.

The problem is that the way you are doing it can sometimes be working against the bigger financial picture.

I commonly see well meaning parents make the mistake of ineffectively putting money away for their kids a decade or more in advance. They set up a bank account for each kid and give it a name like “Frank's future”. It makes sense on the surface. You have a clear goal, you are putting money aside...

21/04/2026

Most Australians have insurance they have never properly looked at.

And the strange part is they are paying for it every month.

Recently one of the largest super funds (Australian Super) announced a 40% increase in insurance premiums for members. For many people this will simply happen in the background.

The money will come out of their super account and they will never notice.

That is how group insurance works.

It is automatic, it is simple and it requires no decision.

But simple does not always mean right.

Most Australians have insurance they have never properly looked at. And the strange part is they are paying for it every month. Recently one of the largest super funds (Australian Super) announced a 40% increase in insurance premiums for members. For many people this will simply happen in the ba

24/03/2026

When I was kid I used to think the finance section of the news was serious, important and something only experts understood.

Now I see it differently, a lot of it is noise and sentiment (aka vibes).

Most people do not understand the economy, geopolitics, or company fundamentals.

What they react to is how they feel. Negative headlines shape those feelings quickly.

When I was kid I used to think the finance section of the news was serious, important and something only experts understood. Now I see it differently, a lot of it is noise and sentiment (aka vibes). Most people do not understand the economy, geopolitics, or company fundamentals. What they react

12/03/2026

“What’s the best super fund?” is a question I hear all the time and see online.

Usually people move to assessing surface level performance which seems simple.

Investment A did better than Investment B over 1, 5 or 10 years.

But real performance comparisons are rarely that straightforward.

“What’s the best super fund?” is a question I hear all the time and see online. Usually people move to assessing surface level performance which seems simple. Investment A did better than Investment B over 1, 5 or 10 years. But real performance comparisons are rarely that straightforward.

25/02/2026

I often have new people come to me asking very specific questions like:

Should we upgrade or renovate the home

Should we pay down the loan or invest

Should we add more to super

They show intent and they show you care about getting it right.

Each of these questions impacts several areas of your financial life. So looking at one of these in isolation ignores the follow on effects.

The same applies with money problems, people think these will go away but they don’t they change over time. People may be short of money which is clearly not a good problem, but they could then get a good job build good habits so now they have a tax problem (maybe a good problem to have, depends on your perspective).

I often have new people come to me asking very specific questions like: Should we upgrade or renovate the home Should we pay down the loan or invest Should we add more to super They show intent and they show you care about getting it right. Each of these questions impacts several areas of your fi

09/02/2026

“We’re ahead on the home loan” is one of my least favourite phrases.

Ahead compared to what?

Ahead of the original 30 year loan term that quietly gets reset every time your broker refinances the loan. So on paper you are debt free at 70?

“We’re ahead on the home loan” is one of my least favourite phrases. Ahead compared to what? Ahead of the original 30 year loan term that quietly gets reset every time your broker refinances the loan. So on paper you are debt free at 70?

21/01/2026

After 13 years in financial planning, the best piece of advice I would give is this.

Be careful comparing yourself to others.

It is natural and you will do it anyway, so keep some perspective when it happens.

After 13 years in financial planning, the best piece of advice I would give is this. Be careful comparing yourself to others. It is natural and you will do it anyway, so keep some perspective when it happens.

10/12/2025

I ran some numbers recently for a client who was thinking about selling an investment property.

On the surface it looked solid, about a 66% gain over the time they owned it.

But as we went through the numbers step by step, the story changed.

We factored in selling costs.We factored in capital gains tax.Then we worked out the annualised return, the actual year by year performance.

Instead of looking like a strong investment, it dropped to something closer to a term deposit.

This happens more often than people realise. Property feels like it has done well because the numbers are big in dollar terms.

It is hard not to get excited when something has gone up a few hundred thousand dollars. But when you stretch that out over 10 or 15 years, the return can be surprisingly average. And sometimes below average.

Time does most of the heavy lifting. Debt magnifies the size of the transaction. Together they can create the illusion of outperformance.

I ran some numbers recently for a client who was thinking about selling an investment property. On the surface it looked solid, about a 66% gain over the time they owned it. But as we went through the numbers step by step, the story changed. We factored in selling costs. We factored in capital ga

27/11/2025

A 6 figure income used to feel like a marker that you were getting ahead.

It meant security. It meant progress. It meant you were doing something right.

Plenty of people still hit $100,000 and feel like they have crossed some invisible line into financial comfort.

The trouble is the world has shifted.

A 6 figure income used to feel like a marker that you were getting ahead. It meant security. It meant progress. It meant you were doing something right. Plenty of people still hit $100,000 and feel like they have crossed some invisible line into financial comfort. The trouble is the world has s

29/10/2025

You've likely heard it before at a family gathering or Sunday arvo BBQ. Someone mentions they're thinking about investing in shares and without fail an older relative chimes in with shares are too risky mate and property is where the real money is.

It's practically gospel in Australia. Property isn't just bricks and mortar here. It's our national obsession and our cocktail party conversation starter and for many families it's their entire wealth building strategy rolled into one oversized mortgage.

The uncomfortable truth is that advice whilst well-meaning might be setting you up for a reality that looks very different to what your parents experienced.

You've likely heard it before at a family gathering or Sunday arvo BBQ. Someone mentions they're thinking about investing in shares and without fail an older relative chimes in with shares are too risky mate and property is where the real money is. It's practically gospel in Australia. Property isn

Sam Woodhouse - Financial Adviser

23/09/2026

21/04/2026

24/03/2026

12/03/2026

25/02/2026

09/02/2026

21/01/2026

10/12/2025

27/11/2025

29/10/2025

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