2026 - Make this Your Best Year of Finances Yet

We are already 1 month down for 2026 - how are your financial resolutions going?

It never fails to amaze me how, over a five year period, an ordinary Australian can completely and massively change their financial and housing circumstances with some intentional, yet sensible, behavioural and financial basics. I have personally seen multiple times, that its never too late, and that includes in your 40s, 50s and 60s.

We get SUCH a kick out of watching this happen in real time for our clients of all ages, seeing them see themselves make it happen and transform their lives.

We at Thunderbolt, ultimately want us to become redundant for you, by firstly, obtaining, then later, eliminating, your home loan. To have housing security above all else is a powerful positive anchor in someone’s life, both physically and emotionally. To own this asset that then gives you the ability to go and generate wealth and do other things, rent it out , return to live in it, Airbnb it over the holidays, or whatever you choose to do, knowing you have your own little patch to defend when the Zombie Apocalypse comes (or you simply wish to retire and tend to your garden or whatever floats your boat).

I was very fortunate in my earlier career as a Senior Investment Adviser at Macquarie Bank and previously large US investment banks, to have exposure to highly successful and influential clients. Clients either inherited it or were self made, and it was always interesting seeing how the psychology of money wove its way into their lives and the various levels of happiness attached to it and how their differing financial habits translated to wealth outcomes (I really should write a book about this - stay tuned).

As a kid growing up with a single mum who worked 3 entry level jobs to barely keep a roof over our heads with interest rates at 17%, seeing the levels of wealth with many of these clients blew my mind. My mother had no financial education and as a result, nothing was passed onto me. I so wish I was given an education on basic financial principles when I was young. (Picture of with my 87 year old mum last week at her nursing home. My awesome mum taught me many things, but financial knowledge was not one of them, more of a “how not to” guide. She in turn as an orphan was also never taught any financial knowledge, nor her mother who was also an orphan, hopefully I have now well and truly broken the cycle in this department!).

The reason I have chosen to now focus as solely a mortgage broker with our team is that I really wanted to help everyday Australians have direct access to excellent financial advice and education in an approachable manner. These principles, whilst simple, from what I have seen in my career and life, are the difference between a financial successful life and a life where you cant seem to get off basic ground zero.

Ultimately our goal is for you, our clients, to become financially successful which results in you being able to have the financial freedom to make choices that you and your family are able to enjoy your life.

Having some equity behind you wont solve all your problems, but it sure is one major life stress greatly reduced and it gives you options.

Some of our strategies include:

• Educating you first and foremost.

• Structuring your loans correctly upfront - for example using principle and interest versus interest only. Having separate loans for separate purposes. Educating you about the power of an offset account.

• Using fixed rate loans when we think its the right time and contacting you with our recommendations. This can literally take years off your home loan if you get the timing right.

• Ensuring you are paying a competitive rate and regularly reviewing this. Where possible getting rid of the highest rate debts first. The smallest of changes and the power of compounding.

• Debt recycling. Smashing your home loan in the early years, then converting this paid off loan to an investment, making use of interest only loans for an investment, running in parallel and significantly reducing your tax bills (working with your tax advisers and financial planner)

• Making use of the tax benefits of superannuation and working with your financial planner.

• Making use of the government schemes out there.

• Being a sounding board and an accountability partner.

• Its an ongoing partnership that will hopefully last for many years.

So, if your Christmas credit card bills are still rolling in this week and you have to close one eye to open them, and you are saying to yourself, I dont want to be here again in another year, lets have a chat, and see how we can change it together.

Look forward to your email at [email protected] or call me 0403397060

Bushfires - Sending Thoughts

Hopefully the bushfires in Victoria will settle down after this week as the worst of the heat passes and our Victorian mates can regroup and get back to some normality. To those that have lost their homes we are so so sorry. Our picture this week is from my home a few weeks ago. Near enough to keep us close to home for a while but far enough to stay calm.

Get Your Financial Plan in Place

We’re in the Snowy Mountains, Braidwood, Canberra and Sydney this Month

Want to discuss your financial needs? Lets catch up in person or via Zoom

That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up and keep cheering each other on — life is better when we support each other.

Reggie and the Thunderbolt Team