This week we’re throwing it back to one of our favourite Season 1 episodes. We sat down with Vas, the CIO and co-founder of Collins Street Asset Management, to explore a value-investing philosophy built on focus, conviction, and the courage to look where everyone else isn’t.

From cracking open his piggy bank at twelve, to running a concentrated Australian equities fund, which has returned 13.8% p.a after fees since inception. Vas walks us through what real value investing looks like: intrinsic value over momentum, fundamentals over noise, and the freedom a boutique structure gives to take true contrarian positions.

What makes this conversation timeless is Vas’ process. He shares the routines that keep his decision-making sharp: batching emails, avoiding unsolicited calls, steering clear of social feeds, journaling every investment, and revisiting his own thinking to separate luck from skill. It’s a masterclass in staying disciplined when markets get loud.

If you care about value investing, concentrated portfolios, and building conviction without the noise, this conversation will sharpen how you think and how you allocate.

Follow Vas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasilios-piperoglou-3122a3225/
Visit the Collins Street Asset Management Website: https://www.csvf.com.au/

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

An Australian, nationally recognised, retail super fund investing in Bitcoin? That’s not a headline grab; it’s a measured, research-led step that says a lot about where money is going. This week, we sit down with AMP quantitative researcher Jonas Benner to unpack why a quant team that runs dynamic overlays across equities, bonds, and commodities now includes Bitcoin, and what it took to get there.

Jonas brings a rare blend of skills and perspective. He charts his path from Germany to Australia, the scramble after a COVID layoff, and the decision to rebuild his career in quantitative finance.

His resilience sets the stage for a clear, rigorous explanation of how Bitcoin actually works—open-source code, global nodes, and miners assembling transactions into blocks every 10 minutes. We dig into the halving schedule, the difficulty adjustment, and the 21 million cap, showing why supply cannot speed up when price rises, unlike gold or any other commodity.

Whether you’re sceptical or curious, this conversation gives you the mechanics, the incentives, and the institutional context to think like a professional investor.

Follow Jonas Benner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-benner/
Visit the AMP Website: https://www.amp.com.au/

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

We are kicking off Season 4 with a powerhouse conversation as Fabian sits down with Andrew McKie, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager at Elston Asset Management!

With two decades of experience navigating markets, constructing portfolios, and guiding clients through every economic cycle, Andrew brings unmatched clarity to a world that often feels overly complicated.

In this episode, we unpack how monopolistic advantages, culture, and execution compound far beyond any short‑term chart. Andrew’s path from recession‑era credit collections to stockbroking and on to building a specialist managed accounts platform sets the stage for a masterclass in investing.

If you want a clearer way to weigh value versus growth, judge management by outcomes, whether you're just starting your wealth journey or looking to sharpen your strategy, Andrew’s insights give you the tools and perspective to make smarter, more confident investment decisions

Follow Andrew McKie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mckie-cfa-99949b40/
Visit the Elston Asset Management website: https://www.elston.com.au/asset-management/elston-asset-management/

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!