Australia hasn't had real productivity growth in six years, but the government keeps spending more and taxing more to cover the gap. Nick goes through the federal budget numbers, what productivity actually means when you strip out the spin, and why the answer might not be another tax bracket or another levy, but actually spending less.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:17) Free Public Transport in Victoria and the $400 Million Price Tag
(00:58) Jacinta Allan on Sunrise and Victoria's $200 Billion Debt
(02:41) Federal Budget Reforms: CGT, Negative Gearing, Family Trusts
(03:42) Why Cutting Costs Is Easier Than Growing Revenue in Business
(06:06) Zero Productivity Growth for 6 Years and $786 Billion in Spending
(07:53) Why Government Doesn't Run Like a Business
(10:51) Public Sector Healthcare Productivity Down 13.5% Since 2017
(14:03) The $15 Billion CFMEU Money Nobody Investigated
(14:51) COVID Business Packages and 11% Non-Deductible ATO Interest
(17:16) Should the PM Earn $10 Million per year for Better Results
(22:37) Why More Australians Are Paying Attention to Government Waste
(25:16) The $20 Million Campaign to Pump Your Tyres

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The ATO's audit hit list is out for 2026, and they've got more data on you than ever. Your bank, your crypto platform, your rental agent, your Instagram, they're matching it all against your return. This episode covers the real triggers that put you on their radar, and why using the ATO as a cheap line of credit just became one of the most expensive mistakes a business owner can make.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(01:23) What Triggers an ATO Audit in 2026
(02:17) Lifestyle vs Income, the ATO's #1 Audit Flag
(02:40) The Client Who Used Cash and Gift Cards to Stay Off the Radar
(05:10) Property, Cars and Social Media in ATO Investigations
(06:51) Crypto, Banks and Airbnb, the Data the ATO Already Has
(07:44) Rental Properties, the ATO's #2 Audit Area
(10:40) Crypto, the ATO's #3 Audit Area
(14:43) A Simple System to Stay Organised for Tax
(16:51) Incorrect Deductions and the "Everyone Claims It" Myth
(19:36) How the ATO Benchmarks You Against Your Occupation Code
(22:22) GIC No Longer Tax Deductible, Amnesty Until December 2026
(25:12) Using the ATO as a Line of Credit Is Over
(28:44) Payday Super Starts 1 July 2026

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

$4 to $5.4 trillion is set to change hands in Australia's great wealth transfer, and most families have no idea how much tax is hiding in super, shares, and property along the way. Nick walks through a real client case where a 94-year-old with $5.3 million in assets was staring down a $300,000 tax bill for her kids, and the strategies that brought it right down. And with The Australia Institute now proposing to bring back an official inheritance tax, estimated to raise $10 billion a year, this is a conversation worth having sooner rather than later.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:19) The Great Australian Wealth Transfer, $4 to $5.4 Trillion
(01:04) Why the Wealth Transfer Affects Every Family
(03:30) Could Australia Bring Back an Inheritance Tax?
(04:28) The Australia Institute Proposes $10 Billion a Year Inheritance Tax
(05:21) Betty's $5.3 Million Estate and a Hidden $300,000 Tax Bill
(07:34) Taxable vs Non-Taxable Super Components Explained
(09:28) How a Full Pension Withdrawal Saved $100,000 in Super Tax
(10:07) Re-Contribution Strategy to Reduce Taxable Super
(12:12) Capital Gains Tax on Inherited Shares
(13:34) Staging a Share Sell-Down Over Three Years to Save $55,000
(15:08) Inherited Property, Main Residence vs Investment Rules
(18:58) Selling Property Before Passing It On to Reduce Capital Gains
(22:04) The $390,000 Super Re-Contribution Rule

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Moving to Dubai to pay less tax is all over social media, but leaving the Australian tax system is a lot harder than packing your bags. If you've ever looked at your tax bill and thought about leaving, the ATO is already tracking more than you think: your travel, your bank accounts, even your family ties. Jase is working with a client who's actually making the move, and walks through what it takes to genuinely separate from the Australian tax system, and the two things that follow you no matter where you go.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:34) The Trend of Moving Overseas to Pay Less Tax
(02:29) A Real Client Moving to Dubai, $100 Pizza and $50 Coffees
(04:43) What the ATO Actually Tracks When You Leave Australia
(06:14) The Resides Test, Domicile Test, and 183 Day Rule
(07:54) Why Intent Matters More Than Anything to the ATO
(09:56) Your HECS Debt Follows You Overseas
(11:43) Why You Can't Access Your Super When You Leave
(13:32) How the ATO Tracks You With Open Data and AI
(15:27) What Happens If You Keep Your Australian Property
(17:38) Foreign Resident Tax Rates Start at 32.5%
(19:25) The ATO's $50 Billion Tax Debt Book
(20:27) Departure Prohibition Orders and Enforcement
(21:43) $30,000 to Set Up a Company in Dubai

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A first-home buyer did everything by the book and still lost $70,000 in three and a half years. Nick walks through the real numbers on a $495,000 boutique apartment in Carnegie, from strata fees that more than doubled to the government grants you can only use once, and what it actually cost when it came time to sell.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:23) Does Property Really Double Every 7 to 10 Years
(01:25) The $70,000 First Home Buyer Case Study
(02:48) Purchase Price $495,000 and the True Cost of Entry
(03:49) Rent Vesting in South Yarra vs Buying
(04:48) Why a Boutique Apartment in Carnegie Made Sense
(06:04) The Numbers Behind the $70,000 Loss
(07:30) Strata Fees from $1,500 to $4,000 Per Year
(08:35) Mortgage Repayments vs Rent, $700 vs $500 Per Week
(10:02) Sold for $480,000 and the Costs That Stacked Up
(11:11) Losing Access to the First Home Guarantee and Stamp Duty Savings
(13:17) How to Choose a Buyers Agent for Investment Property
(16:45) Why Rising Strata Costs Force Apartment Owners to Sell
(20:48) Land vs Apartments and Why Land Gives You Options

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI agents are no longer just a buzzword. They're already automating real tasks in businesses and the speed of change is only accelerating. We share firsthand examples of how AI is boosting productivity, replacing manual processes, and why having a deliberate AI strategy is no longer optional for business owners.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:24) The Automation Course That Was Obsolete in Five Months
(02:21) What Is an AI Agent and Why Does It Matter
(03:03) Why AI Agents Are the Next Wave After Outsourcing
(05:17) Building a Deliberate AI Strategy With a Set Budget
(07:37) Why Most Business Owners Still Haven't Started With AI
(09:19) How AI Replaced Two Offshore Roles Processing 1,000 Emails a Day
(10:00) The Tool That Saves Brokers Three Hours Per Loan
(12:15) Automating Financial Statements for 500 Business Clients
(14:40) Why Teams Are Switching From ChatGPT to Claude
(15:23) The Security Risks of Running AI Agents on Your Devices
(17:45) When AI Deleted Half a Meta Executive's Inbox
(20:19) Controlling the Controllables in an AI-Driven World
(22:52) Why AI Is the Biggest Shift Since Social Media

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you actually need a high income to build wealth? We see the same problem at every income level. You earn more, spend more, and still feel stuck. In this episode, we walk through six common mistakes that hold people back, from lifestyle creep and no clear plan, to how you use debt and think about building assets. It’s a clearer look at why income alone doesn’t lead to wealth, and what actually does.

On this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Intro
(00:30) Do You Need A High Income To Build Wealth
(01:00) Why High Income Earners Still Live Paycheck To Paycheck
(02:10) What Wealth Means, Assets, Freedom And Income
(05:27) Lifestyle Inflation, Cars, Homes And Private School Fees
(07:28) Why No Plan And Bad Debt Stop You Building Wealth
(10:19) From Spending To Asset Accumulation
(13:49) Getting Strategy, Structure And Tax Right Early
(16:29) Growth Vs Income Assets And Why It Matters
(20:07) Using Your Business To Build Wealth
(21:56) Using Home Equity And Debt Recycling To Invest
(24:55) Overexposure, Cash Flow Risk And Forced Asset Sales
(26:00) Protecting Wealth With Insurance And Risk Planning
(28:33) Turning Assets Into Usable Wealth And Exit Planning

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Australians pay more in beer tax than what the government collects from companies exporting our gas. Senator David Pocock has been calling it out in Parliament, it's doing the rounds, and it's got Jase fired up. He's done the numbers on the petroleum resources rent tax, looked at how Norway faced the same situation with their oil boom and took a very different approach, and what a 10% levy on Australia's resource exports over the last 20 years could have built.

On this episode, we discuss:

00:00) Intro
(00:17) Australia's Beer Tax vs Gas Export Tax
(00:40) David Pocock's Beer Tax vs PRRT Video in Parliament
(01:47) $2.7 Billion in Beer Excise vs $1.5 Billion from Gas Exports
(03:00) How Much Tax Do Teachers, Truck Drivers, and Emergency Workers Pay
(04:16) Australia's $1 Trillion Government Debt
(04:43) Australia Pays $67 Million a Day in Interest
(06:21) Where Australia's Tax Revenue Actually Comes From
(07:13) Norway's Oil Tax and the $2.5 Trillion Sovereign Fund
(08:49) $460,000 Invested Per Norwegian Citizen
(10:46) What a 10% Australian Resource Export Levy Could Have Built
(13:54) The Prime Minister's Response on the PRRT
(15:46) Career Politicians and Short-Term Thinking
(17:32) Paying Politicians More to Attract Better Leaders

David Pocock's Senate question on beer tax vs gas tax: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UZln5YCghKo

Check out the free resources from Inovayt here.

Send us an email: hello@thenumbersgamepodcast.com.au

The Numbers Game is brought to you by Future Advisory & Inovayt.

Hosts:
Nick Reilly
Jason Robinson

This podcast is produced by VIDPOD.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.