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Have you ever wanted a seat at the table with some of the biggest names in finance? The opportunity to hear their stories, the challenges they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way?
That’s exactly what Finance Friends is all about. Each week, we bring you real conversations with industry leaders, sharing insider insights, career advice, and the experiences that shaped their journeys in the world of finance.
Follow us on Instagram @FinanceFriendsPodcast for the latest updates and more exciting news!
39 Episodes
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This week we’re joined by Ryan McMillin, co-founder of Merkle Tree Capital, who went from being a crypto sceptic to running a digital assets strategy that went on to become Australia’s best-performing fund in 2023. Ryan explains the shift: Bitcoin has become a macro asset, and the real question for investors is how to think about risk, liquidity, and time horizon when prices can swing hard. We dig into the “debasement trade” and why Ryan pairs Bitcoin with gold as complementary hedges ...
What if financial literacy spoke every language, ran on verified data, and let you act the moment insight strikes? This week, we sit down with Steven Orr, Founder and CEO of Quasar Markets, whose career spans the White House, sports media, and Wall Street, to unpack his plan to build the “Amazon of FinTech” where market research, AI, and trading live in one place. Steven shares how his unique background shaped his vision, from working at the highest levels of government to building tec...
This week we’re joined by Rick Squire, Portfolio Manager of Acorn Capital, to get inside the toolkit he’s built across geology, academia, and global mining finance! Rick shares the travel and field perspective that most investors never get, after visiting more than a dozen African countries, travelling across South America and more to see assets up close. We dig into what “risk” really means in resources investing: why countries with established large scale mining industries can permit and o...
What if the most reliable signal for long-term returns isn’t price action but the quiet march of rising dividends? This week, we sit down with DivGro co-founder and CIO Jonathan Nurick to unpack an approach that treats dividend growth as both a compass for value and a behavioural anchor that helps you stay invested through storms. Jonathan traces his journey from a family office background to building a strategy that targets companies capable of raising payouts at double-digit rates fo...
In this episode of the Finance Friends Podcast, we sit down with Tom Waterhouse to unpack his journey from racetrack bookmaker to venture capital investor. Tom grew up in Australia’s most well-known racing and betting family. He begun working the rails at horse races while studying at University, then built one of Australia’s fastest-growing online bookmakers with a unique twist. If you’re curious about investing in the growing wagering industry, how AI is effecting the industry, and wh...
Season 4 of the Finance Friends podcast is officially back! 🎙️ We thought there was no better way to launch back into this season than with a re-run of one of our most beloved guests, the legend himself, Chris Judd! And just in time for the first round of the 2026 AFL season. In this episode, Chris retraces his path from buying his first shares at sixteen to crystallising a philosophy anchored to probabilities. He draws vivid lines between the locker room and the trading floor: at West Coast ...
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: intrinsi...
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. Andre...
That’s a wrap on Season 3 of Finance Friends - From the Field to Finance! In this episode, we reflects on the conversations, lessons, and standout moments that defined this season — from navigating career pivots to uncovering what truly drives success in the world of finance. You’ll hear insights from some of our favourite guests, behind-the-scenes reflections, and what’s coming next. Plus, a sneak peek into Season 4, where we’re diving deep into the world of investing — not just where ...
At just 20 years old, Jack Trengove made history as the youngest-ever captain in the AFL! Leading Melbourne Football Club with maturity beyond his years. After nearly a decade in professional sport, Jack made the bold move to pivot his career, trading the footy field for the finance world. Now an Equities Analyst at Lanyon Asset Management, he brings the same discipline, focus, and drive that once defined his playing career to the world of investing. In this episode of Finance Friends Jack re...
From scoring three-pointers at the University of San Diego to leading major real estate credit strategies as Director at Centuria Bass Credit, Izzy Chilcott's journey demonstrates how elite sporting mindsets create exceptional business outcomes. Izzy's basketball career took her from the Gold Coast to college basketball in the U.S.A, then through a decade in Australia's WNBL, culminating in a championship with the Melbourne Boomers in 2022 – her final professional game. Unlike many athletes,...
From premiership glory at Hawthorn to the boardroom as President of the Club and Founder of Vest Advisory, Andy Gowers’ journey is one of leadership, trust, and reinvention. Known as a hard-working half-back in Hawthorn’s 1991 Premiership side, Andy’s playing career was built on discipline, resilience, and a relentless team-first mindset. But his story didn’t end when he hung up the boots. Instead, he turned those same qualities toward business, founding Vest Advisory to help families and bus...
What happens after you've reached the pinnacle of human achievement? For Tom King, Olympic gold medalist in sailing at the 2000 Sydney Games, the journey from elite athletics to the corporate world reveals surprising challenges and universal truths about success, purpose, and reinvention. Tom pulls back the curtain on his remarkable path from sailing on Albert Park Lake as a teenager to becoming Chief Investment Officer at Nanuk Asset Management, Australia's leading sustainable investment fi...
From AFL powerhouse to Executive Director of Distribution at ARK Capital: Shane Wakelin’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and leadership beyond the field. Across 252 AFL games with St Kilda and Collingwood, Shane Wakelin built a reputation as a tough, reliable player who thrived under pressure. But what makes his journey remarkable is how he managed the transition into his second career. The lessons from elite sport form the backbone of Shane's business approach. Working under ...
Grant Hackett's journey from Olympic gold medal glory to CEO of a $2 billion ASX-listed company offers a masterclass in high-performance mindset and leadership transition. When Grant Hackett was 13 years old, he made a decision that would shape his entire life: he wasn't just going to the Olympics – he was going to win gold. This clarity of purpose drove him to become a three-time Olympic gold medallist who dominated the 1500m freestyle for 11 years. But what's truly remarkable is how he's a...
From premiership glory to private wealth... Ted Richards joins us for Episode 3 of From the Field to Finance! A former Sydney Swans premiership player and All-Australian defender, Ted takes us on an extraordinary journey from elite sport to high-stakes finance. With remarkable candour, he shares the mindset shift that transformed his football career, becoming the best centre-half back in the competition through self-belief, visualisation, and mental resilience. While playing AFL for 15 years,...
Former Wallaby, international rugby star, and now Investment Specialist... Luke Jones joins us for the second episode of From the Field to Finance! After a 14-year professional rugby career that spanned Australia and France, Luke made the leap from elite sport into the world of Finance. Now an Investment Specialist at Fawkner Property, he’s responsible for raising millions in capital and thriving in a new kind of pressure environment. In this episode, Luke reflects on the identity shift that ...
He needs absolutely no introduction... A two-time Brownlow Medallist, premiership captain, and one of the greatest to ever play the game, AFL legend, Chris Judd, kicks off our exclusive third season: From the Field to Finance. Judd's transition from AFL superstar to successful portfolio manager and Founder of the Cerutty Macro Fund, reveals striking parallels between elite sport and financial markets. He shares his strategic thinking and competitive drive to investment management that m...
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a finance podcast? Host Fabian and producer Sienna pull back the curtain to share the Finance Friends journey and preview an extraordinary new season featuring sports stars who've conquered the finance world. Want the inside scoop on which sports stars are joining us? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform to be first in line when Season 3 drops in just...
What does it take to rise from a call centre agent to the head of marketing at a major investment firm? Nat Jollow's journey shatters expectations and offers a refreshingly honest look at career development in financial services. This episode delves deep into how modern marketing within financial services has evolved beyond creative campaigns to become a strategic, data-driven function. As Head of Marketing at GlobalX, Nat candidly discusses the importance of building stakeholder relationshi...
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