This post is based on an interview we conducted with Stellan in September 2026.
Real Money Talk is our series where we interview Australians from all walks of life about their personal finances. The views expressed are those of the interviewees, based on their experiences with money, and as such are not necessarily representative of Spaceship's views.
We have changed the name of the interviewee for their privacy. Stellan shared his story in good faith, and we haven’t verified these accounts as factual. (Stellan’s experience is his own and is not representative of typical outcomes. Investing comes with risk and returns aren't guaranteed.)
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- We both accepted the 20% pay reduction
- I’m more interested in having enough financial freedom and flexibility to spend my time the way I want
- My current net worth is approximately $1.69 million
- My wealth-building journey wasn’t something I planned from the beginning
- My best results have come from focusing on areas that genuinely interest me
- After early success with Tesla, I became overconfident
- What has contributed most to my financial position has been my approach to spending
- Travel, easily
- Start investing earlier
- We’ve already started designing a semi-retired lifestyle
We both accepted the 20% pay reduction
I’m 47 years old and live in Sydney with my partner and our three-and-a-half-year-old son, who definitely keeps us busy.
I started a family later in life after finally meeting the right partner, someone whose values complement mine and who shares my views on money, travel, lifestyle and long-term planning.
I’ve worked in IT for more than 25 years.
A good example is that we both reduced our working week to four days when our son turned one. After my wife took seven months of maternity leave and I took the following five months, we realised how valuable that extra family time was.
We both accepted the 20% pay reduction and now each spend a dedicated day during the week with our son, while only needing childcare three days per week. For us, that has been a much better use of money than maximising income.
I’m more interested in having enough financial freedom and flexibility to spend my time the way I want
I don’t have a specific net worth target. Earlier in life I probably focused more on wealth accumulation, but these days I’m more interested in having enough financial freedom and flexibility to spend my time the way I want.
My partner and I often talk about early retirement, but having a young son has shifted our thinking somewhat. Realistically, he may not leave home until we’re well into our 60s, so our plans are less about retiring as early as possible and more about creating options.
We’d like to maintain the ability to work because we want to, not because we have to.
My current net worth is approximately $1.69 million
(Note from Spaceship - We haven’t verified Stellan’s figures as correct. He’s supplied them in good faith.)
Approximately $1.69 million, excluding personal effects beyond basic household contents.
- Home equity: ~$500,000
- Direct shares: ~$500,000
- Superannuation: ~$480,000
- Crypto: ~$100,000
- Diversified funds: ~$70,000
- Private investments/crowdfunding: ~$30,000
- Household contents: ~$10,000
I lease my car rather than own it outright.
My wealth-building journey wasn’t something I planned from the beginning
In my 20s, I was focused more on enjoying life than building wealth. I lived below my means, maintained a savings buffer from my job after university, and gradually accumulated a deposit for my first property. I eventually bought a small apartment in Melbourne at age 30.
After selling the apartment a few years later for a healthy profit, I started taking investing much more seriously.
(Note from Spaceship - housing markets, like investing markets, go up and down. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance.)
A friend introduced me to a financial adviser, and together we developed a long-term investment plan. Most of the property proceeds went into managed funds, and I continued adding a significant portion of my salary through regular dollar-cost averaging over the next decade.
Those early years shaped my thinking around investing. Through regular discussions with my adviser, I became more comfortable with market volatility and learned that shares were not nearly as risky or intimidating as many people believe when viewed through a long-term lens.
That confidence gradually expanded my interest in investing and eventually led me to explore selective direct investments alongside my diversified fund holdings.
My best results have come from focusing on areas that genuinely interest me
The direct investing side of my portfolio has largely developed over the last six years.
My best results have come from focusing on areas that genuinely interest me and where I’m willing to spend considerable time researching and staying informed.
I’ve had strong successes with investments such as Tesla and Bitcoin, but I’ve also made mistakes by spreading capital across too many technology stocks and learning some expensive lessons during the 2021 tech downturn.
After early success with Tesla, I became overconfident
Some of the technology stocks I bought around the 2021 boom.
After early success with Tesla, I became overconfident and invested in too many companies that I couldn’t realistically follow closely enough. Some never recovered.
It reinforced the importance of sticking to businesses I truly understand and broad diversification with the rest.
What has contributed most to my financial position has been my approach to spending
I’ve never cared much for brands, luxury purchases, expensive cars, or constantly upgrading technology. I buy groceries on special, use discount dining apps, furnish homes through Facebook Marketplace, and now do the same for many children’s toys and clothes.
I prefer small apartments to large homes because they’re cheaper, simpler, and require less maintenance. I’d rather spend time enjoying parks, beaches, hiking trails, and camping than maintaining a large property.
My partner and I have been together for seven years and share similar financial values.
Despite both earning good incomes, we consciously avoid lifestyle inflation.
Travel, easily
I’ve visited more than 50 countries and some of my best memories have come from experiences rather than possessions. I also enjoy camping, road trips and the outdoors.
Beyond travel, I’m happy spending money on things that buy time, flexibility and experiences with family.
We see travel as an investment.
Start investing earlier
I spent much of my 20s focused on enjoying life and didn’t really appreciate the power of compounding. I’d tell my younger self that even small amounts invested early can make a huge difference decades later.
I’d also encourage myself to learn about shares and investing much sooner.
We’ve already started designing a semi-retired lifestyle
Most importantly, we’ve already started designing a semi-retired lifestyle. By both working four days a week, we’ve effectively traded some income for more time while we’re still young enough to enjoy it and while our son is growing up.
That balance between financial security, family time and quality of life is probably my real retirement plan. It’s less about reaching a magic number and more about gradually building a life where work becomes increasingly optional.
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