How to scale without losing control of your business

How to scale without losing control of your business

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2260657/fan_mail/new] Business growth, bank debt and making better capital decisions Running a business is not just about growth. It is about knowing where to put your capital, when to take on debt, who to back, and how to make decisions that still make sense years from now. In this episode of The Winner’s Playbook, Billy is joined by Steve Sloane, Managing Director of Link Wealth, to talk through the realities of building and scaling a business. They unpack the record short bet against Australia’s big four banks, how commercial lending works, what banks look at behind the scenes, and the risks business owners take when using debt to grow. Steve also shares his view on capital allocation, managing shareholders, staff and other stakeholders, and why culture, cash flow and long-term thinking matter more than most people realise. If you run a business, want to grow one, or want to better understand how smart operators think about money, debt and decision-making, this episode is worth a listen. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:11 Meet Steve Sloane 02:37 The $11 billion bet against Australia’s big banks 06:50 How commercial lending works 10:36 Personal guarantees and director risk 15:23 Managing shareholders, staff and stakeholders 22:32 How businesses access capital 27:14 Common capital allocation mistakes Hit follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone building something for the long term. ---- Want to find an Adviser that suits your financial needs: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/ [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/] Get in touch with Josh: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link] Get in touch with Billy: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/billy-norman-link [https://calendly.com/billynorman/15-min-clarity-call?month=2025-02] Josh's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv [https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv] Billy's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp [https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp]     Sign up to Link Wealth Group’s newsletter, Wealth Simplified: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified  [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified]    Our Financial Services + Credit Guide: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide]  ----    General advice disclaimer: The information contained within this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please reach out if you wish to discuss your personal situation.

Is early retirement actually overrated?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2260657/fan_mail/new] Testamentary trusts, direct shares and the retirement question Testamentary trusts are back in the spotlight after the government walked back part of its proposed trust tax changes, and it could matter for families thinking about estate planning, asset protection and passing wealth to the next generation. In this episode of The Winner’s Playbook, Josh and Billy break down what a testamentary trust is, how it works, and why it can be useful for families with children, vulnerable beneficiaries, business owners or larger estates. They also unpack the risks of investing in direct shares, using WiseTech’s recent share price fall as a reminder of how quickly company-specific risk can hit investors. Plus, they discuss the latest SpaceX update, the upcoming OpenAI and Anthropic listings, where capital is flowing in the market, and whether early retirement is actually overrated. If you’re building wealth, thinking about estate planning, holding direct shares, or working towards financial freedom, this episode is packed with practical insights. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:22 Testamentary trusts and the Budget update 04:05 What is a testamentary trust? 07:17 Protecting family wealth and future relationships 13:49 The risk of investing in direct shares 21:21 SpaceX, OpenAI and where capital is flowing 31:09 Is early retirement overrated? 37:52 Why too much choice can become a problem Hit follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who wants to make smarter decisions around wealth, investing and long-term planning. ---- Want to find an Adviser that suits your financial needs: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/ [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/] Get in touch with Josh: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link] Get in touch with Billy: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/billy-norman-link [https://calendly.com/billynorman/15-min-clarity-call?month=2025-02] Josh's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv [https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv] Billy's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp [https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp]     Sign up to Link Wealth Group’s newsletter, Wealth Simplified: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified  [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified]    Our Financial Services + Credit Guide: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide]  ----    General advice disclaimer: The information contained within this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please reach out if you wish to discuss your personal situation.

Do employee shares create wealth or tax stress

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2260657/fan_mail/new] SpaceX, employee shares and the Melbourne property question SpaceX has listed, the share price has already jumped, and thousands of current and former employees have reportedly become millionaires on paper. In this episode of The Winner’s Playbook, Josh and Billy unpack what the SpaceX IPO means, how employee share plans and ESOP-style incentives work, and why having a clear plan around vested shares, tax and concentration risk matters. They also look at Melbourne property prices, mortgage stress, and whether the current market could create buying opportunities for long-term investors. Plus, they discuss the latest interest rate outlook, the Trump Iran deal, oil prices, crypto, and why diversification still matters when markets are moving quickly. If you’re investing, holding employee shares, thinking about property, or trying to make sense of the latest market headlines, this episode is worth a listen. Hit follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who wants to make smarter long-term money decisions. ---- Want to find an Adviser that suits your financial needs: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/ [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/] Get in touch with Josh: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link] Get in touch with Billy: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/billy-norman-link [https://calendly.com/billynorman/15-min-clarity-call?month=2025-02] Josh's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv [https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv] Billy's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp [https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp]     Sign up to Link Wealth Group’s newsletter, Wealth Simplified: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified  [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified]    Our Financial Services + Credit Guide: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide]  ----    General advice disclaimer: The information contained within this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please reach out if you wish to discuss your personal situation.

What’s really happening in Australia’s property market right now?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2260657/fan_mail/new] Negative gearing, rising rates and lazy bank deposits The property market is shifting, interest rates are back under pressure, and Australia’s big banks are sitting on billions in deposits paying everyday Australians almost nothing. In this episode of The Winner’s Playbook, Josh and Billy unpack how the latest proposed negative gearing changes could affect property investors, first home buyers, renters and borrowing capacity. They also break down why yield and income matter more than ever, why commercial property and SMSF strategies may get more attention, and what investors need to consider before rushing into their next property decision. Plus, they take a closer look at the big four banks, CBA valuations, lazy deposits, and why leaving large amounts of cash in low-interest accounts could cost you hundreds of thousands over time. If you’re investing in property, holding bank shares, sitting on cash, or trying to make smarter decisions in a higher-rate Australia, this episode is worth a listen. Share this episode with someone who needs to rethink where their money is sitting. ---- Want to find an Adviser that suits your financial needs: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/ [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/] Get in touch with Josh: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link] Get in touch with Billy: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/billy-norman-link [https://calendly.com/billynorman/15-min-clarity-call?month=2025-02] Josh's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv [https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv] Billy's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp [https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp]     Sign up to Link Wealth Group’s newsletter, Wealth Simplified: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified  [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified]    Our Financial Services + Credit Guide: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide]  ----    General advice disclaimer: The information contained within this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please reach out if you wish to discuss your personal situation.

This could be the biggest IPO the world has ever seen

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2260657/fan_mail/new] SpaceX could be heading for one of the biggest IPOs in history, and even if you never buy the shares directly, there’s a good chance you could still end up exposed through your super, ETFs, managed funds or index funds. In this episode of The Winner’s Playbook, Josh and Billy unpack what happens when a private company like SpaceX becomes public, why investors are watching Elon Musk so closely, and how a major listing could flow through global markets. They also break down the latest Budget fallout, including proposed changes to capital gains tax, trusts, bucket companies and why investment bonds could become more popular if the rules go ahead. If you invest through super, ETFs, shares, trusts or company structures, this episode will help you understand what could be changing and why it matters. Hit follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone trying to make sense of the latest investment and tax changes. ---- Want to find an Adviser that suits your financial needs: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/ [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/] Get in touch with Josh: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/josh-lee-link] Get in touch with Billy: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/billy-norman-link [https://calendly.com/billynorman/15-min-clarity-call?month=2025-02] Josh's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv [https://www.tiktok.com/@joshleefinadv] Billy's TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp [https://www.tiktok.com/@billynormanfp]     Sign up to Link Wealth Group’s newsletter, Wealth Simplified: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified  [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/wealth-simplified]    Our Financial Services + Credit Guide: https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide [https://www.linkwealth.com.au/financial-services-and-credit-guide]  ----    General advice disclaimer: The information contained within this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please reach out if you wish to discuss your personal situation.