Tech-Driven Mortgage Broking: Tom Carr on AI, Notion, and Helping Expats Buy in Australia

Tech-Driven Mortgage Broking: Tom Carr on AI, Notion, and Helping Expats Buy in Australia

Host Alesha Masaud chats with Tom Carr of Wombat Home Loans, a tech-savvy mortgage broker with 20 years’ banking experience, about his path from UK investment banking to CBA (including product ownership on the CommBank app with an AI focus) and then into broking. Tom describes early culture shock leaving corporate life, especially losing the steady paycheck and needing internal drive. He explains using technology—particularly Notion as the central “heart” of his business—to consolidate client context, automate transcripts, summaries, and deal structuring, and run refresh cycles connected to email, WhatsApp, and calendars to manage complex files with many documents. They discuss serving immigrants/expats by educating them early, lender policy nuances for foreign income, and the importance of correctly structuring debt recycling/equity release for tax deductibility, noting misaligned incentives in broking. They conclude that AI should reduce admin so advisers can deliver more personalized, strategic service. 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Tom's Origin Story 04:12 From Corporate to Broker 05:51 Tech-Savvy Broking 11:33 Notion & AI Systems Deep Dive 26:08 Helping Expats & Immigrants Buy Property 31:18 Debt Recycling & Equity Strategies 41:02 The Modern Client & Future of Advice 42:58 Key Takeaways & Closing To listen to the full episode and delve deeper into advanced data structures and wealth architecture, subscribe to the Business and Wealth Australia podcast and newsletter. Connect with Tom Carr [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomrcarr?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAJldusBDvOaNAbdbKhCgiHqv8mCl1DfNPE] via Wombat Home Loans [https://www.wombathomeloans.com.au/] or follow his updates directly on LinkedIn. As the leading Partners at Tax App Accountants [https://www.taxapp.com.au/], Alesha Masaud [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleshamasaud/] and Fahad Gul, CA [https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-fahad-gul-ca/] have helped clients transform their annual tax obligations into opportunities for wealth preservation. Tax App Accountants combine expert credentials, industry authority, and a commitment accuracy for business owners and investors to deliver the best results for clients. While Tax App Accountants' physical office is located in the heart of Sydney, Lane Cove, our financial expertise knows no borders. We proudly serve a diverse portfolio of clients all across Australia, utilising modern, seamless technology to deliver top-tier accounting and advisory services wherever you are located. Office: Lane Cove, Sydney, NSW (Servicing Clients Nationwide) Phone: 02 8074 7774 Email: customerservice@taxapp.com.au [customerservice@taxapp.com.au] Website: www.taxapp.com.au [http://www.taxapp.com.au/] Partner with Australias Trusted Tax Professionals

Rental Property Tax Deductions in Australia: What You Can Claim Guide by an Accountant: Investment Property Tax Deductions in Australia

Are you maximising your investment property returns, or are you leaving money on the table with the ATO? In this episode, Alesha Masaud, Partner at Tax App Accountants [https://www.taxapp.com.au/] in Sydney, provides a masterclass on navigating rental property tax deductions. Whether you’ve just purchased your first apartment or you’re managing a portfolio of 15 properties across Australia, understanding what you can legally claim is the key to optimising your cash flow and reducing your taxable income. As we move through the 2026 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) continues to scrutinise rental claims. Alesha uses her extensive expertise to debunk common myths and provide a clear roadmap for what you should provide your accountant to ensure you get the best possible tax refund. Alesha explains why the costs of running your investment are just as claimable as the physical repairs. We discuss: * Property Management Fees: Why these are your best friend at tax time. * Marketing & Advertising: The tax benefits of finding the right tenant. * Lease Preparation: Legal fees and contract document charges. * The Trust Account Hack: How to use your property manager to streamline your bookkeeping by paying council rates and water charges directly from your rental income. If you own the asset, you’re paying to hold it. Alesha breaks down the claimable "holding costs," including: * Council Rates & Water Charges: Essential annual deductions. * Land Tax & Strata Levies: Navigating the costs of apartment living and land ownership. * Landlord & Building Insurance: Why these are often a bank requirement and how to claim the premiums. This is where many investors get into trouble with the ATO. Alesha clarifies the vital distinction between: * Immediate Deductions * Capital Works 00:00 – Rental Deductions Overview & The 2026 Tax Landscape00:46 – Agent Fees and Admin: Simplifying your Paperwork02:26 – Self-Managed Properties: What Can You Still Claim?02:51 – Holding Costs Explained: Rates, Land Tax, and Strata03:32 – Insurance and Maintenance: Protecting Your Asset04:40 – Loan Interest Deductions: The Equity Strategy05:53 – Depreciation and Capital Works: The 40-Year Rule07:31 – Borrowing Costs and LMI: Spreading the Deduction08:07 – Depreciating New Assets: Air Cons and Useful Life09:10 – Wrap Up: How to Work with Tax App Accountants Alesha Masaud is a leading tax professional and Partner at Tax App Accountants. Based in Sydney and serving clients nationwide, Tax App Accountants specialises in property investment tax law. They assist investors in navigating complex areas such as negative gearing, capital gains tax (CGT), and comprehensive depreciation schedules to ensure full compliance with ATO regulations. Connect with Tax App Accountants: * Location: Sydney, NSW (Serving all of Australia) * Specialty: Property Investment, Tax Planning, and High-Yield Strategies. This podcast contains general information only and does not constitute formal tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws in Australia are subject to change. You should consult with a qualified tax professional, like the team at Tax App Accountants, to discuss your specific financial situation before making any decisions based on this content. Keywords: Rental Property Tax Deductions Australia, Investment Property Tax 2026, ATO Rental Claims, Property Depreciation Schedule, Capital Works Deduction, Landlord Insurance Tax, Negative Gearing Sydney, Tax App Accountants, Alesha Masaud, Australian Property Investing. 🏠 Rental Property Tax Deductions in Australia: The Investor’s Guide🔍 In This Episode, We Cover: 1. Management and Administration Costs 2. Holding Costs & Insurances 3. Maintenance vs. Capital Improvements 4. Interest & Borrowing Expenses 5. Depreciation & The 40-Year Rule⏳ This podcast contains general information only and does not constitute formal tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws in Australia are subject to change. Consult with a qualified tax professional.

Unlocking Productivity: Insights from Business Coach Brad Barr

Busy vs Productive: Working On Your Business Host Alesha Masaud (Partner at https://taxapp.com.au/https://taxapp.com.au/ [https://taxapp.com.au/]) discusses “Business for Business Owners” on the Business and Wealth Podcast from an accountant’s perspective, joined by executive and business coach Brad Barr of Primed Leadership [https://primedleadership.com.au/], who transitioned from 30 years in financial services to running his coaching business since 2019. They explore why business owners wear “busy” as a badge of success, how busyness can mask profitability issues, and the need to focus on the right work rather than reactive urgent tasks, using ideas like the Eisenhower matrix. Brad emphasizes intentional leadership, awareness leading to action, delegation as “who not how,” and developing people to lift business performance. Practical tools include time audits, weekly/fortnightly “director’s meetings” to review strategy and results, 90-day planning, and tracking metrics like hourly rates and opportunity cost. They also highlight systemization to enable delegation and better work-life balance. The Host Alesha Masaud is a Partner at Tax App Accountants [https://www.taxapp.com.au/], a leading Australian Accounting firm for Business Owners and Investors.00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup00:41 Meet Coach Brad Barr01:36 Busy as a Status Symbol03:01 Profitability Versus Activity04:52 From Reactive to Intentional08:17 Operator to Business Leader12:46 Ego Roles and Vision Alignment13:56 Work On the Business15:48 Time Audits and Planning Rhythm20:34 Review Learn and Adjust22:51 Recovery and Hourly Value28:48 Delegation and Systems35:06 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up

Unveiling the Secrets of the Australian Property Market with Debra Beck Mewing

On the Business and Wealth Australia podcast, host Alesha Masaud (Partner at Tax App Accountants [https://www.taxapp.com.au/], https://www.taxapp.com.au/) interviews Deborah Beck Mewing of The Property Frontline (https://www.propertyfrontline.com.au/) about how a buyer’s agent vets property deals and builds “smart” portfolios with as few properties as possible. Deborah explains starting with the buyer’s needs, then selecting investment areas based on demographics, population growth, infrastructure pipelines, government settings, vacancy rates and days on market, generally preferring established properties over brand new/off-the-plan. She outlines technical due diligence (council rules, zoning potential, property shape, services, building/pest) and negotiation tactics based on valuation research, seller and agent motivations, market heat and being finance-ready. She notes regional and edge-of-city opportunities (including Sydney units and the Central Coast), favours Sydney/Western Sydney, Brisbane and Perth for growth, and flags risks in Victoria, Canberra, Adelaide and Tasmania. Red flags include busy roads, transmission lines, water towers, battle-axe and odd-shaped blocks. 00:00 Welcome 00:51 Deborah’s Portfolio Approach 01:56 Career Backstory and Credibility 03:00 Vetting Starts With the Buyer 05:11 Area Selection and Growth Signals09:54 Shortlisting and Deal Due Diligence 15:01 Deep Dive on Picking Locations 20:00 City vs Regional Market Picks 26:20 Home vs Investment Buying 29:42 Choosing the Best Property 33:22 Negotiation Playbook 37:00 Red Flags to Avoid 41:15 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up

AI Boom and Global Markets: Alesha Masaud's chat with Nick Walter

Tax App Accountant's Alesha interviews Nick Walter of Walter Wealth about recent market volatility, US tariffs, and the AI-driven tech rally. Nick attributes the April market dip to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, the ensuing fear-driven sell-off, and the later 90-day pause that restored confidence, noting markets remain focused on uncertainty, inflation, hiring hesitancy, and geopolitical tension despite generally healthy conditions. They compare the US market’s tech dominance with Australia’s bank-heavy index, and discuss how falling interest rates can support both shares and property, urging investors to focus on medium term (2–3 years) rather than weekly noise. On AI, Nick highlights $360B of US tech capex, calls it a “hope bubble,” compares it to the dot-com era, and notes Nvidia’s scale and valuation, while suggesting diversification into more conservatively valued regions and other asset classes.00:00 Welcome Back Nick00:29 April Dip Explained02:06 Tariffs Outlook04:22 Australia Market Ripples05:44 Banks vs Tech Markets06:41 Rates Inflation Shares08:12 Medium Term Investing08:44 AI Boom Reality Check10:30 Dotcom Parallels13:09 Managing AI Risk15:57 How to Contact Nick16:33 Wrap Up and Disclaimer Contact Nick: https://walterwealth.com.au/