The Investor Lab

Days before the Federal Budget, the property tax reform being discussed has shifted into something fundamentally different... and the structural mechanics of the new policy may do the exact opposite of what it claims to do. We unpack what's actually being proposed, why it's designed to fail at its own stated objective, and what it actually means for property investors right now.See you on the inside!Recorded 30 April 2026--IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions.---0:00 - The 3am discovery3:39 - From CGT discount to indexation9:49 - What inflation indexation actually means11:48 - The maths: indexation vs current discount17:58 - Why this policy is structurally designed to fail18:43 - Negative gearing: what's actually being proposed21:57 - The tax incidence problem26:11 - Why holding costs go up and entry gets harder33:38 - The supply problem nobody is solving37:40 - The dogmatic belief problem in policy design46:32 - The doom loop: why we can't get out of it50:58 - What property investors should actually do53:57 - Goose's prediction--Watch this episode on Youtube:The Property Tax Pivot Nobody Saw Coming--RESOURCES TO HELP:Mentioned Episode - 'Cashflow Jiujitsu'* https://youtu.be/1zfo9QejloE?si=xSVbMGeN6lQlQc9gJoin The Investor Lab Free Community:The home for freedom-seeking investors ✨https://bit.ly/jointheTILcommunityWant a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio?Join Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGaNeed finance guidance?Chat with the Dashdot Finance team: http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycallGot a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs--Goose McGrath and Gabi Billing are the founders of Dashdot — portfolio growth partners who combine data science, strategy, and human insight to help Australians build property portfolios that create lasting freedom. As hosts of The Investor Lab, they explore the intersection of markets, money, and mindset, challenging conventional wisdom and empowering people to think differently about wealth, purpose, and the future.Connect:https://www.dashdot.com.auhttps://youtube.com/@theinvestorlabhttps://instagram.com/dashdotpropertyhttps://instagram.com/goosemcgrathhttps://instagram.com/gabi.billing

Fuel prices have nearly doubled. Two back-to-back rate hikes. Consumer confidence at its lowest point in over 50 years. A war in the Middle East.Should you be investing right now? It's a fair question.This week, we sit down and work through it honestly. We unpack what's actually happening with fuel supply (it's not what the headlines suggest), what the 1970s oil crisis tells us about investing through periods like this, and what Australian property has done through every major crisis since 2001.We also run through a scenario analysis overlaying 1970s conditions onto today's market, and talk through how to think clearly about your own situation when everything around you feels chaotic.Not a pep talk. Just an honest conversation.If you're looking for signal in all this noise, this is it.Check out the oil scenario analysis: tools.dashdot.com.au/oilscenariosSee you on the inside.--IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions.--To check out the research and charts, watch this episode on Youtube: Should I Be Investing in Times Like These?---RESOURCES TO HELP:Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio?Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGaNeed finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycallGot a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs--Connect:dashdot.com.auyoutube.com/@theinvestorlabinstagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know that satisfying feeling of cancelling a subscription you forgot you were paying for? What if we told you there's one running right now... and it's costing you $275 a day.  With back-to-back rate hikes, a war in the Middle East, and consumer confidence at its lowest since COVID lockdowns, a lot of people have quietly hit pause on their financial future.  We call that the Fear Tax: the invisible, compounding cost of letting uncertainty keep you on the sidelines. We walk through every major crisis since 2001, what happened to property through each one, and why the most expensive thing you can do right now is nothing. See you on the inside.  --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- To check out the research and charts, watch this episode on Youtube: Australia Hasn't Been This Scared Since COVID. Here's What It's Costing You. --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CGT discount might be changing. The property market is in a frenzy. There's a war in the Middle East. And everyone's frozen. This week we pull apart the three topics every Australian property investor is thinking about right now — and why most people are reacting to them wrong. These are the conversations we're having at the dinner table. Now they're on camera. See you on the inside, -- In this episode we cover:0:00  Why people freeze when there's noise in the market7:53  CGT discount changes: what's actually being proposed14:45 Running the numbers: 50% vs 25% discount24:49  The contrarian take: why CGT changes are actually bullish for property32:10  How affordability is changing where and what to invest in46:00  Houses vs units56:30  Land size doesn't drive growth the way people think1:01:30  New builds and house & land packages: when do they make sense?1:25:00  Geopolitical tension and the impact on Australia --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- Watch on Youtube: CGT, Affordability & War: The Topics Every Property Investor Is Thinking About Right Now --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy isn't just broken. It's splitting — and most people have no idea what's going on. This week, Goose and Gabi break down a concept everyone needs to understand right now: the K-Shaped Economy. Two trajectories. Two very different futures. And what you can actually do about it. Here's the uncomfortable truth: working hard isn't enough anymore. The rules have changed, the gap is widening — and the window to get on the right side of it won't be open forever. See you on the inside.  --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- To check out the research and charts, watch this episode on Youtube: The Wealth Window Is Closing (Why You Need To Act Now) --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interest rates just went up again — and right on cue, everyone lost their minds. This week, we've brought in Julien Mougenot, Head of Dashdot Technology, to do something wild: pull apart our own original correlation research — live, on air — and break down what the data actually says in real time. We ran a fresh correlation analysis (literally 24-48 hours before this conversation) comparing median sales price growth against interest rates, interest rate changes, and M3 money supply across every major market in Australia.  The findings? They'll challenge everything you thought you knew about the relationship between rates and property prices. Here's what we unpack: Why interest rates and property prices are actually positively correlated (yes, they tend to move in the same direction) The real driver behind Australian property prices — and it's not rates How COVID fundamentally changed the way property markets behave What compressed market cycles mean for your investment strategy Why chasing hotspots without a system is the new trap This one gets nerdy. There are heat maps, correlation tables, and a genuine live analysis on what all this data really means. If you want to understand what's actually driving the market right now — not what the headlines tell you — this is the episode. See you on the inside.  --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- To check out the research and charts, watch this episode on Youtube: Stop Worrying About Interest Rates --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Build Your FREE Portfolio Growth Plan on Property Pathfinder:https://propertypathfinder.io Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think you'll need to keep buying properties forever? You won’t. Today, Goose is showing you how just a few focused years of active property investing can be enough to set yourselves up for life — and how, after that, time and growth can do most of the work. You're in for a grounded take on property investing, restraint, and building wealth that doesn’t require constant action.  See you on the inside.  --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- To check out the Portfolio Growth Plans & examples, watch this episode on Youtube: How To Get Rich Doing Nothing (Using Property) --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Want a team in your corner as you build your property portfolio? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Build Your FREE Portfolio Growth Plan on Property Pathfinder:https://propertypathfinder.io Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people think investing is about getting rich or buying nicer things. It isn’t. This episode explores the real reason we invest: to create choice, time, and presence when life becomes unpredictable. Investing isn’t about luxury or status — it’s about removing hesitation from the moments that matter most. It’s about having the resources to put people first, to make decisions without fear or regret, and to protect the most valuable asset we have: time. Because life doesn’t give warnings. And the moment you need financial freedom is never the moment you can start building it. This is a conversation about investing as a tool for living well — not someday, but when it counts. See you on the inside.  --IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- WATCH ON YOUTUBE: Why We Invest --- RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Looking for a team to partner with you in your portfolio building journey? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Build Your FREE Portfolio Growth Plan on Property Pathfinder:https://propertypathfinder.io Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs --  Connect:dashdot.com.au youtube.com/@theinvestorlab instagram.com/dashdotpropertyinstagram.com/goosemcgrathinstagram.com/gabi.billingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brief end-of-year note to say thank you for being part of The Investor Lab in 2025. For tuning in, asking questions, and actually applying what we talk about. We hope the break gives you space to rest, reset, and recharge. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. We’ll see you in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the property market broken, or are you just playing by the old rules? If you’re a buyer right now, you can feel it: the goalposts have moved. The strategies that worked in 2024 (and even early 2025) are now the exact reason buyers are getting stuck, outbid, or left behind. In this state of the market episode, we’re welcoming back Sean Simpson (Dashdot's Head of Property), to round out the year & break down exactly what is happening on the ground as we head into 2026. We’re stripping away the headlines to look at the structural shifts in supply and the "hidden" traps catching smart buyers off guard. Most importantly, we’re handing you the new playbook. This isn’t about waiting for the "right time" — it’s about having the right protocol to win in the toughest conditions we’ve seen in a decade. In this episode: Why the market feels "irrational" (and why it’s actually perfectly logical) The supply lag and buyer pool data you haven't seen Why your "common sense" negotiation tactics will cause you to lose in 2026 A step-by-step protocol to regain control and buy with confidence Stop guessing. Start strategising. See you on the inside.  IMPORTANT: The Investor Lab is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. -- WATCH ON YOUTUBE: State of the Market: How to Win in the Toughest Conditions in a Decade MENTIONS: Did Macquarie Just Break Property Investing? (The Truth About Their Lending Freeze) How To Build A Property Portfolio That Pays For Itself Need help with your finance strategy? Chat with the Callum and the team: http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall ---- OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP:  Join the conversation: The Investor Lab Community  Looking for a team to partner with you in your portfolio building journey? Book a no-obligation discovery call with Dashdot: https://bit.ly/3E0wKGa Need finance guidance? Chat with the Dashdot Finance team:http://hey.dashdotfinance.com.au/discoverycall Build Your FREE Portfolio Growth Plan on Property Pathfinder:https://propertypathfinder.io Got a question or some feedback? We're all ears!https://bit.ly/tilqs – Catch Up On Recent Episodes: Has APRA Killed Investment Lending? (What It Means for 2026) What Most Property Investors Get Completely Wrong The Brutal Truths About Property Investing for Cashflow Right Now Did Macquarie Just Break Property Investing? (The Truth About Their Lending Freeze) How to Build a Portfolio That Works When the System Doesn’t Australia's Property Market Is About To Explode (Here's Why) Managing a Market Meltdown: What Smart Investors Do When Chaos Strikes  Why You Feel Poorer Even as the World Gets Richer AI, Housing & Money Printing: 3 Big Questions Shaping Your Financial Future  Turning Property Wealth Into Retirement Income The Great Melt-Up: When Trust in Money Dies  The Illusion of Prosperity: Why Getting Ahead Feels Impossible  First Home Guarantee Scheme, Property Scarcity, and Why It Matters for Everyone Else NZ Property Market Crash: What Does It Mean For Australia? Bitcoin vs Australian Real Estate We Answer Everything: When You Have "Enough" Money, Why Cash Flow Is Dead & The Future of Money Why You Need To Retire Earlier Than You Think Beyond 2030: The Prosperity Wave Most Investors Will Miss (Biggest Opportunity Ever) Why Your Buyers Agent Might Be Leading You Into a Property Trap How To Build A Property Portfolio That Pays For Itself The Coming US Debt Collapse (And What It Means For Australia)  How to Help Everyone You Care About Win in the New Economy How to Design a Life You Won't Regret in the Next 5 Years How AI Will Change Your Economic Future  AI Is Here: And Most People Aren't Ready Is A Supercycle Coming? (Housing Market Outlook) The Inner Game of Investing Trusts & SMSFs: How Advanced Investors Are Rethinking Their Structures in 2025 Tariffs, Trade Wars, and What It Means For Your Portfolio Portfolio Acceleration Masterclass Financial Jiu-Jitsu: How to Break Through Your Portfolio's Cashflow Constraints Winning the Investment Game: How to Set & Beat Your Hurdle Rate Fake Gold? Markets Down? Liquidity Up? – What’s REALLY Going On? The RBA Just Changed the Game — Here’s What It Means for You Hold vs Sell: How to Know When to Take Profits Bitcoin: Why Every Property Investor Needs to Consider Owning It Everything You Need To Know About Property Investing Finance Property Investing In Australia In 2025: What You Need To Know Investment Strategies for 2025 Follow the Money: How Liquidity Drives Asset Prices (and How You Can Benefit) What You Don’t Know About Money Could Cost You Everything  --  Connect:dashdot.com.au <a...