Join us as we sit down with Nadia Jaworski, joint founder and partner of Maverick Advisors, who pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of social infrastructure development. With over 25 years of experience working across both government and private sectors, Nadia offers rare insights into how essential community facilities move from idea to reality.

The conversation delves into the challenges facing infrastructure development today, from fiscal constraints to climate considerations. Nadia shares how COVID disrupted construction supply chains and budgets, requiring greater innovation and risk management. 

For aspiring professionals, Nadia's advice is refreshingly practical: "Just give anything a go." Her own story demonstrates how taking on challenging projects and building networks can lead to remarkable career success. As a passionate advocate for diversity, she discusses how Maverick Advisors maintains 50% female leadership and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of women in infrastructure.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

What separates a great property purchase from a costly mistake? Ray Becher, Property Advisor and Senior Buyer's Agent at Cohen Handler, reveals the strategic depth behind successful property transactions that most buyers never consider.

Drawing on three generations of property knowledge, Ray takes us through his fascinating journey from performance studies graduate to marketing professional to trusted property advisor. 

Ray's approach transcends simple transactions. He delves into the psychology of buying versus selling, explaining why understanding human motivation is crucial to negotiation. 

For those considering a career pivot, Ray offers invaluable wisdom: surround yourself with mentors you can learn from, have confidence to back yourself regardless of age, and most importantly, pursue what genuinely inspires you. His philosophy that "it takes as long as it takes" to find the right property reflects the patience and expertise that have made him a standout in his field.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Join us in this week’s episode of Finance Friends with Fabian as we chat with Frank Campisi, mortgage broker and co-founder of Explore Finance. Frank opens up about his career journey from accounting to broking, the key skills for building trust with clients, and how he balances a busy professional life with running a farm and a childcare business.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram and TikTok for updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Join us in this weeks episode of Finance Friends with Fabian, as we chat with Stefan D'Alessandro, founder and director of The Risk Lab, about his journey from computer science to risk insurance specialist. Stefan shares his thoughts about building meaningful client relationships, the importance of balancing work with personal passions, and how his approach to business aligns with his values.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram and TikTok for updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Join us in this week’s episode as we sit down with Peter Vlachos, Senior Distribution Manager at Elston Asset Management. Peter takes us through his journey from studying financial planning to becoming a key player in the funds management industry. He shares valuable insights into the challenges of building relationships, the importance of resilience in the face of adversity, and how consistent effort drives long-term success. Beyond finance, Vlachos offers our  listeners advice on discipline, mindset, and achieving personal and professional goals.

Love what you heard? Follow Finance Friends with Fabian for more inspiring stories and  advice from industry leaders. Got a topic or question for future episodes? Reach out to us via Instagram DM @financefriendspodcast 

Join us in this weeks episode of Finance Friends with Fabian, as we sit down with Kieran Berry, CEO and Managing Director of RiverX, one of Australia’s fastest-growing investment advisory firms. Kieran shares his journey from selling stock market newsletters at 23 to building his own business, offering insights into the challenges of building a client book, managing a company, and balancing personal life. Beyond finance, Kieran highlights the importance of discipline, routine, and fitness in achieving success, offering advice for all aspiring financial professionals.

Join us in this weeks episode as we chat with Vas Piperoglou, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Collins Street Asset Management. Vas' path to a successful career was paved by motivation, ambition, and the power of knowledge. From starting his investment journey at the age of only 12 with the help of his father, Vas developed a passion for understanding markets. In this conversation, he shares with us the lessons he's learned along the way, the principles that guide his investment decisions, and his insights into the evolving financial landscape.

Join us as we chat with Chris MacEachern, AKA C-Mac, the Financial Planning CEO behind Australia's Freedom Finance. Chris's path to success is a testament to resilience and strategic thinking. Listen in as we explore how his early interest in finance, sparked by his father's day trading, led him to the successful career he has today. 

In the first episode of Finance Friends with Fabian, we dive into the personal and professional journey of Fabian, director of RIVA Recruitment and our podcast host. Joined by co-host Megan, Fabian shares his path from studying finance at La Trobe University to working at prestigious financial firms, both in Australia and abroad. With insightful reflections, he discusses his early career challenges, the lessons he learned managing high-net-worth clients, and his eventual leap into recruitment.

Career journeys are rarely straightforward, and Marc Olynyk's path from accounting to academia proves just that.

In this weeks episode, our host Fabian Ruggieri chats with his past professor Marc, now the Senior Lecturer and Course Director at Deakin University's renowned financial planning program. Marc takes us through the unexpected twists that led him to his passion.

What makes Marc's story particularly valuable for aspiring financial planners is his practical advice on breaking into the industry, he advises students every day who struggle to find their first opportunity. Having guided countless students into successful careers, Marc emphasises that relationship-building skills are integral in determining long-term success.

The conversation provides a fascinating look at how financial planning education has evolved—from minimal requirements in the 1990s to today's comprehensive degree programs. A field he initially knew little about but would come to shape for decades. 

For any of our listeners considering financial planning as a career, Marc offers this reassurance: finding your passion may take time but your career path, like Marc's journey from pub audits to professorship, can take unexpected but rewarding turns.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

In this weeks episode, Fabian chats with Andrew Beaumont, Director of Vest Capital. Andrew reveals the inner workings of private credit and how Vest Capital is changing the game for businesses needing fast, flexible financing solutions across Australia. 

Andrew's personal journey from big four accounting through management consulting to fund management provides valuable lessons for finance professionals. He emphasises surrounding yourself with exceptional talent who think differently and creating environments where ideas flow freely. Most importantly, he credits Vest Capital's rapid growth to a shared commitment to excellence and mutual support amongst their team.

If you're an aspiring finance professional, or simply keen on gaining some extra industry insight, this episode is for you! 

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Sean Graham, Managing Director of Assured Support, takes us on a journey through the  evolution of compliance in Australia's financial advice landscape. Far from the rigid box-ticking exercise of decades past, today's compliance function requires creativity, psychological insight, and commercial acumen to drive better business outcomes.

What makes an exceptional compliance professional? Sean argues the best are creative problem-solvers who can contextualise regulations and influence behaviour without direct authority. 

For advisors seeking to build sustainable, profitable practices delivering superior client outcomes, this episode offers invaluable insights into leveraging compliance as a strategic advantage rather than viewing it as a necessary evil. Whether you're a professional or considering a career in financial services, Sean's journey from aspiring criminal lawyer to compliance expert demonstrates how the most rewarding paths often emerge unexpectedly.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Ever wondered about the invisible support system behind successful finance professionals? This week, our host, Fabian Ruggieri chats with Samantha Sun as she pulls back the curtain on this fascinating profession in a candid conversation that explores the critical role of practice management in helping advisors build thriving businesses.

As Senior Practice Engagement and Growth Manager at Entireti, Samantha supports financial planning practices across Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Her work combines strategic business coaching, accountability frameworks, and professional development initiatives that enable advisors to achieve more than they thought possible.

Whether you're considering a career in financial planning, already working in the industry, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode offers valuable insights. Discover why Samantha believes financial planners do such an amazing job and how supporting their businesses allows more Australians to access quality financial advice.  

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

This week, our host, Fabian Ruggieri chats with David Werdiger, Family Wealth Generalist. Having navigated his own journey from working in his own family's business, to working on software development, to successful tech entrepreneur, and finally to his current role as an author and generalist advisor on family dynamics and wealth transition.

Through this conversation, Werdiger emphasises the importance of collaboration between specialists and taking a family-centric rather than advisor-centric approach. His work through Swinburne University, Harvard Business School, and the Ultra High Net Worth Institute reflects this multifaceted approach to helping families create legacies that last beyond financial wealth.

Whether you're part of a  family business, navigating succession or simply interested in the psychology of wealth, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on building "castles" that stand the test of time across generations.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Meet Chris Clayton, Head of Distribuition at L1 Capital. Chris shares his journey with us in this episode from starting as a manager at McDonalds when he was 18, to becoming a CEO of a funds management firm by 29. 

This conversation peels back the curtain on success and servant leadership in finance, with Clayton explaining how important empowerment is in a team. 

For aspiring finance professionals, Clayton reveals his four-part framework for evaluating talent: commercial skills, technical knowledge, relationship abilities, and creativity. Whether you're just starting your finance career or leading a team, Clayton's insights on balancing technical expertise with humanity offer a masterclass in modern leadership.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Explore the world as a Partner in Corporate Finance with this weeks guest, Stefan Galbo. Stefan shares how his humble beginnings working in a Greek restaurant through high school and university, taught him valuable life lessons, of which he continues to implement into his everyday life, and that ultimately led him to the success he wears every single day. 

As a long-time friend of our host, Fabian Ruggieri, Stefan is raw, authentic and incredibly insightful. Listeners gain practical tips for achieving a healthy work-life balance. He emphasises the significance of networking, communication skills, and personal growth. This episode is not just about finance; it’s about understanding the broader world of work and personal life in the pursuit of success. You don’t want to miss it!

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!

Dive into the world of economics with Diana Mussina, the Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, in the first episode of Season 2 at Finance Friends! Diana shares her inspiring journey from a finance and economics student at the University of New South Wales to a leading role in one of Australia's prominent financial institutions.

Listeners will learn about the intricacies of precarious economic forecasting, the transition from sell-side to buy-side roles, and Diana's firsthand experiences during unpredictable market cycles. With insights into the importance of effective communication in conveying economic data, Diana provides invaluable advice for anyone looking to carve out a career in finance.

Follow Diana on LinkedIn and check out @Econosights on Instagram for more economic insights. You can also listen to their podcast, linked here, for expert takes on market trends and financial strategies.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram and TikTok for updates and more inspiring conversations. Got questions or ideas for future episodes? Send us a DM @financefriendspodcast!