That’s a wrap on Season 3 of Finance Friends - From the Field to Finance! In this episode, we reflects on the conversations, lessons, and standout moments that defined this season — from navigating career pivots to uncovering what truly drives success in the world of finance. You’ll hear insights from some of our favourite guests, behind-the-scenes reflections, and what’s coming next. Plus, a sneak peek into Season 4, where we’re diving deep into the world of investing — not just where ...

At just 20 years old, Jack Trengove made history as the youngest-ever captain in the AFL! Leading Melbourne Football Club with maturity beyond his years. After nearly a decade in professional sport, Jack made the bold move to pivot his career, trading the footy field for the finance world. Now an Equities Analyst at Lanyon Asset Management, he brings the same discipline, focus, and drive that once defined his playing career to the world of investing. In this episode of Finance Friends Jack re...

From scoring three-pointers at the University of San Diego to leading major real estate credit strategies as Director at Centuria Bass Credit, Izzy Chilcott's journey demonstrates how elite sporting mindsets create exceptional business outcomes. Izzy's basketball career took her from the Gold Coast to college basketball in the U.S.A, then through a decade in Australia's WNBL, culminating in a championship with the Melbourne Boomers in 2022 – her final professional game. Unlike many athletes,...

From premiership glory at Hawthorn to the boardroom as President of the Club and Founder of Vest Advisory, Andy Gowers’ journey is one of leadership, trust, and reinvention. Known as a hard-working half-back in Hawthorn’s 1991 Premiership side, Andy’s playing career was built on discipline, resilience, and a relentless team-first mindset. But his story didn’t end when he hung up the boots. Instead, he turned those same qualities toward business, founding Vest Advisory to help families and bus...

What happens after you've reached the pinnacle of human achievement? For Tom King, Olympic gold medalist in sailing at the 2000 Sydney Games, the journey from elite athletics to the corporate world reveals surprising challenges and universal truths about success, purpose, and reinvention. Tom pulls back the curtain on his remarkable path from sailing on Albert Park Lake as a teenager to becoming Chief Investment Officer at Nanuk Asset Management, Australia's leading sustainable investment fi...

From AFL powerhouse to Executive Director of Distribution at ARK Capital: Shane Wakelin’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and leadership beyond the field. Across 252 AFL games with St Kilda and Collingwood, Shane Wakelin built a reputation as a tough, reliable player who thrived under pressure. But what makes his journey remarkable is how he managed the transition into his second career. The lessons from elite sport form the backbone of Shane's business approach. Working under ...

Grant Hackett's journey from Olympic gold medal glory to CEO of a $2 billion ASX-listed company offers a masterclass in high-performance mindset and leadership transition. When Grant Hackett was 13 years old, he made a decision that would shape his entire life: he wasn't just going to the Olympics – he was going to win gold. This clarity of purpose drove him to become a three-time Olympic gold medallist who dominated the 1500m freestyle for 11 years. But what's truly remarkable is how he's a...

From premiership glory to private wealth... Ted Richards joins us for Episode 3 of From the Field to Finance! A former Sydney Swans premiership player and All-Australian defender, Ted takes us on an extraordinary journey from elite sport to high-stakes finance. With remarkable candour, he shares the mindset shift that transformed his football career, becoming the best centre-half back in the competition through self-belief, visualisation, and mental resilience. While playing AFL for 15 years,...

Former Wallaby, international rugby star, and now Investment Specialist... Luke Jones joins us for the second episode of From the Field to Finance! After a 14-year professional rugby career that spanned Australia and France, Luke made the leap from elite sport into the world of Finance. Now an Investment Specialist at Fawkner Property, he’s responsible for raising millions in capital and thriving in a new kind of pressure environment. In this episode, Luke reflects on the identity shift that ...

He needs absolutely no introduction... A two-time Brownlow Medallist, premiership captain, and one of the greatest to ever play the game, AFL legend, Chris Judd, kicks off our exclusive third season: From the Field to Finance. Judd's transition from AFL superstar to successful portfolio manager and Founder of the Cerutty Macro Fund, reveals striking parallels between elite sport and financial markets. He shares his strategic thinking and competitive drive to investment management that m...

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a finance podcast? Host Fabian and producer Sienna pull back the curtain to share the Finance Friends journey and preview an extraordinary new season featuring sports stars who've conquered the finance world. Want the inside scoop on which sports stars are joining us? Follow Finance Friends Podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for daily updates and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform to be first in line when Season 3 drops in just...

What does it take to rise from a call centre agent to the head of marketing at a major investment firm? Nat Jollow's journey shatters expectations and offers a refreshingly honest look at career development in financial services. This episode delves deep into how modern marketing within financial services has evolved beyond creative campaigns to become a strategic, data-driven function. As Head of Marketing at GlobalX, Nat candidly discusses the importance of building stakeholder relationshi...

What happens when a financial advisor goes viral? James Wrigley has amassed over 220,000 followers across social media platforms with his refreshingly authentic approach to financial advice, reaching millions of people worldwide with every post. But his success story begins far from the spotlight. Now, James is a principal advisor helping clients navigate the complex relationship between money and life satisfaction. His most powerful insight? Financial advice isn't just about numbers—it's ab...

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....

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 psych...

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...

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...

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 beha...

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. H...

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-cent...