FAT FIRE Conference 2024 – Melbourne (Sat 30th Nov)

Description

This year, we’re taking our FIRE conference to the next level by turning it into a multi-city roadshow across Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne. Join us for a full day of engaging and informative panel discussions featuring four experts who have successfully achieved Financial Independence and Retired Early (FIREd). Each city will have a different host and panelists, so be sure to attend as many events as your heart desires.

You’ll hear their inspiring stories, gain insights from their experiences, and receive actionable advice to help you reach your own FIRE goals. Our panelists come from diverse backgrounds and will share the strategies that propelled them to success, whether through real estate, business ventures, or equity markets.

Discover the mindset and secrets that enabled them to retire at least a decade ahead of the standard retirement age. After the panel, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session to deepen your understanding and watch them debate controversial topics, followed by networking with like-minded FIRE enthusiasts. The event is fully catered, including lunch, snacks, coffee/tea, and non-alcoholic beverages. We are most likely be having post-event casual dinner for those who wants to socalise more (own-expense). You never know—you might even meet your next accountability partner or mentor to accelerate your FIRE journey.

All profits from the event will be donated to a charity chosen by our panelists, which will be announced on the day.

Melbourne Details:
Venue – Morack Public Golf Club House
Address – Morack Rd &, East Rd, Vermont South VIC 3133​​​​​​​
Date – Saturday 30th November
Time – 10am ~ 5pm
Cost – $100/pp

 

Sample Discussion Topics:

• Forewords & housekeeping
• Why FIRE conference?
• Introduction to the Panelists
• Definition of FIRE(s)
• Reflect panelist’s PAST journey:
  • Why FIRE?
  • When did you achieve FI and RE?
  • What was your primary vehicle to achieve FI?
  • Who/what was the most influential to your journey?
  • What habit(s) would you say made the most difference?
  • Do you have any philosophy/framework you live by?
  • Was there anything that held you back?
• Visit panelist’s current situation:
  • What’s your current investment portfolio?
  • What/when is enough?
  • Where do you your efforts & attention on now?
  • How would you have done it differently if given another chance?
  • If you can go back to yourself 10 years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
  • What are some of the common myth about FIRE?
  • What are some of the pitfalls of FIRE?
  • How do you secure/protect your assets?
  • How many income stream do you need to secure FIRE status?
• Discuss future outcome:
  • What’s your opinion of the Australian & Internationally economics in the next year, 5 years and 20 years?
  • What’s your thoughts on each of the different industries and markets?
  • What are some investment opportunities & methodologies
  • What’s on your bucket list?
  • What you thought about your legacy?
  • Would you mentor someone who have the drive to FIRE?
• Direct Q&A with participants
• Panel Discussion Game (Agree or Disagree)
  • Superannuation is key to FIRE
  • Best asset class to invest in during early FIRE journey
  • Cryptocurrency is the future of finance
  • We are about to hit the biggest financial crisis in history
  • I plan to leave all my inherence to my kids
  • Money is the root of all evil
  • Having a mentor is critical for FIRE
• Networking opportunity

 

Panelists:

David Markus

David founded an IT services company that consistently secured a place on the esteemed BRW Fast 100 list for multiple consecutive years. In 2019, he successfully sold the company, attaining FAT FIRE status at the age of 51. Now, as a devoted husband and father of two young men, David relishes the unconditional joy of spending quality time with his beloved family while indulging in his passions for flying and skiing across the globe.

During his leisure hours, David generously volunteers for Angel Flight Australia, dedicating his time to assist families from rural areas in accessing specialised medical treatment. Currently, David serves as a non-executive director and business mentor for enterprises that possess the potential to make a positive impact on the world. With his experience in commercial property investing and economics, he brings valuable expertise to the table.

David’s mindset revolves around prioritising “budgeting the luxuries first,” and he takes immense pleasure in sharing the insights of this approach with others.

 

Wally Chiang

Made in Taiwan, assembled in Australia, Wally fell into the common Asian misconception of equating good grades with success, resulting in him amassing more degrees than one cares to count. After gaining experience in the corporate IT sector, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by establishing his own digital marketing agency.

Having dedicated close to 10,000 hours to studying macroeconomics and geopolitics over the last six years or so, his current focus centres on wealth preservation and self-sufficiency. This involves diversifying into precious metals and cryptocurrency, alongside acquiring a 600+ acre hobby farm to learn new skills such as hunting, bushcraft, and permaculture.

With a disciplined approach to saving, investing in real estate during the booming years, and putting his business under management, Wally achieved FIRE at the age of 40. This grants him the freedom to devote his time to his family, particularly imparting his knowledge to his two young children. Moreover, Wally runs courses on his farm, catering to those embarking on their own journey towards self-sufficiency.

 

Owen Kelly Acedilla

Owen started his career as a software developer in Accenture Philippines more than two decades ago and worked his way up the corporate ladder. In 2011, he married long-time friend based in Melbourne, and made life changing decision to migrate to Australia. In 2013, the union blessed them with a son with special needs, who is Owen’s inspiration to seek alternatives to corporate life. After multiple life hurdles, Owen started learning trading equities, forex, and derivatives in 2014. In 2019, after achieving repeatable and scalable success in equity trading and investing, Owen decided to pull the trigger on FIRE.

Nowadays, Owen immerses himself in studying world economics and broadening his understanding of global financial dynamics. With heaps of free time, he has helped friends learn to trade/invest in financial markets, honed espresso preparation skills, and relished listening to high resolution music.

 

Stewart Perry

Stewart achieved FIRE in 2022 at the age of 36. However, a significant shift in the value of one of his investments led him to return to part-time work in 2023 to maintain his lifestyle. (Yes, we’ll discuss what went wrong!)

With a background in Computer Network Engineering, Cyber Security, and an MBA, Stewart has accumulated 20 years of experience in the IT sector in Melbourne. He currently works part-time as a Director in Cyber Security team at a Big Four consulting firm.

Stewart’s FIRE journey has been built on a mix of property and shares. He works three days a week and spends the rest of his time with his young family and friends, enjoying activities like traveling, water skiing, snowboarding, and working on classic cars. He expects to return to a full ‘chubby’ FIRE lifestyle by the age of 45.

His approach is centred on enjoying a great lifestyle while being budget-conscious, always seeking ways to achieve similar experiences at a fraction of the cost.

 

 

Host

Sarah Law

From a young age, Sarah was a saver and curious investor. She started her investing journey with bonds and ventured into managed funds at 19 years of age. In 2001, Sarah embarked on an extended holiday to South America and returned with the idea to retire at the age of 45 and run a small hospedaje (hotel) in Chile. Over the years, her retirement plans have shifted but her desire to retire early hasn’t wavered.

In May 2024, at the age of 47, Sarah retired from corporate life as it was no longer serving her. In the discovery stage of her retirement, she was astounded to find there was a FIRE movement which closely aligned with her objectives. Sarah’s settling into her retired life and to date has kept busy volunteering, mentoring friends and colleagues and exploring opportunities and activities of interest to her.

 

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