Asset Selection Archives - The Property Couch

546 | The Frankenstein Portfolio That Lost $159K—And How to Avoid It

By The Property Couch May 15, 2025 in Case Study, Podcast, Property Investment

We’ve heard it time and time again from investors who look back and say, “What was I thinking?”

In Ep 546, Bryce is joined by returning guest David Robertson—Head of Property Wealth Planning at Empower Wealth—to dive deep into one of the scariest (and most common) traps in property investing:

The Frankenstein Portfolio.

These portfolios are stitched together from forums, free seminars, and flashy Finfluencer advice… but lack one crucial ingredient: a plan.

👉 If you missed our intro to the concept, check out Ep 543: What Is a Frankenstein Portfolio?

This week, we’re going one step further.

We’re showing you how to fix it—with 3 real-life investor case studies:

✅ Ryan & Claire: 4 underperforming properties—including a $159K loss on a rental-guaranteed unit

✅ Steve & Elisa: Two good assets, but poor sequencing and a big debt dilemma. Should they hold or sell?

✅ Mark & Tracey: A calm, boring, strategic portfolio built with intention from Day 1 (and zero stress)

This is your crash course in avoiding—or correcting—a portfolio without a plan.

Because activity ≠ accomplishment… and in the long game of property, boring wins. Tune in now!

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Over 5,000 lives changed through strategic property planning 🎉
Our financial advisory, Empower Wealth, has officially created 5,000 Property Wealth Plans—that’s thousands of aspiring Aussies, their families and future generations gaining clarity, structure, and a clear path toward financial peace.This means:
- 💼 More than $10.5 billion in property recommendations
- 🏡 Over 9,400 investment properties suggested through strategic planning, and
- ✅ Countless lives changed with structured, tailored roadmaps to wealth!A huge thank you to our brilliant advisory team and clients who’ve trusted us with their journey. 🙏
  Want to see how a property plan would look with your goals? Book in a free intial chat with our team today >>
Want a copy of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week — before it hits bookstores?
To celebrate Bryce’s 50th birthday and raise funds to restore eyesight for 100 people in Indonesia, we’re gifting a copy of the new book to anyone who donates $100 or more to the John Fawcett Foundation.✔️ 100% of your donation goes directly to sight-saving surgeries
✔️ You’ll receive the book before it hits shelves
✔️ We’re halfway to our $10,000 goal — with just days to go. Every donation counts!

Simply:
1. Donate $100+ at 👉 thepropertycouch.com.au/donation
2. Forward your receipt to 📩 [email protected]
Guests & Episodes Mentioned:
- 543 | How to Fix a Frankenstein Portfolio Before It’s Too Late

Article from Ben’s “What’s Making Property News?
- The average sum Australians will inherit and what to do with it

Timestamps

0:00 – The Frankenstein Portfolio That Lost $159K—And How to Avoid It
1:25 – More than 5,000 aspiring Australian households helped!
7:54 – Want a free copy of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week?
9:58 – Mindset Minute: The gold in your cracks
13:51 – Welcome, Dave!
14:22 – Refresher: What is a Frankenstein Portfolio?
17:37 – Case Study 1: Ryan & Claire (The Frankenstein Portfolio)
18:28 – Why most folks do well selecting their PPORs
20:41 – Property #1: Over a decade yet a decline of $150K? 🙁
24:16 – Why Rental Guarantees are one of the biggest red flags to run from
26:24 – Property #2: A repeat unit offender
29:22 – Property #3: The market they jumped into too late
31:25 – The development block project: Interest rates & reno plans
36:01 – Why did they seek help?
37:04 – Fixing their Frankenstein portfolio
41:45 – Boring vs. “Exciting” property plans
44:49 – Case Study 2: Steve & Elisa (The “Needs Work” Portfolio)
45:48 – Property #1: The high volume game
48:22– Property #2: No science in the asset selection
49:49 – Property #3: The Tassie house they bought at the peak of the cycle
51:55 – Growing the family home: What properties should they keep or sell?
54:35 – Should they buy a new home or redevelop their PPOR?
56:40 – “Planning is not just about your next investment property”
59:04 – Case Study 3: Mark & Tracey (The Successful Portfolio)
1:02:03 – What a calm, strategic plan looks like!
1:04:05 – “If you want adrenaline, go bungee jumping. If you’re investing, it should be boring.”
1:06:37 – Wrap up: Similarities & Red Flags (And how to avoid them!

And…

1:09:35 – Why boring is the goal!
1:11:03 – Dedicated to Ben’s father-in-law
1:12:38 – Life By Design hack: The #1 parenting skill we forget: Listening.
1:17:09 – WMPN: The average Aussie inheritance

545 | Burnt-Out Vans, Mouldy Eaves & Broken Trust: A Cautionary Buyer’s Agent Tale

By The Property Couch May 8, 2025 in Case Study, Podcast, Property Investment

When long-time listener and four-property investor Jayson reached out to Bryce on LinkedIn, we knew this was a conversation worth having on the couch.

Why?

Because he’s been through something many won’t talk about publicly:

What happens when you put your trust—and your money—in a so-called “top tier” buyer’s agent…

And things go bad. 🙁

In this candid, courageous chat, Jayson walks us through:

✅ The real story behind his borderless investing experience
✅ What went wrong with not one—but THREE—properties
✅ The moment that shattered his confidence in the professionals he hired
✅ And how he rebuilt that trust and bought interstate (successfully!) on his own terms.

We also unpack:

📌 What to look out for before signing on with a buyer’s agent
📌 The clauses in a contract that could cost you thousands
📌 Why yield alone should never be your north star
📌 And how to spot red flags that might not show up on a spreadsheet.

Folks, this one’s a cautionary story with a positive ending.

It’s for anyone considering hiring a professional—and a reminder that communication, transparency, and trust must be non-negotiables when building a property portfolio.

Free Stuff

- Just 3 WEEKS Left to Help Us Restore Sight! 👁️
  To celebrate Bryce’s 50th birthday, we’ve teamed up with the John Fawcett Foundation to give the life-changing gift of sight to those in need in Indonesia through cataract surgeries. Thanks to our generous community, we’ve already raised $4,184.93 – but we’ve got 3 more weeks left to hit our $10,000 goal by 27th May. Whether you’re a long-time listener of The Property Couch or simply believe in giving back — every dollar counts.Here’s what your donation can do:
  👁️ $100 = Restores sight to 1 person
  👁️👁️ $200 = 2 people
  🖐️ $500 = 5 people
  ✋✋ $1,000 = 10 people
  Donate now and help us to transform lives!
- Time’s Running Out to Pre-Order & Save!
  Our brand-new book — How to Retire on $3,000 a Week — is almost here! With just weeks to go before launch, now’s the perfect time to lock in up to 10% off and be one of the first to get your hands on it. Pre-order today from these retailers:

(RRP is $32.99 — so whichever option you pick, you’re ahead!). Or join the waitlist for exclusive behind-the-scenes updates, bonuses, and sneak peeks you won’t find anywhere else!

MyKNOWLEDGE Has Landed! 🚀
This episode isn’t just packed with evergreen lessons— it also marks the official launch of MyKNOWLEDGE, our brand-new digital learning hub designed to fast-track your property, finance, and MoneySMARTS. As a special thank you to our podcast community, we’re offering 50% off MyKNOWLEDGE — but only until 31 May! Simply create or log in to your Moorr account, and you’ll see MyKNOWLEDGE on the sidebar.
👉 Redeem your discount here
💬 Or use code: ACT50 at checkout

Articles from Ben’s “What’s Making Property News”: Study reveals suburbs with most landlord insurance claims

Guests & Episodes Mentioned:
- Check out our complete Summer and Winter Series!
- 509 | Property Investing 2.0: Why Property Investors Must Think Like Small Business Owners

Timestamps

0:00 – Burnt-Out Vans, Mouldy Eaves & Broken Trust: A Cautionary Buyer’s Agent Tale
1:32 – Footy Banter: Is Bryce questioning his support for Freo? 😮
7:48 – Federal Election Results
13:23 – Join the waitlist for our latest book: “How to Retire on $3K a Week”
15:13 – Bryce’s 50th: Just 3 WEEKS left to help us restore sight
16:37 – MyKNOWLEDGE has just launched! Get 50% off for a limited time only
21:22 – Mindset Minute: The painful cost of overthinking
25:12 – Welcome, Jayson!
25:58 – Why he turned to a buyer’s agent—and what he was chasing
26:54 – Money Story: Invoices, QuickBooks, and watching mum & dad invest
33:47 – From tradie to investor: DIY confidence & an aggressive approach
37:14 – Jayson’s Safety Net
39:08 – “Accidental investors” and building their property portfolio
44:28 – Why did they decide to engage a “top-tier” buyer’s agent?
45:51 – Property #1: Mould, misdirection & a burnt-out caravan next door 😬
51:05 – Cooling-off confusion: The clause that could’ve cost thousands
57:20 – Property #2: Shaky walkthroughs, low yield & misleading comparables
1:00:49 – Property #3: The final straw that broke the camel’s back
1:05:46 – After the two burns, why did they go back for a third swing?
1:08:19 – The refund request
1:13:53 – A surprising response from the CEO
1:16:11 – The Walkaway Test: The overlooked fourth component
1:21:22 – How Jayson rebuilt confidence!
1:23:02 – The red flags & real lessons learnt
1:26:39 – Jayson’s North Star: Freedom, flexibility & financial springboard
1:28:20 – The true power of lived experience

And…

1:30:57 – Life By Design: The best way to teach your kids about taxes
1:32:18 – WMPN: The most common landlord insurance claims…

WAITLIST: How to Retire on $3k Per Week

By The Property Couch February 4, 2025 in Free Resources

The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing

Bryce & Ben are back with their latest game-changing book, breaking down the exact strategies to build a property portfolio that delivers a passive income of $3,000 per week.

This isn’t just another investing book—it’s a step-by-step playbook filled with real-world strategies, frameworks, and expert insights from two of Australia’s most trusted property and finance experts.

💡 Inside, You’ll Learn How To:
✅ Implement proven property investment frameworks
✅ Build a scalable, passive income stream
✅ Avoid common investor mistakes
✅ Make data-driven decisions for long-term success
✅ Maximise your financial position for retirement

🔔 Join the Waitlist & Be the First to Know When It Drops!

By signing up, you’ll get:
✅ Exclusive first access to the book launch and early access discounts!
✅ Special bonuses available only to early supporters
✅ Insider updates and behind-the-scenes content

📩 Register now and secure your spot on the waitlist!

513 | What’s The Forgotten Pillar of Wealth Creation?

By The Property Couch September 26, 2024 in Podcast, Property Investment

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It’s not a fun BBQ conversation like discussing the rate you snagged or the exciting new property you just bought but…

It is a critical pillar for holding up your entire wealth creation. 🏠🃏

Yep. We’re talking about the forgotten pillar of wealth creation.

Here’s the deal:

What essential defences do you need to protect your income, assets and lifestyle?
What does Ben consider a “Peace of Mind” policy?
The hidden problem in houses
How does defence tie in with the two core pillars of property investing?

It’s an episode that not enough folks are talking about. Tune in now so your wealth isn’t, in the wise words of Ben, “built on a house of cards.”

Listen now!

Free Stuff Mentioned…

Vote for The Property Couch!
If we’ve helped you in any way, we ask you to vote for us at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards! Help us reach and transform more folks’ money management, finance and property investing knowledge across Australia. Vote now >>

Download the 2024 PIPA Annual Property Investor Sentiment Survey
The Property Investment Professionals of Australia conducted their annual survey in August 2024. With more than 13,000 respondents, the findings of property investors selling out are both surprising and saddening. Download the report now >>

Not sure how much buffer you should have for peace of mind regarding your job security?
Moorr, your all-in-one money management platform offers MoneySTRETCH, an advanced tool to see how long your money will last with no income. Calculate how much you need for a rainy day now >>

What do you want to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us through our SpeakPipe and get a free Start & Build course if your question is featured!

Guests & Episodes Mentioned:

Timestamps

0:00 – What’s The Forgotten Pillar of Wealth Creation?
1:24 – The torturous path of being a Freo supporter 😉
4:10 – Vote for us in the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards!
6:35 – Mindset Minute: Kind words from a listener: What happens when action meets an improvement mindset
10:03 – The Forgotten Pillar
11:09 – Income: “Do more than what you’re paid to do, and eventually…”
14:53 – Why adding value should be part of your defence strategy!
18:48 – How much buffer should you have?
21:42 – THIS is why a property-savvy accountant really matters in your accumulation phase
23:53 – Your health is your wealth
25:28 – A lot of banks assess this ONE thing!
27:13 – Lifestyle: Your North Star and do THIS if you’re feeling wobbly
30:33 – How to Google Maps your lifestyle
32:24 – Defining TPD & Trauma: Nuances and Ben’s personal stories
36:06 – Life insurance: Don’t just do it for the primary earner
37:37 – Assets: The hidden problem in houses
41:41 – Protecting YOU against tenants
44:41 – Tenancy reforms: A $23,000 fine?! Here’s how to avoid it.
48:30 – The 4 Pillars: How does Defence tie in with Borrowing Power & Cash Management?

And…

52:47 – What do you want to hear on the podcast?
53:25 – Lifehack: How to simplify your reading experience!
55:48 – WMPN: Download the PIPA Sentiment Survey: 14.01% of surveyors exited the market?!

509 | Property Investing 2.0: Why Property Investors Must Think Like Small Business Owners

By The Property Couch August 29, 2024 in Podcast, Property Investment

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The first property investor narrative was about “mom and pop” investors: middle-income earners with one investment property who passively manage it in the background.

In today’s episode, we’re introducing the Property Investor 2.0 narrative…

Small Business Owners.

There are seven critical reasons; can you guess them?

Managing A___ like a Business
Income G_____
Strategic P_____
R___ Management & C____ Planning
Understanding & Managing L____
Customer R____ Management
Marketing & B_____

Discover why shifting this perception is so important and what we stand to gain by doing so. Listen now, folks!

P.S. We also discuss the most important characteristic that predicts success and in “What’s Making Property News”, Ben uncovers the green shoots in the market.

Free Stuff Mentioned…

Moorr Webinar Replay: How are you currently managing your portfolio?
This replay is a game-changer for all property investors! Discover a new way to manage your portfolio driven by data >>

We’re looking for talented folks to join our team!
MoneySMARTS 2.0 is launching in October, and we’re looking for a Security Operations Manager. We’re also recruiting for roles in Marketing, Customer Service, and more! Interested? View current openings here >>

Resources from Ben’s “What’s Making Property News”:
- NSW taxpayer denied stamp duty exemption for transfer from SMSF to member – SMSF Adviser
- New home sales rise 11 per cent year-on-year, driven by Queensland and South Australia – Property Buzz

Timestamps

0:00 – Property Investing 2.0: Why Property Investors Must Think Like Small Business Owners
2:31 – Moorr Webinar Replay: A data-driven way to manage your portfolio
7:51 – Mindset Minute: What is the #1 character quality that predicts success?
10:30 – Property Investing 1.0: Why is the “mom and pop” investor narrative now obsolete?
12:30 – “It’s coming from a place of ‘doing good’.”
14:06 – Why property investors are small business owners
18:45 – Rules of the Game: From guilt shaming to performing social good
24:47 – 1. Managing A___ like a Business
25:56 – 2. Income G_____
28:19 – 3. Strategic P_____
31:25 – 4. R___ Management & C____ Planning
33:44 – 5. Understanding & Managing L____
36:33 – 6. Customer R____ Management
42:48 – 7. Marketing & B_____
45:40 – “At the end of the day, politicians want two things…”
48:49 – Why does the perception need to shift from part of the problem to part of the solution?
50:03 – How does it impact policy?
52:41 – Socialism vs. Capitalism: Growing the economic pie
55:33 – How do entrepreneurial mindsets bring economic benefits?
58:35 – The 4 ways we ALL win

And…

1:05:40 – Lifehack: Use a fork…to hang your prints?!
1:06:53 – WMPN: Home Sales Rising: Which states drive the economic flywheel?

The Frankenstein Portfolio.

We’re showing you how to fix it—with 3 real-life investor case studies:

Free Stuff

Timestamps

And things go bad. 🙁

We also unpack:

Free Stuff

Timestamps

The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing

Free Stuff Mentioned…

Timestamps

Small Business Owners.

Free Stuff Mentioned…

Timestamps

Instagram

Free Resources

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