Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

70. Living off your portfolio during a market downturn

Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

Show Notes

What happens if the market crashes as soon as you hit FIRE? In this episode, Hayden and Dave get into one of the most practical and underrated challenges of early retirement: actually living off your portfolio when things get rocky.

They cover: 👉 The stage of retirement where you're most at risk from market volatility 👉 The psychological shift from receiving a paycheck to relying on a portfolio, and why it's harder than it sounds 👉 Why having a backup plan before you need one changes everything 👉 Cash buffers, flexible income and expense levers you can pull without selling assets at the wrong time 👉 How debt, home equity and diversification fit into a drawdown strategy

It's pearler's 5th birthday! Get 5 free trades here 🥳

Ask a Question

FI Case Study Request Form

Pearler Strong Money Australia Original Aussie FIRE e-book Strong Money Australia’s audiobook

Disclaimer Any advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it’s appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision.

Pearler is an Authorised Representative #1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL #337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Aussie FIRE | Financial Independence Retire Early

Oct 23, 2026

Your FIRE plan might look perfectly reasonable on paper. But what happens when the share market drops, an investment property needs a $20,000 repair, interest rates rise or the government starts changing tax rules? And if financial decisions are keeping you awake at night, is the answer to change your investments, change your thinking or simply accept that some things are outside your control?

Oct 16, 2026

Where should a retirement cash buffer live when most of your wealth is already in super? If you're aiming to retire in ten years, is it better to build your outside portfolio first or split your investing between ETFs and super now? And once you're already retired, does it make sense to sell a large share portfolio just to get more money into super before pension phase?

Oct 9, 2026

Travel is supposed to be one of the things money gives you more freedom to enjoy. But when a holiday can cost $15,000 instead of $5,000, how do you keep seeing the world without feeling like every trip is sending your finances backwards?

Oct 2, 2026

If the goal is to live off your portfolio one day, why bother selling investments at all? Could you simply build a portfolio that throws off enough income to cover your spending, ignore the 4% rule and leave the assets themselves alone? It sounds neat. But once you look past the appeal of regular cash flow, the trade-offs get more interesting.

Sep 25, 2026

Retiring overseas might sound like a straightforward FIRE move. But what happens when your portfolio was built around Australia, changing tax residency could create a tax event, your partner has a completely different appetite for risk, or you finally start selling ETFs you have been buying for years?

See all episodes →