How many ETFs do I actually need? I’m overwhelmed

More from Get Started Investing

1. 

   S16 · E3 · 7 Oct 2026 · 29 min

   How this 29-year-old taught herself to invest and house-sat her way to buying property

   Larissa thought she knew how to invest. She’d read the books, listened to the podcasts and watched her first investments climb. Then it went downhill. What followed was a shift to simple ETFs and an unconventional plan to buy property with her partner; give up renting and house-sit their way to a deposit. (spoiler; it worked!) This year, a break up changed the future she’d been financially building towards. She joins Jess to share how the financial foundations she built in her 20s gave her the freedom to pivot when life changed. This is ‘How I Got Started’ a series where I sit down with a…

2. 

   S16 · E3 · 5 Oct 2026 · 30 min

   What should I do with a lump sum: Save, super or invest?

   Don't let a lump sum sit in the wrong place. So how should you use it? Save it, invest it, pay off debt, put it in super, or spend it? Jess asks Financial Adviser Tom Hayes from Shadforth to run the numbers on every option. By the end of this episode, you'll know the trade-offs of each, and how to choose what fits your goals. Chapters: 00:00:00 What To Do With A Lump Sum 00:04:16 Where Your Money Came From 00:06:56 Building An Emergency Fund 00:11:53 Paying Down Debt 00:14:00 Superannuation And Tax Benefits 00:18:45 Investing Outside Super 00:24:21 Lump Sum Or Dollar Cost Averaging 00:27:01…

3. 

   S16 · E2 · 30 Sep 2026 · 26 min

   How this 41-year-old teacher can afford to retire early

   You don’t need a high income to invest your way to a better financial future. Today’s guest is proof of that. Ten years ago, while on maternity leave, Leigh decided to get serious about her families finances. Leigh and her husband aren’t high earners. She’s a teacher and her husband’s an electrician- so they don’t have millions coming in the door. But ten years after her investing journey began; their mortgage is paid off, she’s reached ‘Coast FIRE’ and is in a financial position to take next year off work. How did she do it? Jess chats with Leigh to find out. This is How I Got Started , in…

4. 

   S15 · E10 · 9 Sep 2026 · 27 min

   How this swans player is investing to build a life beyond football

   Hayden McLean knows a thing or two about playing the long game. After missing out on the AFL draft twice, Hayden kept going until he earned his place at the Sydney Swans. That same patience has shaped how he invests. At 27, he’s investing with one big goal in mind: creating the freedom to choose what life looks like after football. Hayden joins Jess to share how he went from being a hard-core saver who thought investing was too risky, to dollar cost averaging every month into a building a tech-heavy portfolio. This is How I Got Started, in each episode one community member shares the highs…

5. 

   S14 · E10 · 7 Sep 2026 · 30 min

   4 months into investing: My full portfolio update

   4 months into her investing journey and Jess’ life has completely changed. She’s since bought a house, switched her core portfolio to geared investments, gotten a dog and combined finances with her partner. Safe to say- there’s been A Lot™️ on 🤣. With all that change, she’s got a few questions still playing on her mind. Things like: Should dollar cost averaging be monthly, or weekly? How should you invest in a stocks if you’re not dollar cost averaging into them? Why are her Geared ETFS not performing like she thought they would? Jess sat down with Bryce and Ren to share what her portfolio…

6. 

   S15 · E9 · 2 Sep 2026 · 31 min

   From living paycheque to paycheque to a $1M+ net worth in 6 years

   Amy has built a $400,000 share portfolio, owns an investment property, and has grown her net worth to $1 million. But just six years ago, things looked very different. She was living pay cheque to pay cheque, had a credit card she didn't really understand, and had no idea where her money was going. So what changed? Amy shares with Jess the choices that turned her financial future around, how she built wealth through multiple income streams and why investing before you feel “ready” is a good way to start. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Paycheck To Paycheck To $1 Million 00:02:43 Growing Up Without…

7. 

   S14 · E9 · 31 Aug 2026 · 34 min

   How spending 15 minutes on your super could be worth hundreds of thousands

   Do you know how much is in your super? Or what it’s invested in? Most Australians know what's in their bank account but superannuation? Not a clue. This lack of attention has a cost- missing out on thousands more at retirement. So today, Jess gives her super a 5-step health check. She'd love for you to do the same alongside her. Walking us through the list is Jen, Head of Technical Services at MLC. Jen explains the small decisions that can make all the difference including; checking your fees, insurances and investment settings. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to check,…

8. 

   S15 · E8 · 26 Aug 2026 · 29 min

   What putting $3K into a mate’s stock tip taught Ryan about investing

   Ryan thought he was doing everything right with his money until a stock tip made his ETF feel like the wrong choice. For years, Ryan followed a very traditional approach to money: work hard, save hard and eventually buy a house. Then he discovered compound interest, started investing and found himself comparing two very different ways to put his money to work. What did that stock investment teach him? And how did it shape the kind of investor he wants to be? Ryan joins Jess to share how he got started investing, what his portfolio looks like today, the sleepless nights that came with his…

9. 

   S14 · E8 · 24 Aug 2026 · 32 min

   Can AI help me find more money to invest? I asked a financial controller

   What if you already had more money to invest... you just didn't realise it? Jess has spent months manually analysing her spending, trying to free up more money to invest. This week, she wants to know if AI can make the process easier. Together with a chartered accountant and financial controller, Isabelle from Mind Her Money , Jess explores how to safely use AI to better understand your spending (including actual prompts you can use), what patterns to look for and how to spot the money that's quietly slipping away without adding real value to your life. Because the goal isn't to stop…

10. 

    S15 · E7 · 19 Aug 2026 · 31 min

    How Kelly built a $280K portfolio and bought two investment properties before 30

    Kelly grew up watching her immigrant parents work two jobs, seven days a week, after arriving in Australia with very little money. She thought the only path to wealth was to work harder. Then she discovered investing and realised her money could work just as hard as she did. Before turning 30, she's built a $280,000 investment portfolio and bought two investment properties. Jess sits down with Kelly to unpack the lessons she learned from watching her parents' sacrifices, why she focuses on growing her income as much as her investments (more than doubling it in just a few years), how she uses…

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