by Opiak Conversations
Real conversations about money, wealth, and living life on your terms. Opiak Conversations, hosted by Aaron Van Der Meulen explores the ideas, strategies, and stories that help you create a richer life — financially and personally. We talk about money, property, mindset, and everything in between to help you build freedom, clarity, and purpose. Each episode is designed to leave you with actionable insights and inspiration to take the next step toward the life you want.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/10/2025
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January 29, 2026
<p>Most financial mistakes don’t happen because people are careless. They happen because no one explains how banks actually assess you. If you’re planning to buy your first home or your first investment property in Australia, this episode could save you serious time, stress, and money.</p><p><br></p><p>In this video, I break down the most common finance mistakes I see Australians make when applying for a home loan or investment loan. I share real client examples, industry insights, and even a painful mistake I made myself so you can avoid approval delays, reduced borrowing power, or failed settlements when buying property in Australia.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I cover:</p><ul><li>Why Afterpay and Buy Now Pay Later hurt loan approvals</li><li>How lifestyle spending reduces borrowing capacity</li><li>Whether to pay off debt or save a deposit first</li><li>What not to do during pre-approval and settlement</li><li>How to buy your first investment property in Australia smarter</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Whether you’re buying, building, or investing, this is essential viewing for navigating the Australian property market with confidence.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OpiakFinanceSolutions" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Subscribe</strong></a> for practical property finance insights. Comment with your biggest finance question.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://book.opiak.com.au/discovery-call-li" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Book a free strategy session</strong></a> with the team and me at Opiak Finance Solutions. We’ll help you prepare smarter for your next property move.</p><p><br></p><p>Key moments:</p><p>0:00 The money pattern keeping Australians in debt</p><p>1:04 Why Afterpay hurts home loan approvals</p><p>2:02 How lifestyle spending cuts borrowing power</p><p>3:05 The debt mistake that kills deposits</p><p>4:10 What happens if you borrow after approval</p><p>5:24 Why hiding dependants backfires</p><p>6:04 Trust mistakes that cost buyers thousands</p><p>7:09 The $300k pool mistake</p><p>8:06 Contract risks buyers often miss</p><p>9:51 Habits that boost loan approvals</p><p>10:27 The team every buyer needs early</p><p><br></p><p>Social Media & Contact Information:</p><p>LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062/</a> </p><p>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/opiakfinancesolutions/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/opiakfinancesolutions/</a> </p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OpiakFinanceSolutions" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/OpiakFinanceSolutions</a> </p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@opiakfinancesolutions" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.tiktok.com/@opiakfinancesolutions</a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://opiak.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://opiak.com.au/</a></p>
January 6, 2026
<p>What if the real reason you haven’t bought property yet isn’t money, but clarity? In this episode, I take you through real Queensland properties, real numbers, and real strategies so you can finally see where you stand and what’s possible for you.</p><p><br></p><p>I walk you through properties currently for sale across Queensland, from $500,000 homes right through to premium coastal real estate. I break down deposits, repayments at different interest rates, and practical strategies I use every day at Opiak Finance Solutions to help Australians buy their first home or investment property with confidence.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I cover:</p><ul><li><p>How to buy your first investment property in Australia with a low deposit</p></li><li><p>What repayments really look like at 5%, 6%, and 7% interest rates</p></li><li><p>Where affordability and rental demand still exists in Queensland</p></li><li><p>How rentvesting, equity, and interest-only loans actually work</p></li><li><p>How to move from “maybe one day” to a clear property plan</p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OpiakFinanceSolutions"><u>Subscribe</u></a> for clear, jargon-free property guidance. Comment with your situation or biggest question.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://book.opiak.com.au/discovery-call-li"><u>Book a free strategy session</u></a> with the team and me at Opiak Finance Solutions. We’ll help you map out your finance plan so you can buy your next investment property with confidence.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key moments:</strong></p><p>00:00 Is clarity the real issue?</p><p>01:58 Where QLD is still affordable</p><p>02:50 $500K family home (Bakers Creek)</p><p>03:43 $500K unit block (Mount Isa)</p><p>05:12 $600–750k Coastal home near Hervey Bay</p><p>06:07 $600–750k Townhouse in Slacks Creek</p><p>07:07 $750k–1M Hinterland home (Beechmont)</p><p>08:37 $750k–1M Renovated home near Toowoomba</p><p>09:41 $1M–1.5M Glass House Mountains family home</p><p>10:49 $1M–1.5M Beachside duplex (Rainbow Beach)</p><p>12:29 $1.5M–2M Broadwater penthouse (Labrador)</p><p>13:56 $1.5M–2M Maleny acreage with dual living</p><p>15:46 Over $2.5m Gated waterfront home</p><p>17:04 Over $2.5m Hedges Avenue beach estate</p><p>20:26 Repayments at 5–7%</p><p>23:14 Interest-only vs P&I</p><p>25:45 Borrowing power</p><p>27:49 5% deposit scheme</p><p>30:12 Rentvesting strategy</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Social Media & Contact Information</strong>:</p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062/</u></a> </p><p>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/opiakfinancesolutions/"><u>https://www.instagram.com/opiakfinancesolutions/</u></a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OpiakFinanceSolutions"><u>https://www.facebook.com/OpiakFinanceSolutions</u></a> </p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@opiakfinancesolutions"><u>https://www.tiktok.com/@opiakfinancesolutions</u></a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://opiak.com.au/"><u>https://opiak.com.au/</u></a></p>
November 26, 2025
<p>Ever wondered how to grow from owning just one investment property to building a full property portfolio in Australia without over-stretching yourself? In this episode, I break down the exact finance and property strategy we use at Opiak Finance Solutions to help everyday Aussies grow wealth through property, one smart move at a time.</p><p><br></p><p>It’s not about luck or timing the market. It’s about structure, planning, and letting time do the heavy lifting.</p><p><br></p><p>Here’s what you’ll learn:</p><ul><li>How to use equity from your first property to buy your next one</li><li>What LVR and LMI actually mean and how to use them strategically</li><li>How to structure your loans for flexibility, cash flow, and tax efficiency</li><li>The mindset shift every investor needs to grow a long-term portfolio</li><li>Real examples of how ordinary incomes can build extraordinary results</li></ul><p><br></p><p>💡 Ready to take the next step?</p><p><a href="https://book.opiak.com.au/discovery-call-li" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>Book a free strategy session</strong></u></a> with me and the team at Opiak Finance Solutions. We’ll help you map out your finance plan so you can buy your next investment property with confidence.</p><p><br></p><p>📩 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OpiakFinanceSolutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>Subscribe</strong></u></a> for weekly videos on how to build wealth through smart property investing in Australia, and drop your questions in the comments below. I’ll personally reply to as many as I can. </p><p><br></p><p>Key moments:</p><p>00:00 Why Most Investors Get Stuck After Their First Property</p><p>01:06 Spending Habits That Can Kill Your Borrowing Power</p><p>04:08 The $200K Borrowing Power Difference</p><p>10:16 Choosing Lenders in the Right Order</p><p>12:34 How Each Property Should Play a Role in Your Portfolio</p><p>15:29 SMSF Property Investing: When It Makes Sense</p><p>19:03 Why Buffers Are the Seatbelts of Property Investing</p><p>21:40 Building Your Buffer Early Beats Chasing Growth</p><p>23:03 How to Boost Cash Flow Without Adding Risk</p><p>26:13 How 8 Properties Could Earn $8K/Week</p><p>29:28 How to Recycle Equity to Keep Growing</p><p>31:25 Beware the “Too-Good-to-Be-True” Seminars</p><p>33:16 When to Sell, Refinance, or Restructure</p><p>35:02 “I Have One Property, I Want More.” Now What?</p><p><br></p><p>Social Media & Contact Information:</p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>aaron-van-der-meulen-b9b87062</strong></u></a></p><p>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/opiakfinancesolutions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>@opiakfinancesolutions</strong></u></a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OpiakFinanceSolutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>OpiakFinanceSolutions</strong></u></a> </p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@opiakfinancesolutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>@opiakfinancesolutions</strong></u></a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://opiak.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u><strong>https://opiak.com.au/</strong></u></a></p>
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Real conversations about money, wealth, and living life on your terms.
Opiak Conversations, hosted by Aaron Van Der Meulen explores the ideas, strategies, and stories that help you create a richer life — financially and personally.
We talk about money, property, mindset, and everything in between to help you build freedom, clarity, and purpose.
Each episode is designed to leave you with actionable insights and inspiration to take the next step toward the life you want.
This podcast updates daily.
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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