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The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game

Nick Reilly, Jason Robinson 282 Episodes Jun 28, 2026

The Numbers Game is a finance, investment, and business podcast hosted by CPA accountant Jason Robinson and planner Nick Reilly. Each week, they provide strategy and advice on the importance of knowing your numbers in life and business. The show aims to help listeners understand the stories that numbers tell and make better financial decisions.

Episodes

What Real Budget Reform for Young Australians Would Actually Look Like Jun 28, 2026 00:26:47 The 2026 Budget was pitched as a fix for intergenerational unfairness. Nick's fired up and reckons none of it adds up, especially if you're a young Australian trying to get ahead. But you can't just criticise without bringing a solution, and he's got a few of his own. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (01:17) The 2026 Budget's Reform Pitch and Where It Misses Young Australians (02:29) B
The Business of Gift Cards | Why Most Get the Accounting Wrong Jun 21, 2026 00:23:30 Australians waste $1.9 billion a year on gift cards they never use, and there's a whole business model built around hoping you don't show up. If your business sells gift cards, there's a good chance the accounting is wrong. It's one of the most common mistakes Jase sees with his clients, and this episode gets into how the accounting should actually work so you're not paying tax before you need to.
How to Know If Your Skills Transfer in an AI World Jun 14, 2026 00:28:32 Over 9,000 Australian jobs have gone to AI this year and we're now second in the world for tech displacement. Nick reckons you don't need to be a tech expert to stay relevant. Your existing skills transfer to roles AI can't replace, you just need to know which ones and where. He's put together a 6-step playbook that walks you through assessing your own exposure, identifying what transfers, and mak
Victoria Owes $199 Billion | What It Means for Your Business Jun 7, 2026 00:26:11 Victoria's $199 billion in debt, and if you're running a small business in this state, you're the one wearing it. Taxes keep climbing, businesses are going under at record rates, and the COVID levy that was sold as temporary isn't going anywhere. Jase has done the numbers on where the money went and what it means for Victorian business owners heading into end of financial year. On this episode, we
The Bank of Mum and Dad: A Financial Disaster Waiting to Happen? May 31, 2026 00:29:47 The bank of mum and dad is now Australia's fifth largest lender, with $35 billion a year flowing from parents to kids trying to get into property. Most of it completely undocumented and with no plan for how it comes back. Nick's seen it go wrong firsthand, and this is what both sides need to hear before any money changes hands. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:42) Australia's 5th La
The $1,000 ATO Tax Deduction Explained | Should You Tick the Box? May 24, 2026 00:22:05 The ATO is rolling out an automatic $1,000 tax deduction for millions of Australians, and it sounds like free money until you understand how deductions actually work. Jase has run the maths on what that $1,000 really puts back in your pocket at every tax bracket. Is this just another nice sell from the government, or is the box actually worth ticking? On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (0
The 5-Day Week Is 100 Years Old | Will AI End It? May 17, 2026 00:26:51 The five-day work week hasn't changed since Henry Ford introduced it in 1926, and Nick reckons AI might be the thing that finally ends it. Thanks to AI productivity gains in service businesses are already real, and the question isn't whether people can get five days of work done in four, it's whether business owners will pass that time back or just pocket the margin. Do you think a four-day week c
Petrol vs Electric Cars: How Much You Actually Save in 2026 May 10, 2026 00:23:32 Fuel's up 70% and EV orders have tripled, so Jase did the numbers on what switching actually costs. The per-kilometre gap between petrol and electric is ten to one, and if you salary sacrifice an EV through your business, the FBT exemption stacks another $10K-$15K a year on top. If you're thinking about making the switch, this is the one to listen to. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (0
Six Years of Zero Growth, $786B Spent | Australia's Productivity Crisis May 3, 2026 00:26:37 Australia hasn't had real productivity growth in six years, but the government keeps spending more and taxing more to cover the gap. Nick goes through the federal budget numbers, what productivity actually means when you strip out the spin, and why the answer might not be another tax bracket or another levy, but actually spending less. On this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Intro (00:17) Free Publi
Are You on the ATO's Radar? | The Biggest Audit Triggers in 2026 Apr 26, 2026 00:30:53 The ATO's audit hit list is out for 2026, and they've got more data on you than ever. Your bank, your crypto platform, your rental agent, your Instagram, they're matching it all against your return. This episode covers the real triggers that put you on their radar, and why using the ATO as a cheap line of credit just became one of the most expensive mistakes a business owner can make. On this epis
$5.4 Trillion Is Changing Hands | Is Your Family Ready for the Tax Bill? Apr 19, 2026 00:25:02 $4 to $5.4 trillion is set to change hands in Australia's great wealth transfer, and most families have no idea how much tax is hiding in super, shares, and property along the way. Nick walks through a real client case where a 94-year-old with $5.3 million in assets was staring down a $300,000 tax bill for her kids, and the strategies that brought it right down. And with The Australia Institute no
Leaving Australia for Tax Purposes? The ATO Already Knows Your Plan Apr 12, 2026 00:23:06 Moving to Dubai to pay less tax is all over social media, but leaving the Australian tax system is a lot harder than packing your bags. If you've ever looked at your tax bill and thought about leaving, the ATO is already tracking more than you think: your travel, your bank accounts, even your family ties. Jase is working with a client who's actually making the move, and walks through what it takes

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