In episode 29 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with George Iacovou, Principal Financial Adviser and Founder of Great Advice, to unpack the financial decisions that shape long term success for Queensland property owners.

After founding Great Advice at just 23 years old, George has spent more than a decade helping individuals, families and business owners navigate investment, superannuation, insurance, retirement planning and wealth creation.

We cover:

- Building Great Advice from scratch: why George walked away from the traditional financial planning model, the lessons he learnt working for AMP, starting a business in his early 20s and how Great Advice grew through trust, referrals and long term client relationships.

- What Queensland property owners get wrong: the financial habits every homeowner should establish after settlement, why automation matters, the role of property in long term wealth creation, investment strategy, negative gearing, superannuation and the conversations property owners should be having before retirement.

- Trust, standards and the future of financial advice: the impact of the Royal Commission, why the number of financial advisers has almost halved, the importance of specialisation, avoiding property spruikers and how consumers can identify professionals who genuinely have their best interests at heart.

George shares practical insights on wealth creation, property ownership, retirement planning and why doing the non-sexy things today can completely change your future.

If you own property, are planning for retirement, building wealth or simply want to make better financial decisions, this episode is packed with practical advice on creating a plan, avoiding costly mistakes and building long term financial security.

Contact George: https://greatadvice.com.au/contact-us/
Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/
More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/
Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/
Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/

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In episode 28 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Lara Paholski, CEO of LiveSign, to unpack the biggest regulatory change facing Queensland property professionals in more than a decade.

With AML/CTF Tranche 2 reforms commencing from 01 July 2026, lawyers, conveyancers, accountants and real estate agents will all face new obligations around identity verification, customer due diligence and anti-money laundering compliance.

As the CEO of one of Australia's leading verification of identity providers, Lara has spent years helping property professionals navigate digital identity, fraud prevention and compliance. In this episode, she breaks down what is changing, why it matters and what businesses need to do now.

We cover:

- Verification of Identity (VOI): what VOI actually is, how modern identity verification works, the role of biometrics and government-issued IDs, common fraud risks in property transactions and why secure digital verification is becoming increasingly important.

- AML Tranche 2: what the new anti-money laundering laws mean for lawyers, conveyancers, accountants and real estate agents, how prepared the industry really is and the practical steps businesses should be taking before the reforms commence.

- What it means for buyers and sellers: the additional checks clients can expect, why more questions will be asked throughout the transaction process and how these reforms are designed to better protect consumers and the property industry from fraud and financial crime.

If you work in real estate, conveyancing, law, finance or property, this episode is essential listening ahead of the AML/CTF changes and a valuable guide to understanding the future of compliance in Queensland property.

Contact Livesign: https://www.live-sign.com/resources/help
Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/
More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/
Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/
Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/

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In episode 27 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Peter Burgin, Chief Auctioneer and Head of Performance at Ray White Collective, to unpack what it takes to build trust, perform at a high level and consistently deliver results in Queensland real estate.

With more than 23 years in the industry, over 15,000 auctions called and an REIQ Auctioneer of the Year title to his name, Peter is widely regarded as one of Queensland’s most respected auctioneers.

We cover:

- The journey: how Peter went from auctioning bulldozers, excavators and farm equipment to becoming one of Queensland’s leading property auctioneers, the lessons he learnt from selling more than 1,000 lots a day and why understanding the entire sales process matters.

- What buyers and sellers get wrong about auctions: the biggest misconceptions Peter sees before auction day, common mistakes buyers make, why preparation is everything and how great agents and auctioneers work together to create the best possible outcome.

- Performance, leadership and the future of auctions: Peter’s role as Head of Performance at Ray White Collective, how he helps develop the next generation of agents, the importance of trust and relationships and why continual improvement is critical in a changing property market.

From auction strategy and buyer psychology to leadership, performance and raising industry standards, this episode is packed with insights for agents, business owners and anyone involved in property.

Contact Peter: https://raywhitebulimba.com.au/agents/peter-burgin/179266
Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/
More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/
Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/
Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/

Support the show