In a nutshell: 

Nanay (mother) Butch is one of twelve foster mothers at SOS Children’s Village, Cebu. Together they provide loving homes to 116 abandoned, neglected, or orphaned children. 

• Nanay Butch is a foster mother to 8 children at the Village.
• Fox & Hare’s members funded first-year university tuition for nine of the children at SOS in 2024.
• By choosing Fox & Hare, our members not only invest in their own financial well-being but also contribute to a brighter future for Nanay Butch, her children and others like them. 

 

 

13 Years as a foster mother and counting!

Nanay Butch is a full time foster parent to eight children at Fox & Hare Partner Charity, SOS Children’s Village.  

She lives in a home at the village where she cooks, cleans, does homework with and provides a loving home for her eight children. 

This year, she was the happy recipient of thousands of dollars’ worth of life changing support for her children and the other families in her village – all thanks to the members at Fox & Hare.  

“In my last job I was a coordinator at a family strengthening program but, after three and a half years, I realised that I didn’t just want to be the person coming to check up on the children, but to have a hand in raising them and helping them fulfil their dreams. 

So, I became an SOS Nanay and here I am 13 years later. 

At present I am caring for eight children in our home in the village, but I have raised a total of 12 children since I started.  

The youngest in our family right now is a seven year old girl and the oldest is a boy in grade twelve – so there is always a lot going on!” 

 

They could be begging or worse.

SOS provides long-term loving homes, support and care for children who have been abandoned, neglected or orphaned.

There are twelve homes in the village, located in bustling Cebu city, each headed up by their own Nanay and caring for 116 children in total.  

SOS’ Director Aunty Florence describes the program as a “provider of alternative family care for those children who do not have parental care or have never felt love from their immediate family. 

We provide a loving family environment as well as holistic, wraparound care that covers everything from education to nutrition and mental health support. 

This is a truly life-changing opportunity for the 116 children who live here with us.  

Without this type of care, there is a very clear risk that they could get stuck in the cycle of poverty. Without an education, without financial literacy, there is a big chance they would end up back on the streets begging or worse”. 

 

 

Confronting a Harsh Reality

The Philippines is a global centre of commercial child sexual abuse and the exploitation of children, where it’s estimated around 7,000,000 or roughly 16% of all children are sexually abused each year. The majority (up to 87%) of victims are young girls 13-18 years old, but young men, boys and children as young as 10 are frequently forced into prostitution and/or online exploitation too.  

Because poverty and homelessness are key risk indicators for potential victims, the children who find themselves at SOS’ front door are also particularly vulnerable.  

Driven by the desire to protect, care for and help these young people get the most out of their lives, Nanay Butch became an SOS mother. We believe women like her should be celebrated and supported at every step. 

 

 

Rising tides lift all boats.

The collective power of the Fox & Hare member community has made a significant impact on the lives of the children at SOS Children’s Villages. As members take control of their finances, buy property, get invested and follow their own path toward financial freedom they’re also extending those opportunities to the children at SOS. 

A portion of Fox & Hare’s revenues are dedicated to supporting the educational and personal development of children in need.  

Over the past twelve months, this has translated into:    

• First year university scholarships for nine SOS students eager to pursue higher education.    

• A memorable celebration for all 116 children, mothers, and SOS support staff, with Happy Meals for the little ones and a full lechon (a traditional Filipino dish) for everyone to enjoy.    

This is what we can achieve when we work together!  

By choosing Fox & Hare, members are not only investing in their own financial well-being but also becoming part of a collective effort to create a more equitable world. It’s a win-win situation that ensures a brighter future for us all. 

 

 

A message of hope.

“We’re very, very grateful for your help,” says Nanay Butch.  

Without the help of people like the members at Fox & Hare, I cannot imagine how we would cope. 

But together we can give the children hope. We can give them their dreams back.”

About Fox & Hare:

We help Australia’s 20-45 year olds buy property, get invested and achieve financial freedom.

Founded in 2017 by two former Macquarie Bank executives, Fox & Hare Financial Advice was born from a vision to disrupt a financial services industry that only served the old and rich. We saw a gap in the market for a firm that understood and catered to the needs of young people in the wealth accumulation phase of their lives, and we jumped on it!

Whether you know that your financial situation should be better, but don’t know what to do next, have questions about the options that are available to you, or need a hand building, refining and implementing a specific investment, superannuation or other strategy, Fox & Hare are here, able and qualified to help.

 

Fox & Hare can help you, too.

Are you ready to take the next steps toward the life you aspire to? If yes, reach out to Fox & Hare for a free virtual coffee catch up.

We have helped hundreds of 20-45 year olds unlock their potential and find the freedom, security and stability they deserve.

We can assess your current financial world – and give you 100% clarity on how to:

• Pay down debts
• Save to buy a home
• Quit work for a career change / start a business
• Achieve financial freedom

With clear, reliable and realistic time frames.

If you want to be debt free? We can tell you exactly how long that will take. If you want to own a home? We can tell you how long that’ll take too. Want to start a family? We can tell you down to the day.

So, if you want to put an end to that feeling of unease “when will I be able to buy a home?” “when will I be debt free?” “will I ever feel financially secure?” Hit “Book now!” and claim your free virtual coffee with our Member Success Manager, Will today. 

Book now!

Tariff. A beautiful word. 

We’re 37 days into the new American administration and it’s been a doozy.  

The headlines are flowing so thick and so fast I’m already starting to feel exhausted, but there is one word in particular that’s been getting a lot of airtime – tariff.  

In a 2025 speech that may well go down in history alongside Thatcher’s ‘the lady’s not for turning’ and Reagan’s ‘A Time for Choosing’, Donald Trump declared ‘To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff. It’s my favourite word. It needs a public relations firm’. 

That may be so, but for some of us, myself included, a dictionary would probably be a better first step.  

Before I could feel comfortable getting caught up any kind of outrage, I really needed to know – what the hell is a tariff? So, I put on my detective hat and hit the internet to find out.  

 

 

 

What is a tariff? 

According to Scott French, senior lecturer in Economics at the University of New South Wales ‘An import tariff – sometimes called an import duty – is simply a tax on a good or service that is imported into a country.’ 

Because tariffs make imports more expensive, economists refer to them as a trade barrier. They aren’t the only kind. 

One other common non-tariff trade barrier is an import quota – a limit on how much of a particular good can be imported into a country. 

Governments can also create other non-tariff barriers to trade. 

These include administrative or regulatory requirements, such as customs forms, labelling requirements or safety standards that differ across countries.  

Seems simple enough!  Just like the GST, a tariff is a tax that is imposed on specific goods or services that are imported from overseas.  

Economists almost unanimously agree that trade barriers have an overall negative impact on the economy, but they note the benefits of free trade are rarely shared equally.  

Many in the former auto manufacturing hubs of Victoria, South Australia and other deindustrialised towns and cities the world over tend not to share the economists’ enthusiasm. 

 

So, how does a Tariff work IRL? 

Imagine you’re a business owner in Australia, and you want to sell handcrafted Italian leather handbags. You find a great supplier in Milan, and they offer you a fantastic price – $100 per bag!

You’re excited to import these handbags and offer them to your customers. But there’s a catch!  

The Australian government has a 10% tariff on Italian leather handbags.

This means that for every handbag you import, you have to pay an extra $10 to the government. 

So, those handbags that cost you $100 in Italy now effectively cost you $110 in Australia. This makes them more expensive for you to sell, and ultimately, more expensive for your customers to buy. 

The idea is that this tariff helps protect Australian handbag makers.

By making the imported bags pricier, it gives local businesses a better chance to compete. Of course, it also means your customers likely end up paying more for their preferred Italian bags. 

This is a simplified example, but it shows the basic idea behind tariffs. They’re like a border tax that can make imported goods more expensive. 

But why would anybody want to make things more expensive? 

 

 

Why do governments implement tariffs? 

As we know, in the first instance, tariffs are designed to make imported goods more expensive, but there are a whole slew of reasons why a government might want that to happen. 

One reason is to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. When tariffs are applied tactically to raise the price of imported goods, domestic businesses can compete more effectively.  

Brazil’s recent imposition of tariffs up to 35% on various Chinese products, after a ‘significant increase in imports that harmed national production’ illustrate this method in action.  

Tariffs can also be used to influence the trade or other policies of nations.  

For example, a country might impose tariffs on goods from another country in order to pressure that country to change its trade practices, damage a competitive industry or put pressure on a foreign government. 

Australia’s 2022 imposition of a 35% additional tariff on all goods from Russia and Belarus, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlight how countries can use trade restrictions as a means to try influence and/or coerce fellow nations to behave in a particular way.  

 

 

Cool story, what do tariffs mean for me? 

So far, Australia has not been directly targeted as a tariff recipient. But that is no guarantee.  

Recently announced tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium imports into the US ‘without exception’ could have a marked effect on Australia’s producers.  

But the Albanese government appears quietly confident that our status as one of the few nations globally to maintain a trade deficit with the United States (we buy more from them than they buy from us) will play in our favour.  

Further, Australia’s steel imports do not register in the top ten importing nations to the US and rank ninth for aluminium at 90,203 metric tonnes –  more than 2.8m tonnes less than Canada in first place.  

Another potential source of trouble for us, the Trump administration’s factsheet on fair and reciprocal trade takes aim at ‘unfair taxes’, specifically, value added taxes like Australia’s GST.  

While Australia is not mentioned by name, the potential is there. There is also a strong potential for flow on effects from tariffs elsewhere, namely China.  

As our largest customer, responsible for around 40% of Australia’s exports, any fluctuations in the Chinese economy are likely to be felt here as well. 

Exciting times ahead, it seems! 

 

Fun tariff facts GUARANTEED to make you look smart. 

• The word Tariff originates from the Spanish port town of Tarifa. A group of racketeers based in the town would hold up merchant ships and charge a fee to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar – which came to be known by mariners as a tariff.

• Data from 2022 suggests that Bermuda has the highest (weighted mean) tariff rate in the world at 29.5%. Hong Kong & Macau share the lowest at 0.0%. Australia ranks 7th lowest at 1%.

• Early forms of tariffs were levied in the ancient Roman city of Palmyra (now Syria) and were not charged based on the goods entering the city but on the animal carrying them, with each camel or donkey load being charged a set amount. 1x donkey’s worth of Denarius please!

 

About Fox & Hare:

The company was Founded in 2017 by two former Macquarie execs. Fox & Hare aims to empower and educate Australians in the wealth accumulation phase of their life journey. Through the provision of a safe, inclusive and accepting environment, they’ve built a diverse and devoted following of 20- 40 somethings. Members come from many backgrounds, abilities and genders. The organisation and its co-founders have featured in the AFR, Equity Mates and Sydney Morning Herald. They have been included in Financial Standard’s Power 50 and Glen Hare was voted Australia’s best Financial Adviser for 2024.

“Women, especially unmarried women, are often told they shouldn’t dream big.

We’re told that we should stick to what’s ‘manageable’, ‘realistic’ or ‘believable’ and  many of us end up being too conservative in our goals.” Says Naomi.  

She’s sitting in her airy, light filled, Bondi Beach apartment, sipping a post mix Coke Zero at 10 in the morning.

“But I didn’t want to be just OK, scraping in by the skin of my teeth. I wanted the story of the straight white guy that’s done well for himself.

You know the one. He always comes out unscathed, he’s financially independent, he doesn’t need to rely on anyone else. I wanted that level of independence without feeling like I needed to get married, and you know what? I’ve done it.” 

Naomi’s a 38 year old marketing executive and, four years ago she had a realisation.  

“I thought to myself, OK, I’m a single woman without a huge desire to get married and, I’m not going to have kids –  that’s an opportunity. I don’t need to spend the rest of my life just coasting, I can be a success story. I have a great job, I make good money, why aren’t I doing anything super special with it?” 

For Naomi, the realisation of that dream would be supported by three key pillars; home ownership, ‘fuck you’ money (more on that later) and freedom from bill anxiety.  

She didn’t just achieve them, she aced them.  

 

 

I didn’t feel bad. I felt lazy.  

“Yeah, look, I wasn’t in a fantastic starting position” Naomi says.  

“I’d run up a bit of credit card debt, I didn’t have much savings, but I had a great job that paid well. So, it didn’t bother me that much. It wasn’t like I was lying awake at night anxious.  

But I was also thinking ‘if anything happens, if I don’t want to be at this job or have this career anymore, then I’m stuffed.’ 

I didn’t feel bad, I felt lazy.  

It actually felt a little bit like tax return. You know how it lays over your head all year round and then right before the next year is due, you do it? It was like that but with my entire financial situation. It was disorganised and, I’m sure a lot of people will understand, that made me anxious. Like, ‘why haven’t I bothered to sort this out yet?’ 

Naomi made it to her early thirties and decided she was going to do something about it.  

“It sucks to say this, but a lot of financial advisers only deal with the husband, wife, two kids and a picket fence situation. Many are  only interested in you if you’re already rich and want to work out how you’re going to save for the private school fees and a yacht. 

Obviously, that wasn’t right for me. So, I looked elsewhere. 

 

What does it mean to be safe? 

I knew that Glen (Co-founder at Fox & Hare Financial Advice) was one of the few advisers working with people who ‘look’ like me. I also knew that Fox & Hare’s style was centred on finding out what makes you happy – so, I went to the website and filled out the form.” 

Naomi had never worked with a financial adviser but, because she worked in the industry, had a lot of exposure to personal finance products and providers.  

“It was a bit like that old saying ‘hairdressers always have the worst hair cut’” she explains.  

“Because I was marketing financial products all day, I didn’t want to think about financial services or money outside of work.  

But the conversations I had with Glen were so far away from that.

We spoke about what was going to make me happy. What was going to make me feel secure. I’d say, ‘I want to feel safe’ and we’d talk about what that meant in reality.  

We worked out that it came down to three things; home ownership, ‘fuck you’ money and freedom from bill anxiety.  

The first feels quite obvious. I’d feel so much more secure in my own place. But there was another layer there, too. I wanted my dream place; I wasn’t content to just ‘make do’ and be satisfied with some shitbox.  

Second, to be secure I’d need to be debt free – with savings. I’d need a good amount of what I call ‘fuck you’ money. That’s a pool of cash set aside for an emergency; if I ever ended up working somewhere that didn’t align with my values or culture, I wanted to be able to just say ‘fuck you’ and leave. So, I’d never have to be trapped at a job or in some other situation that I hated or made me feel unsafe.  

Finally, I didn’t want to be worrying about bills.  

I’ve had a lot of exposure to the fact that unmarried women over fifty are one of the poorest demographics in Australia. Even though they’ve been working their whole lives they still don’t have financial independence and they’re working just to make ends meet. I didn’t want to end up getting by by the skin of my teeth, having bills coming in and thinking to myself ‘Gosh, how am I going to pay this?’ 

It felt like a lot and, as I said, women, especially single women, are told that we shouldn’t dream big, that we should play it safe. So, it was a surprise when Glen and team said ‘yep, we can do it.’” 

And just like that, they got started.  

 

 

“Holy Moley.. How am I supposed to live off this? ” 

The first thing Naomi noticed was a string of little wins.  

“We built a system of ‘buckets’, with allocated funds for different parts of my life. 

So, like, we had a short term bucket for my guilt free spending money, we had a long term bucket for my property, ‘fuck you’ money and debt repayments, plus a medium term bucket for things like holidays.  

On pay day, every dollar would automatically get sorted into its appropriate bucket and it was the best thing. 4 years later and I still automatically live by this sort out method. 

I started JUST spending the money in the guilt free bucket and, all of a sudden, these short, medium and long term goals all started happening. I remember thinking to myself ‘oh shit! I can save! I can actually pay down my credit card without dipping back into it!’  

My mindset shifted, and suddenly, everything seemed possible. I hadn’t realised I’d been lacking confidence, the whole time I’d been doubting my ability to sort out my finances and it felt like all of that changed overnight.  

The Fox & Hare approach is not about shaming or fear-mongering, but about empowerment and encouragement. “We focus on the possibilities” Says Glen Hare, Co-founder of Fox & Hare Financial Advice and Naomi’s financial adviser. “We listen to what our members want out of their lives, give them a definitive pathway for getting there and support them along the journey.” 

Naomi’s experience exemplifies this approach,  

“Some people can be shamed into making better decisions like they rule their life with fear,” Naomi observes. “But I’m the opposite. I can’t be hated or shamed into doing something. I have to feel like I’ve been encouraged into it. 

Glen was insane with that.  

He’d use software to forecast what my life could look like if I stuck to the plan for a certain period. I’ll never forget this conversation we had early on where I was saying how much I’d need to spend every week and he said ‘can you stretch it over a month?’ 

My first reply was a flat ‘no’. But then he was like ‘Naomi’ and he said it straight up ‘if you can make that number work you’ll be able to buy that house’. I’ll never forget it because that’s what drove me every time.  

Whenever I’d think ‘how am I supposed to live off this for a week he’d pop into my head. I’d say to myself ‘no. Glen’s told me I can do this. I can and I will.’ 

And she did. 

 

 

“I was confronted with a harsh reality. “ 

The first major win was a debt free, dream holiday.  

“Usually, I’d book a holiday and then just scalp and scrounge the cash together from the pay cheque before I go. This time the money was all just sitting there ready to go.  

I’d said to Glen that I wanted to have a good eight grand for a holiday twice a year,” she says.  

“So, when that money first landed it my account it was a totally new feeling for me. I was able to just book wherever I wanted, buy whatever I wanted, and I didn’t look at my credit card once.  

It was me and one of my girlfriends and we had the time of our lives. We stayed at the W, which is somewhere I’d never have been able to stay before! But this time we did it in style. And I didn’t feel guilty once.  

Cause it was money I’d saved. I wasn’t spending tomorrow’s blessing today and it was like ‘I’ve worked hard for it, I’ve achieved it, I’ve saved it and now I’m going to enjoy spending it!’” 

Naomi’s feelings about money and life changed rapidly over the following years.  

“I was so surprised because all these good things were happening, but my salary stayed the same for like two or three years. I had to stop and readjust how I thought about money and life.  

Until that point, whenever I’d been in a tough spot financially, the first thought had always been ‘get more money’. It was the first time I saw that ‘more’ wasn’t necessarily the key to my happiness. I was confronted with the reality that I already had the key to my happiness I just had to organise it in a better way. 

I learned to love myself in a finance way!” 

 

 

“He told me to fuck off.”

In the background, the dream of owning a home loomed large.  

“I’ll never forget the day I called up Glen with the news: ‘I’ve got a surprise for you. I just bought a place in Bondi!’ His response was hilarious, he was like ‘fuck off!’ I said ‘I have and it’s because of you!’ I told him I’d never have made it without him and we both started crying. I will never forget it.   

I know it’s just an object but it means so much more than that to me. Like I said, I wanted to feel financially safe and independent without needing to rely on anyone.  

I never wanted to find myself in the situation where I was dependent or I felt trapped and for me that’s what this place represents. Me building a safe space for myself that nobody can take away but myself. 

I wake up sometimes and I’m like ‘what the hell am I even doing here?’  

I still have these moments where I’m in total disbelief. If you’d asked me four years ago, I’d have set my goals so much lower. I don’t think I’d ever have believed something like was possible if it wasn’t for Glen showing me it was. 

He probably doesn’t even think it was a big deal but I have a totally different perception of myself and what I am capable of.  

The woman who signed up to Fox and Hare? I don’t even remember her,” Naomi reflects.  

 

 

Red wine, cigarettes and second hand book shops.  

“I don’t even remember what it feels like to doubt myself anymore. My confidence is so much better and my outlook for the future is so much more positive. 

Not that it was bleak before, but it was, I was conservative, whereas now my outlook for the future is boldly positive.” 

Looking ahead, Naomi’s dreams are bigger and brighter than ever.  

“I’m already like, I want to buy the whole building,” she laughs.  

“My mom said, just start with the top floor first Naomi ‘do yourself a penthouse’.”  

“That’s a joke but I can’t help thinking about it seriously. Before I would have thought ‘ohh I’m lucky to have just one little place and that’ll be fine. Now I’m thinking ‘well, once I pay this down, and I will do it sooner than the loan term, what’s next?’  

It’s no longer just so I can retire with safety. It’s let’s knock 10 years off it. 

I’ve told Glen, and it’s probably true, I’ll be the woman who owns the second-hand bookstore, drinking red wine and smoking cigarettes at 10am – like Bernard Black. I’ll have a retirement filled with the people and things that I love. I’ll be enjoying my time and doing the stuff that brings me the most personal pleasure, satisfaction and pleasure.  

You know, a fantasy is something you think about when you’re trying to get to sleep on a Sunday night – when you’ve got the Sunday scaries.  

A dream is something you think about when you’re going to bed at night. But a goal is something that’s going to happen.  

And so, this ideal life is no longer a fantasy or a dream to me, it’s a goal. It’s in my head and it’s going to happen by hook or by crook.  

I’ve got the confidence that it’s going to happen.  

 

Fox & Hare can help you, too.

Are you, like Naomi, ready to take the next steps toward the life you aspire to? If yes, reach out to Fox & Hare for a free virtual coffee catch up.

We have helped hundreds of 20-45 year olds unlock their potential and find the freedom, security and stability they deserve.

We can assess your current financial world – and give you 100% clarity on how to:

• Pay down debts
• Save to buy a home
• Quit work for a career change / start a business
• Achieve financial freedom

With clear, reliable and realistic time frames.

If you want to be debt free? We can tell you exactly how long that will take. If you want to own a home? We can tell you how long that’ll take too. Want to start a family? We can tell you down to the day.

So, if you want to put an end to that feeling of unease “when will I be able to buy a home?” “when will I be debt free?” “will I ever feel financially secure?” Hit “Book now!” and claim your free virtual coffee with our Member Success Manager, Will today. 

Book now!

About Fox & Hare:

The company was Founded in 2017 by two former Macquarie execs. Fox & Hare aims to empower and educate Australians in the wealth accumulation phase of their life journey. Through the provision of a safe, inclusive and accepting environment, they’ve built a diverse and devoted following of 20- 40 somethings. Members come from many backgrounds, abilities and genders. The organisation and its co-founders have featured in the AFR, Equity Mates and Sydney Morning Herald. They have been included in Financial Standard’s Power 50 and Glen Hare was voted Australia’s best Financial Adviser for 2024.

“But gay couples can’t just have a child suddenly, right?

It takes years of laser precision and planning.

Everything must go right for us to have a child. So, while the idea had always been in our minds, we had absolutely no idea where to start”.

Tim, an actuary with Macquarie Bank and Sasha, a film producer and editor have been together in a loving relationship for 11 years. They always knew they wanted to be parents.

But it wasn’t until 2021, when Sasha gave Tim “the nudge”, saying “we’re both doing better in our careers and we are not getting any younger” that the two decided to make the jump from wanting to becoming parents. 

“Coincidentally, I came across this rainbow family podcast on LinkedIn with financial adviser and former Macquarie Bank director, Glen Hare.  

He talked about techniques like using multiple accounts to ‘bucket’ your expenses, building up your savings through passive investments and he talked about some of the challenges that LGBT people may face when starting a family.  

I watched the whole video and one line in particular stuck out to me, that most couples don’t even know how much it’s going to cost to go through adoption or surrogacy, and I immediately thought to myself – ‘I think it’s time to get some help’”. 

Tim reached out to Glen with three goals in mind; to shore up his family’s financial position ahead of trying for a baby, to get career advice from a former Macquarie executive and, of course, find out more about rainbow families.  

“And I got all three!” Says Tim. “Glen put me in touch with Rainbow Families who, in turn, put me in touch with Surrogacy Australia and that’s where the journey really began. 

I negotiated a period of three-month part-time, three-month unpaid leave from work; we put together the cashflow plan that would allow me to take this time off and then I started researching.  

That was step one.” 

 

 

Altruistic or commercial surrogacy? 

“For me and Sasha, the attitude was that we would leave no stone untouched or unturned. Surrogacy legislation is very complex, there’s a lot to consider and every choice you make has a different implication.   

We discovered that we wanted to pursue domestic surrogacy, also called altruistic surrogacy, which means that you do not pay the surrogate to carry your child.” 

Altruistic surrogacy, where the surrogate receives no financial compensation beyond reasonable expenses is the only legal form of surrogacy in Australia.  

Commercial surrogacy, which involves payment to the surrogate beyond expenses is not permitted in Australia, but legal in many other jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada and Colombia, leading many couples to look internationally.  

“So, after choosing the domestic option, we put in our profile with surrogacy Australia. It was only one page, but I spent so many days and nights sitting at my computer trying to get it right, trying to make it perfect, then Sasha would review, and it’d be back and forth all over again! “ 

Tim and Sasha submitted their profile in March 2022, expecting a minimum twelve month wait before hearing back.  

Surrogacy is not common in Australia, according to family creation lawyer, Sarah Jefford OAM, approximately 120 surro-babies are born in Australia every year, while several hundred are born overseas. “While I support and encourage surrogacy within Australia, the reality is that only 1 in 5 couples seeking a surrogate will find one in at home” says Jefford.  

“I thought we would have 12 months ahead of us to get prepared, travel and relax a bit” Says Tim “and then, just three months later, our surrogate came into our life and changed everything”. 

 

 

From there, we met our surrogate.  

Tim and Sasha met their surrogate Lizzy, a mother of three from NSW’s Blue Mountains, just three months after posting their profile with Surrogacy Australia – eight months ahead of schedule!  

From there, the three embarked on a six-month ‘surro-dating’ journey “that’s the terminology for the period when you get to know your surrogate and she gets to know you” says Tim “this is the time to bring up and discuss all the questions about surrogacy, pregnancy and birth.”  

Tim reports many tough but necessary conversations, covering topics like personal values, abortion and what to do if something goes wrong.  

“Pretty much every topic had to be touched on and discussed”. 

Over this period, the bond between the trio grew stronger and Tim confided in Lizzie that he would be proposing to Sasha on an upcoming trip to the US. “She gave me an envelope and said, ‘only open this after you’ve proposed to Sasha’.  

So, that’s what I did. I trusted there was nothing fishy in the envelope that’d land me in hot water with US customs (talk about trust in altruistic surrogacy) and saved the envelope. When we got engaged, and when we opened the envelope, it read: ‘I’ve chosen the two of you, would you choose me?’ 

It was her offer to be our surrogate.” 

 

 

Navigating legal, financial and medical complexities. 

“Surrogacy legislation is very complex,” reflects Tim. 

“There’s a lot you have to consider, every option that you take has a different implication and the process is very expensive. 

You will be dealing with psychologists, and there will be lawyers, your IVF clinic and then you might need your own GP & OBGYN as well. So, that’s a lot of professionals you will be dealing with on your surrogacy journey.  

I think that typically, based on Surrogacy Australia’s research, you’re looking at a cost between $50,000 and $100,000 over three years. It’s not like one lump sum and you’re done. You’ll be working with different professionals and services at different times throughout your journey.”  

Sarah Jefford reports an even greater variance in the potential costs for families, from $15,000 to $100,000. “The major variable is the cost of fertility treatment, which will depend on what sort of treatment you require, the success of any treatment and when the surrogate falls pregnant” she says.  

Adding to the cost and complexity was Tim and Sasha’s decision to pursue IVF treatment in the United States.  

The choice stemmed from their connection with a doctor practicing in Los Angeles and the availability of their chosen egg donor in the USA. While this decision streamlined certain aspects of the process, and resulted in first attempt pregnancy, it also introduced logistical challenges and additional costs.  

“Because our doctor and egg donor were both in the US, it was a lot easier for the three of us to fly to Los Angeles, do the embryo transfer over there and then come home.  

It was a lot of extra cost, but we had planned for it. We started the journey with our budget and stuck to it. So, there were no big surprises in terms of finance for us.” 

What it’s like to be pregnant.  

“Two weeks after we came home from the United States, Lizzy came over to visit us with this big box. Inside was a homemade cake with “we did it” written in blue icing. So, that’s how we found out Lizzy was pregnant with a boy.” Tim remembers.  

“For me, there were tears, but we also tried to contain our excitement. We knew that we’d need to get through the next at 12 weeks to know for sure we’re having a baby” 

The first 20 weeks of pregnancy, particularly for those who have undergone IVF, are often fraught with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The risk of miscarriage is highest during this period and can heighten the fear associated with the early stages of pregnancy. The developing baby is also most vulnerable to potential complications and birth defects during the first trimester. 

“It was a huge relief to know that all our hard work had paid off.  It was an emotional roller coaster, for sure, and we were so happy. But we were also like ‘oh shit! We really, really need to get our house in order to welcome a newborn.” 

After the twenty-week milestone; which is often considered a turning point in the pregnancy, followed by a lower risk of pregnancy loss and providing reassurances about the baby’s health and development, Tim and Sasha set about telling their friends and family. 

“Seeing our friends and family so excited for us made me extra happy. I’m not sure who had the biggest reaction, but it’s between Sasha’s mum and our God children’s mum.  

There were lots of tears, I think my mother-in-law called us after every ultrasound, and every time we mentioned Atticus she would cry. It was so heartwarming.” 

 

The virtues of altruistic surrogacy

Lizzy, already a mother of two, sailed through the pregnancy with no problems and the two families grew closer as they progressed through the journey together.  

“One of the virtues of altruistic surrogacy is getting to be involved throughout the whole journey. Not only did we get to see Atticus grow at every ultrasound, but we got to know Lizzie and her family too.  

It was incredible.  

We got so close, we got to know each other so well and we were just amazed at Lizzy and her community.  

They are so family oriented; seeing how much love there is just further confirmed why she chose to be an altruistic surrogate.  

Toward the end of the term, we did a pregnancy photoshoot where we all dressed up in Harry Potter costumes – because Harry Potter is Lizzy’s favourite novel – and Lizzy’s two children held up a sign saying ‘my mum is helping to create an amazing family. Atticus coming soon! February 2024’.  

As you can imagine, we feel very blessed to have had this type of journey” 

 

It’s a boy! 

The culmination of years of planning, hard work and anticipation finally arrived in February 2024.  

Atticus was born – but with a worrying twist. 

“So, because the pregnancy was so smooth, the birth itself caught us off guard.  

We thought ‘the pregnancy is going so well, Lizzy’s already had two kids with a natural birth, this will be a water slide’ but that’s not how it turned out.  

Atticus’ birth threw a spanner in the works, with complications that led to a ten-hour labour and ended with an emergency caesarean.  

“After that, Lizzy couldn’t drive for six weeks, which totally derailed our plans.  

As a team, we hadn’t expected these early challenges. So, there’s a piece of advice for all the surrogacy teams out there. Hope for the best but plan for the worst!  

What will happen if you need a c-section? What else could go wrong that you’re just not thinking about.” 

Luckily, even though we had not planned for this specifically, we had set aside the funds to support us in case of emergency.  

Because we knew we were going to be ok financially, all we had to worry about was supporting Lizzy.  

Post birth she came to stay with us for two weeks. After that we saw each other twice a week and we still see each other on the weekends now. Even as we return to ‘normal’ life, we will still maintain this contact.  

We’re actually heading to Lizzy’s son’s birthday party this weekend! We really are so grateful that our son will continue to have that contact and our families have grown so close.” 

 

Settling into parenthood 

Atticus’ arrival has totally changed Tim and Sasha’s lives, even despite the lack of sleep, for the better.   

“Even though Atticus is such a good baby, even though he usually sleeps through the night, there’s still just not enough time in the day.  

You need to feed him, you need to entertain him, you need to read stories to him. Then you’ve got kitchen duty, laundry, you’ve got to look after yourself, each other and maintain your romantic life.  

It’s definitely a challenge! 

Also, something that I’ve learned since becoming a father is that, even though we label parents as primary and secondary caregivers, there is no such thing as primary or secondary care.  

It takes both of us being fully involved – and there is still not enough time in the day!” 

Despite the rapid change and new challenges, Tim and Sasha are loving their new lives as fathers. The one piece of advice they’d offer to families considering a similar journey? 

“Get a clear idea of how much each component of your surrogacy journey will cost. We did this and it made all the difference.  

Surrogacy Australia offer a (paid) service with a comprehensive expense calculator that will help you navigate and plan for the costs at every stage of the journey. 

I have to stress that when you know you’re going to be ok financially, you are free to give your full attention to the big things. Which IVF clinic will you attend? Which donor will you choose? Will you be available to properly support your surrogate?

This was a huge positive for us throughout this journey, it really was perfect” 

 

 

Fox & Hare can help you, too.

Are you, like Tim & Sasha, ready to take the next steps toward the life you aspire to? If yes, reach out to Fox & Hare for a free virtual coffee catch up.

We have helped hundreds of 20-45 year olds unlock their potential and find the freedom, security and stability they deserve.

We can assess your current financial world – and give you 100% clarity on how to:

• Pay down debts
• Save to buy a home
• Quit work for a career change / start a business
• Achieve financial freedom

With clear, reliable and realistic time frames.

If you want to be debt free? We can tell you exactly how long that will take. If you want to own a home? We can tell you how long that’ll take too. Want to start a family? We can tell you down to the day.

So, if you want to put an end to that feeling of unease “when will I be able to buy a home?” “when will I be debt free?” “will I ever feel financially secure?” Hit “Book now!” and claim your free virtual coffee with Will today. 

Book now!

 

About Fox & Hare:

The company was Founded in 2017 by two former Macquarie execs. Fox & Hare aims to empower and educate Australians in the wealth accumulation phase of their life journey. Through the provision of a safe, inclusive and accepting environment, they’ve built a diverse and devoted following of 20- 40 somethings. Members come from many backgrounds, abilities and genders. The organisation and its co-founders have featured in the AFR, Equity Mates and Sydney Morning Herald. They have been included in Financial Standard’s Power 50 and Glen Hare was voted Australia’s best Financial Adviser for 2024.

“I was in my early twenties and earning $70,000 as a call center team leader.

One Monday I decided I was going to Thailand for a week, called Westpac for a credit card extension and booked business class return for me and a friend.

I blew $25,000 in six days.

It was so rock star but so ridiculous. I was working in a call centre but behaving like the CEO and to this day it’s one of the most expensive weeks I’ve ever had.”

Robbie spent his twenties and thirties having a very good time. He bought what he wanted, went where he wanted and did what he wanted, too. And, like many Australians, he put it on the credit card.

“I was fortunate in that I was always earning a good income and every year my salary was increasing thanks to promotions and growing responsibilities. Of course, no matter how quick my salary went up, it never quite caught up with my spending.”

Australia’s total credit card debt stands around $41.64 billion across 13.54 million accounts, that’s an average balance per account of $3,076.  Thankfully, of that overall balance, interest is being charged on less than half (45% or $18.6 billion).

This means most credit card balances are repaid within the card’s interest-free period, while others accrue interest and others, like Robbie, are circumventing the system. In this case, with even more debt.

“I remember talking to people and thinking I was so smart and good with my money. I’d get brand new credit cards or credit limit increases and instead of paying higher interest every 18 months, I’d roll them all into a personal loan. I can’t help having a laugh looking back at it.

‘I’d give myself a big pat on the back and say well done!”

 

 

A sudden awareness that I needed to do something.

“Every January I’d be ‘getting my finances sorted’ which roughly translated to applying for new rollover loans. The personal loans went from $10,000 to $20,000 up to $50,000. I had a car loan; I had a second personal loan for $30,000.

When I reached my late thirties, I had around $130,000 in what I would classify as ‘bad debt’ and I began to feel conscious about falling behind.”

This brought Robbie, like many young people in Australia, face to face with the harsh realities of consumer debt, an overheated property market and the sudden realisation that tomorrow is no longer an option. Things just can’t be put off another day.

“I didn’t own a property, my car had this massive loan against it and all I had to show was credit cards and debt. I knew it wasn’t sustainable and that I just wasn’t doing the right thing.

In the back of my mind, I’d always known that I should have been saving for a rainy day or investing. But I’d always thought I could do that later.

But time goes a lot faster than you expect. In the snap of a finger 20 years had gone by. I was like ‘oh my god, I’m almost 40. How is this happening?”

Robbie sought financial advice from Fox & Hare in 2017. Within two years he was totally ‘bad’ debt free, had bought his own home in central Sydney and, perhaps most impressively, is still living his ideal life.

“When I signed up to Fox & Hare I had two overwhelming emotions. Excitement and fear. On the one hand I knew that I was going to get the help I needed. On the other was this all-consuming sense of fear. I would have to come clean about what I was doing. I would have to let the façade down.”

 

 

I was terrified to lose my freedom.

“The thought of sitting opposite someone and talking about a plan terrified me to be honest. On the day I went to sign the contract there was a moment where I stood up and was about to run from the room.

I was madly scrambling for an excuse to get out of there.

I was terrified of sharing the amount of debt that I’d accrued, that I’d been covering so much with credit cards. It felt like a challenge to my identity.

I’m the friend who shouts drinks and dinner, I’m the one who can go wherever and do whatever I want.

I was terrified I was about to lose that freedom.”

Fox & Hare Financial Advice Co-founder and financial adviser Glen Hare says this is totally normal and one of the biggest misunderstandings about the tailored, personal financial advice that is offered at the firm.

“A proper cashflow strategy is not about restricting the things and activities you love. We don’t tell people what they can and can’t do, we give them options.

For example, ‘On your current salary, at your current rate of spending, we will have the deposit for the home you want on this exact date. If you can find an extra $XX every week we can have the deposit six months sooner’

So, it’s not about losing freedoms but making informed choices.”

Something Robbie quickly realised.

 

 

I still travel, but I don’t come home with debt.

“Fast forward to now and I feel like I’ve got more freedom. I still travel but I don’t come home with debt, I own my own place and the car is paid off. But the most transformative change is being able to talk to people about money.

I’ve learned how to have better conversations with friends and family, and I’ve learned not to be so fearful of money.

There are all these big and little goals that I’ve ticked off, like paying off twenty years of debt in eighteen months!

If I’d run away from that first conversation, that never would have happened. After that, it’d be hard not to see the value in talking about money.”

 

 

Fox & Hare can help you, too.

Are you, like Robbie, ready to take the next steps toward financial security? Reach out to Fox & Hare for a free virtual coffee catch up.

We have helped hundreds of 20-45 year olds unlock their potential and find the freedom, security and stability they deserve.

We can assess your current financial world – and give you 100% clarity on how to:

• Pay down debts
• Save to buy a home
• Quit work for a career change / start a business
• Achieve financial freedom

With clear, reliable and realistic time frames.

If you want to be debt free? We can tell you exactly how long that will take. If you want to own a home? We can tell you how long that’ll take too.

So, if you want to put an end to that feeling of unease “when will I be able to buy a home?” “when will I be debt free?” “will I ever feel financially secure?” Hit “Book now!” and claim your free virtual coffee with Will today. 

Book now!

 

 

About Fox & Hare:

The company was Founded in 2017 by two former Macquarie execs. Fox & Hare aims to empower and educate Australians in the wealth accumulation phase of their life journey. Through the provision of a safe, inclusive and accepting environment, they’ve built a diverse and devoted following of 20- 40 somethings. Members come from many backgrounds, abilities and genders. The organisation and its co-founders have featured in the AFR, Equity Mates and Sydney Morning Herald. They have been included in Financial Standard’s Power 50 and Glen Hare was voted Australia’s best Financial Adviser for 2024.