G’day everyone,

In Episode 2 of The Aussie Expat Podcast, we got the chance to sit down with our good mate and co-host Tristan Perry—our resident tax expert. This time, Tristan’s the one in the hot seat, and he doesn’t hold back.

We dive into his journey from growing up in Canberra (including a stint as a pastry chef!) to running his own specialist expat tax practice in Singapore. It’s a classic expat story of reinvention: moving countries, tackling challenges, building networks from scratch, and learning how to make things work when nothing’s handed to you.

One thing I really enjoyed about this chat was Tristan’s honesty about the ups and downs of relocating. He shares what it’s like arriving in Singapore as a “trailing spouse,” setting up 50 pieces of IKEA furniture, hunting for work in a new market, and eventually building a thriving business. It’s something so many of us can relate to.

We also get into practical stuff for Aussie expats—like why getting tax advice before making big moves matters, some common (and easily avoided) mistakes, and Tristan’s favourite client stories (there’s a cracker about helping a touring band T-shirt seller deal with big bags of post-gig cash).

My favourite takeaway? How important it is to plan early, take advice, and stay flexible. Tristan’s big on making tax planning feel less scary, and he’s got a knack for turning complex rules into something people can actually use.

This episode is a must-listen if you’re an Aussie living abroad, thinking about moving, or just keen to learn from someone who’s walked the walk. We also chat about the “future family home” strategy, the Australian property market outlook, and why waiting for the “perfect time” often just makes things harder.

So grab a coffee (or something stronger) and have a listen. I reckon you’ll find it both useful and entertaining.

👉 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.