From One Poor Early Experience to a Self-Funded Retirement Portfolio
- Peter Ward
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
CASE STUDY | Mark & Susan
 Properties 4 |  Capital invested $1,345,000 |  Current est. value $3,952,000 |  Capital uplift $2,608,000 |
Starting position
When APG first met this couple, they had a family home with debt and one earlier investment that had come from a stitched-up, spruiker-style model. It had performed poorly and left them wary of property investing altogether. What changed was education. After attending a workshop, they saw a very different framework: understand the market cycle, buy in a location with real growth capacity, hold patiently, then repeat only when the numbers make sense.
What Changed
Over time, that shift in understanding helped them build a substantial long-term portfolio. As retirement approached, they had the flexibility to sell selected assets, clear debt and strengthen their retirement income position alongside super.
Results To Date
# | Purchase | Capital invested | Current est. value* | Capital uplift | Growth | Yield Then | Yield Now |
1 | Aug 2003 | $325,000 | $1,285,000 | $960,000 | 295.4% | 5.3% | 13.1% |
2 | Aug 2004 | $265,000 | $798,000 | $533,000 | 201.2% | 4.8% | 14.5% |
3 | Jan 2005 | $365,000 | $1,195,000 | $830,000 | 227.4% | 4.2% | 9.4% |
4 | Mar 2014 | $390,000 | $675,000 | $285,000 | 73.1% | 4.9% | 8.5% |
* Based on the averaged current-value estimate column in APG's results report (10 Mar 2026).
 Client reflection Later, this client said the biggest difference was not simply buying property, but finally understanding how the process worked well enough to stay confident and enjoy the journey. | ||||