Affording private school and planning for your kids' education with Peter Higgins

Private school can offer great opportunities... but it also comes with a steep price tag. Do you ever wonder how families afford it?

In this episode, we investigate the real costs of private education and how to manage them. Whether you're already paying private school fees or just starting to think about your children's future education, this conversation will help you get your head around the planning, saving and investing strategies that make it possible.

We're joined by Pete Higgins, Senior Adviser and Partner at Tribeca Financial, who's not just an expert on financial planning but also a dad planning for his own kids' education.

What we talk about:

• What private school fees actually cost in Australia
• The full picture: uniforms, camps, travel, and more
• How Pete and his wife are planning for their own kids’ education
• Why grandparents are stepping in to help—and how to manage that
• What to do when one parent wants private school and the other doesn’t
• Saving vs investing for education: what’s the difference?
• How education bonds work (and why they’re worth considering)
• Tips for managing school fees once you’re committed
• Why it’s never too early to start planning

Key takeaways:

• It's never too early to start planning for education costs
• Education bonds offer significant tax advantages for families planning ahead
• Grandparent involvement is increasing and can be structured effectively
• There are multiple ways to fund education - it's not one-size-fits-all
• The best time to start planning was yesterday; the next best time is now

Resources:

• Tribeca’s article: "The three golden rules for affording private school fees"
• Cost of Education Index 2025 – view here.

Here’s to your Good Life. And thanks for listening. 

You can find us at https://www.tribecafinancial.com.au/ 

 

Our guest: 

Peter Higgins, Senior Advisor & Partner  

Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-higgins-planner/

Learn more about Peter: https://www.tribecafinancial.com.au/financial-planners-northern-beaches-peter-higgins/

 

Our hosts: 

Ryan Watson, CEO, Tribeca Financial  

Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-watson/ 

Stephanie Coombes, podcast expert and media
strategist 

Follow Steph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-coombes-62903825/ 

 

Tribeca Collective Pty Ltd, ABN 54 604 005 209 trading as Tribeca
Financial has been appointed as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1008603) of My Dedicated Advisory. My Good Life ® is a
registered trademark of Tribeca Collective Pty Ltd.  

Advice given in this podcast is general in nature and is not intended to
influence decisions about investing or financial products. Our listeners should
always seek their own professional advice that considers their own personal
circumstances before making any financial decisions. 

Tribeca Financial acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country
throughout Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.