He Left a Career at Sea to Start Again in Australia | Shahbaz Riar & Bal Purewal | Punjabi Podcast

10+ YEARS AT SEA. A SUCCESSFUL CAREER. THEN HE STARTED AGAIN IN AUSTRALIA. Why would someone leave the Merchant Navy after building a serious career at sea — and eventually move through solar, business, marine surveying and finance? In this episode of STAR MATRIX | STAR PODS, we sit down with SHAHBAZ SINGH RIAR for a raw Punjabi conversation about career, migration, money, risk, property, mortgages, business and the courage to start again. This is NOT just a mortgage podcast. It is a story about what happens when life changes direction — and whether you have the courage to change with it. ⚓ FROM SHIPS TO A NEW LIFE Shahbaz spent more than a decade building his maritime career, including time with A.P. Moller–Maersk. Life at sea brought discipline, pressure, responsibility and high-stakes decision-making. Then came the question most people are afraid to ask: “Do I continue on the safe path… or start again?” 🇦🇺 STARTING AGAIN IN AUSTRALIA Many migrants arrive with qualifications and experience — but Australia can still make you rebuild. We talk about ego, changing industries, calculated risk, adapting to a new country and why your first career does not have to be your final career. ☀️ SOLAR. BUSINESS. MARINE. FINANCE. Shahbaz’s journey moved through completely different industries — from shipping to solar, business, marine surveying and mortgage and finance broking. What connects them? RISK. DECISION-MAKING. PEOPLE. MONEY. 🏠 PROPERTY & MORTGAGE QUESTIONS PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT ANSWERED • How much can you borrow — and how much SHOULD you borrow? • Bank vs mortgage broker: what is the real difference? • Can credit-card limits reduce borrowing capacity? • Should you use all your savings for the deposit? • Fixed or variable home loan? • When does refinancing make sense? • What changes if you are self-employed? • First home or investment property first? • How much debt is too much? • Is Australian property still worth buying? • What should first-home buyers check before signing? One of the biggest lessons: A BANK APPROVING THE LOAN DOESN’T MEAN THE LOAN IS RIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE. A bigger house can look like success from the outside while becoming financial pressure behind closed doors. We also discuss property investing, cash flow, borrowing and business finance — and why: “How much can I get?” may be the wrong question. The better question is: “HOW MUCH CAN I COMFORTABLY HANDLE?” 💰 MONEY, SUCCESS & THE PUNJABI MINDSET For many families, success has traditionally meant: work hard → save → buy a home → buy another property → keep working. But is owning more always the same as living better? How much should we sacrifice for money? When is debt useful — and when does it begin controlling your life? Is business freedom… or simply a different type of pressure? And after multiple careers, what does success mean to Shahbaz today? 🔥 ONE PERSON. MULTIPLE CAREERS. Merchant Navy. Maersk. Solar. Business. Marine surveying. Finance. The biggest takeaway may have nothing to do with mortgages: STARTING AGAIN IS NOT ALWAYS STARTING FROM ZERO. Everything you learned before — discipline, failure, leadership, relationships and experience — comes with you. If you are a migrant in Australia, first-home buyer, property investor, business owner, mortgage borrower, seafarer, or someone thinking about changing careers, this conversation is for you. 👇 YOUR TURN: If you had spent 10+ years building a successful career, would YOU have the courage to leave it and start again? Comment YES or NO — and tell us why. Know someone buying a home, changing careers, starting a business or rebuilding life in Australia? SHARE THIS PODCAST WITH THEM. What part of Shahbaz’s story connected with you most? What should we ask our next guest? 🎙️ STAR MATRIX | STAR PODS Real People. Real Stories. Real Conversations. Punjabi conversations about Australia, business, property, money and careers. SUBSCRIBE and turn notifications ON for the next episode. Guest: Shahbaz Singh Riar Mortgage & Finance Broking | The Singh Group Finance Marine Surveying | Sydney, Australia DISCLAIMER: General information and education only. This is not personal financial, credit, legal, tax or investment advice. Obtain appropriate independent professional advice before making financial or property decisions. #ShahbazRiar #StarMatrix #StarPods #PunjabiPodcast #PunjabiAustralia #MerchantNavy #Maersk #MortgageBroker #FirstHomeBuyer #HomeLoans #AustralianProperty #SydneyProperty #PropertyInvestment #Refinance #BusinessAustralia #CareerChange #MigrationStory #FinanceAustralia #WesternSydney