Not many people can say they transformed their life from a classroom music teacher to a property investor leading an empire. Even fewer have climbed Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro and lived to tell the tale. But Aus Property Professionals Founder and Managing Director Lloyd Edge can.
At age 50, the bestselling author of Buy Now and Positively Geared shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s mentoring clients toward financial independence or setting his sights on new personal and professional goals, Edge embodies the mantra that life is what you make it.
“For me, property investment has always been about more than just building wealth – it’s about designing the life you want,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “Through education, strategy and trust, I believe anyone can build a secure financial future.”
Chasing the dream
Edge’s move from education to property investment wasn’t by chance. It was driven by the realization that working a standard nine-to-five job could never deliver the financial security he craved.
“I was on a reasonably modest income at the time, and while I was enjoying what I was doing as a teacher, I couldn’t see much security. I knew I’d be married and have a family one day, and a teacher’s salary wouldn’t allow me to provide for a family,” he says.
Around this time, Edge purchased his first piece of property – an apartment in Sydney’s St George region.
“That’s when I really caught the investment bug,” he says.
There was just one slight problem: he had no idea what he was doing.
But what he lacked in knowledge, he made up for in determination. By day, he taught; by night, he studied real estate.
“I’d start work at seven in the morning, teach all day until about 4.30pm and then I’d race home to study all night, trying to get my real estate license and property diploma,” he explains. “All up, I was probably getting two hours of sleep a night before waking up to do it all over again.”
It wasn’t sustainable, but Edge’s passion kept him going.
“I’ve always been pretty resilient, and I had my mind made up that this is what I really wanted to do. I was passionate about it,” he enthuses.
“I also didn’t want to get to 70 and realize fear kept me playing it safe. So years ago, on a park bench, I made up my mind to take the leap. A lot of people will give themselves a plan B, but I had no intention of going back to teaching. My plan B was to make sure plan A didn’t fail.”
Betting on himself
In 2014, Edge left his teaching career behind.
“Many people won’t take a risk because they don’t want to leave their secure job with a stable salary. But no job is secure. Your boss can get rid of you tomorrow,” he explains.
However, he stresses the importance of learning and prepping as much as possible before making such a leap.
“With investing or taking anything that has potentially good rewards, there’s always a bit of risk involved – no 100 percent guaranteed success,” he admits.
“But you need to understand what the risks are and what you need to do to mitigate them. That means, do a lot of research and talk to other people who have done what you’re trying to do.”
Edge knew he would be successful because his mission was bigger than just financial gain.
“I knew I could make this work because I’m passionate about property, and I developed a fair idea of what goes on with property. I love working with people,” he says.
“So while the whole catalyst for this new venture was to become more financially well off, the reason I keep doing it is because I want to help others. I want them to be able to replicate what I have been able to do.”
Once a teacher, always a teacher
This desire has led Edge to coach others in his role as a Buyer’s Agent and also to become an author, writing about what he’s learned – and even what he wishes he could do over.
“If I could go back, I’d tell myself to focus on strategy over speed,” he says. “Early in my journey, I was tempted to jump at every opportunity, but not all of them aligned with my long-term goals.
“I’ve since learned that patience and a clear investment strategy are far more important than trying to grow too quickly. This idea is at the core of my books. Both focus on sustainable, strategic investing, helping readers avoid common pitfalls and build portfolios that stand the test of time.”
His updated book, Positively Geared, shares the exact lessons he wishes he’d known earlier – like the importance of timing, market analysis and even mindset shifts that make a huge difference.
“Writing these books has allowed me to reflect on my own journey while providing others with a resource I wish I had when I started,” he says.
“They include actionable steps and strategies for navigating the property market, helping beginners and seasoned investors alike succeed in today’s evolving market.”
That’s not to say taking the first step isn’t daunting. He recognizes the hesitation and relates to it himself.
“Starting out can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance and a clear plan, anyone can begin their journey toward financial independence,” he explains.
“Early on, I recognized the importance of investing in your own knowledge first – it’s the best tool for reducing fear and increasing confidence.”
Building the dream team
When Edge began his property investment journey, he never pictured being where he is today.
“When I started, I didn’t actually have the ambition of building a business. I didn’t even have a goal to bring a second person onboard,” he recalls.
But fate had a bigger plan for him. Between his Positively Geared podcast taking off and his books becoming bestsellers, interest in what he was doing grew tenfold. He had no choice but to hire people to help him run the business.
“I know a lot more about business now than when I started,” he admits.
“When I first started out, I was wearing every hat. But as the business grew, I started to bring in people who were better than I was at certain tasks, like managing the website, marketing and accounting.”
Now Aus Property Professionals has evolved into a thriving team, including Edge’s wife. Arguably just as passionate as he is, they all work tirelessly toward the company’s mission, its ‘why’ and reason for existence – to help clients achieve life-changing financial outcomes.
“Passion starts with purpose, so I make sure everyone on my team understands the ‘why’ behind what we do,” he explains. “And I also invest in their growth through ongoing education and mentoring, ensuring they feel valued and inspired.”
As for working with his wife, well, he loves it.
“There’s no job that she won’t do if it needs to be done,” he says, lighting up as the conversation steers toward her. “She was originally a chartered accountant for some of the Big Four accounting firms. But she came on about seven years ago because she wanted to have a slice of this action.”
The ‘action’ is driven by a workforce that’s 70 percent female, which is a point of pride for Edge.
“We’re quite flexible in the roles we offer, so it suits women who have young families or are coming back from maternity leave,” he says.
“They can work part-time from home, helping to balance their professional ambitions with their family life. And they know there’s room to grow. So while they might come in as an office assistant, they have the option to work their way up to being a buyer’s agent. There are plenty of growth opportunities here.”
Lessons in leadership
True to form, when Edge opens up about his leadership journey, he talks as though it’s just another of life’s classrooms and he’s an eager student.
“My leadership style has definitely evolved,” he says.
“For me, it’s about learning. No matter what I’m doing, there’s always someone out there who is doing bigger and better things. And I like to try to learn as much as I can from them. So I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts, looking at YouTube and learning how other people out there are running their business and what advice they have to give.”
While he’s careful who he takes advice from, he says there are some particular business leaders he admires.
“There are a few people I look up to in the business world, including Janine Allis, the Founder of Boost Juice, whom I actually had once on my podcast; and Mark Bouris, Founder and Chairman of Yellow Brick Road,” he says.
“They’re very successful business leaders, and I’m quite inspired by what they’ve done.”
Of course, it can be argued that being a dad to young children can be a powerful lesson in leadership in its own right. And Edge, a proud father of a five-year-old and a three-year-old, agrees.
“I want to give them a good financial education. They don’t really teach financial literacy enough in school,” he says, reflecting on the lessons he hopes to impart to his children.
Parenting, like leadership, requires patience, adaptability and a long-term vision. And Edge, who has built a successful business and a strong family life, finds these qualities overlap.
“Will they work in this business or take it over one day? Who knows,” he muses. “All I know is they’ll have a good education. And, hopefully, they’ll want to be some kind of entrepreneur or business leader.”
Changing perceptions
It’s not lost on Edge that the property investment industry has often been viewed with skepticism. And he doesn’t shy away from saying it has a reputation for over-promising and under-delivering. He does, however, work hard to change the narrative, which is why Aus Property Professionals places education and transparency at the heart of its operations.
“We believe trust is built by empowering clients with knowledge rather than selling them a one-size-fits-all solution. That means, we take time to educate clients about their options, market trends and the risk and rewards of property investment,” he says.
“Does this mean that one day they won’t need us? Probably. But that’s actually a rewarding thought to me, not a deterrent.”
One trend Edge highlights in the Australian property market is the growing appeal of regional and coastal markets.
“Areas with strong infrastructure, investment, increasing population growth and affordability are becoming hotbeds for property investment,” he explains.
“These regions often offer better rental yields and long-term growth potential, making them attractive to new and experienced investors. However, it’s important to note, success lies in adapting to market conditions, staying informed and focusing on properties that align with your long-term goals.”
And unlike trends that come and go, Edge is working not just for the moment but to create a lasting impact.
“I hope to leave a legacy of trust and empowerment,” he says. “I want to change the perception of the property investment industry, proving that it’s possible to succeed without resorting to high-pressure sales tactics.
“Through my work and the resources I’ve created, I aim to inspire a new generation of investors who feel confident and in control of their financial futures.”
Living life on his terms
Interestingly, success has taken on different meanings for Edge as his journey has evolved.
“In the early days, success was all about numbers – growing my portfolio and achieving financial milestones,” he says.
“Now, I see success as the ability to create choices for myself and my family. It’s not just about wealth; it’s about time, freedom and being able to live life on my own terms. Helping my clients achieve that same sense of freedom is just as rewarding as achieving it myself.”
And while his days teaching music are long behind him, Edge hasn’t completely abandoned that chapter of his life.
“I play in a band, Sydney City Brass, with a lot of the buddies I grew up with,” he reveals. “They’re off doing their own successful things in life, but every once in a while we come together to play. I haven’t done it a while, but I enjoy it when I do.”
Even more, Edge reveals that he funds music scholarships to provide lessons for children who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
“It’s not just about having money, it’s about what you can do for other people,” he says, adding that he’s also a big supporter of the Cancer Council and helped significantly during the bushfire appeal.
“Now, I can provide a good future for my kids, a stable life for my family and donate to charity. I’m passionate about helping others, and on a bigger scale, I’d love to help build schools in third-world countries.
“So my main focus now is to keep building the business, so we can continue to make a meaningful impact.”
