I hope that everyone has enjoyed the holiday season. Even though we had a few quieter weeks around the holidays, we still completed some important transfers, helped people with currency management, and found solutions and results for overseas athletes.

In December, we paid for a car in Japan 🚗 🇯🇵

Okay, so this is not for me but for a client. An athlete has signed a contract to play in Japan for the next two seasons.

We did set them up to help with salary transfers back to Australia, but they have purchased a car, and we will send AUD to JPY to make the purchase.

The first benefit is that we are $5,238 cheaper than his bank, which he was going to use.

In addition, he asked me to touch base with his car dealership contact so that I could keep them updated about the funds being sent and send them a copy of the transfer receipt so that they can check off their compliance regulations.

These are the things that most others can't or won't do, another layer of personal service that sets us apart and which I love doing.

We can help with all types of transactions; if you ever need information about international payments, don't hesitate to get in touch with us, and I'd be glad to assist

📈 Our Top Performing Posts in 2024

I was looking back at how far we had come in 2024, and came across our most engaged posts online:

1. My personal story: I shared this for others out there who might not have had their “big break” yet; it took me until I was 29. 

Off the back of this, I had several people reach out and thank me for sharing, as it gave them hope that they still have a chance!

This shows the importance of being authentic, and putting yourself out there, you never know how or who you could help.

2. SportsFX speaking to the Socceroos

This showed me how far SportsFX has come in a short time, fantastic opportunity, and since then, we have helped almost half the squad!

💱 Client successes taking advantage of the USD highs.

In early December, we booked a sizeable forward contract.

This client is earning very good USD sums, so we took advantage of these very high rates and secured the rate today for August 2025.

This has given the client peace of mind that no matter what happens with rates, they’ve secured a two-year high and don’t need to worry about fluctuating exchange rates now.

The potential downside: If rates go higher, they miss out. This was fully explained, and they were comfortable taking risks off the table.

The potential upside: They will be well ahead if the rates drop back between now and August. Since September, they have moved 15c, so much uncertainty is ahead.

Risk removed, the client is happy, and it’s a win.

When our client took up this contract overseas, USD rates were around 1.46. They’ve now booked rates at 1.60, an increase of almost 10% on their contracted amounts… BOOM 🚀

This is where a “Currency Management Plan” and not just sending money home overseas come in.

We achieved this by having many conversations, determining the client’s risk appetite, keeping them informed of market moments and potential risks, and ultimately helping them navigate the world of foreign income.

💹 Case Study: $9,000 more with SportsFX.

We reveal how a simple introduction to SportsFX about currency exchange by a financial planner resulted in significant savings of $9,719 for an Australian Rugby Player! Discover the importance of having the right people working for you to maximise and protect your earnings.

Wednesday January 8th rates:

• AUD/USD - 0.6231

• AUD/EUR - 0.6025

• AUD/GBP - 0.4993

• AUD/NZD - 1.1058

• AUD/JPY - 98.46

• GBP/NZD - 2.2142

• GBP/USD - 1.2476

• EUR/USD - 1.0342

• USD/JPY - 158.03

Have you heard of BLACKBELT MENTALITY?

BLACKBELT MENTALITY empowers competitive athletes and high-performance sports teams to develop unshakable mental strength and resilience through mindset mastery, peak performance strategies, mental toughness training, and 360-degree athlete wellbeing to achieve lasting results.

Your success starts here!

Want to know more? Whether you want to elevate your mental game or explore partnership opportunities, reach out to Michala at

[email protected] or connect with the team at blackbeltmentality.com.au.

📊 Stay Ahead of the Game! Whether you're a professional athlete, sports agent, or just curious about the financial side of sports, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Subscribe for more expert-driven discussions on currency management, international banking, and sports finance!

By sharing this newsletter with fellow athletes, coaches, agents, and anyone navigating the unique landscape of international competition, you're not just spreading information but fostering a community of support and empowerment.