Building Blocks Financial Planning

She received an inheritance. And what should have been a gift quickly became a source of stress.

Under the assets test, the extra money put her age pension eligibility at risk. More money in the bank, but potentially less income every fortnight.

She came to us not knowing where to turn. She didn't want to blow through the inheritance, but she also couldn't afford to lose her pension.

We sat down, looked at her full picture, and put a plan together. A combination of gifting, the purchase of an annuity, and a funeral bond: each strategy carefully chosen to bring her assets back within the threshold and protect her pension eligibility.

The result? Her age pension was preserved. And her inheritance was handled in a way that actually made sense for her life.

If your financial situation has recently changed - an inheritance, a property sale, a redundancy - it's worth having a conversation before it becomes a bigger issue. Sometimes it can be a bit of a balancing act, so you can maximise the money that hits your account.

Book a quick chat with our team:

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

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*This is general information. It is not financial advice. We have not considered your personal financial circumstances. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice for your circumstances before making any decision.

Paying down your mortgage or boosting your super? This is one of the most common FAQs we get as advisers - and the answer is rarely black and white.

But here are a few things to think about:

🟢 The case for super: Concessional contributions are taxed at just 15% - almost certainly less than your marginal rate. That tax saving alone can make super the smarter move.

🟢 The case for your mortgage: Extra repayments give you a guaranteed, risk-free return equal to your interest rate. And unlike super, that money is accessible if you need it.

🟢 The part most people miss: Your family home is exempt from the Age Pension assets test. Your super isn't. For some people, paying down the mortgage actually increases their pension entitlement later.

For most Australians it's not either/or - it's finding the right split for your situation.

We can review your numbers and let you know what's going to work best for you.

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

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*This is general information. It is not financial advice. We have not considered your personal financial circumstances. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice for your circumstances before making any decision.

Division 296 has been debated, revised, and delayed - but as of March 2026, it's officially law. And it starts 1 July 2026.

So what is it?

Division 296 is a new tax on super earnings for balances above $3 million. Right now, super earnings are taxed at a flat 15% no matter how much you have.

Under the new rules, any earnings on the portion of your balance above $3M get taxed at an extra 15% on top - so 30% total. Above $10M, that rate jumps to 40%. The good news is the thresholds are indexed, so they'll rise over time.

But here's what most people aren't thinking about 👉 The $3M threshold sounds like it only affects the ultra-wealthy. But it's really a household conversation, especially for couples.

If one partner passes away and their super is left to the surviving spouse, that balanace will be added to their partner's super fund. That alone could push someone over $3M for the first time - and into Division 296 territory - without any new money ever being added.

If you or your partner have saved significant super, now's the time to look at how it's structured. The rules have changed. The planning should too.

Book your free, first appointment with our team:

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

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*This is general information. It is not financial advice. We have not considered your personal financial circumstances. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice for your circumstances before making any decision.

Some of these take less than 10 minutes and could save you a decent chunk on tax. Others (like topping up super) you'll want to sort this week before funds cut off.

Not all of these will apply to you, but if even one or two do, it's worth a look before 30th June. And if you need help, we're here.

If we had a dollar for every time someone asked us, "How much money do I actually need to retire?", we’d probably be retired ourselves!

And you can forget the 'million-dollar retirement myth' - here's what the actual data says.

A few things to note:

🔵 Both figures assume you own your home outright by the time you stop working.
🔵 A "Comfortable" standard gives you the money to cover: private health insurance, a reliable vehicle, dining out regularly, interstate travel every year and overseas every seven years, and more.
🔵 A "Modest" standard gives you basic private health insurance, own a basic car, infrequent fun activities like a trip to the movies, an annual domestic trip and not much more.

But, everyone's different! And your own 'magic number' will support your own unique goals and lifestyle. A tailored retirement strategy will maximise your super and pension entitlements, so you have enough.

We're passionate about people having the finances to enjoy their retirement. If you're ready to start planning, we're ready too.

Book your free first appointment with our team:

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

Source: ASFA https://bit.ly/4vEtwNT

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*This is general information. It is not financial advice. We have not considered your personal financial circumstances. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice for your circumstances before making any decision.

Many of our clients come to us feeling overwhelmed by the details of their DIY financial plan. We're here to actually get it working for you again. One block at a time. 🟦🟨🟩

Our team’s superpower is our ability to take your financial goals and break them down into small, simple, manageable steps.

No judgment, no confusing industry jargon, and no high-pressure sales pitch. Just a supportive team sitting on your side of the table, helping you lay down the next piece of your puzzle.

We help with:

✅ A simple, powerful financial plan for the future
✅ Family finances and investing for your kids
✅ Insurance that you can rely on (if you need it)
✅ Investment planning and strategies
✅ Retirement planning
✅ and heaps, heaps more

We'll do what we do best, so you can get back to your life with peace of mind.

Book your free, first appointment with our team:

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

You're brilliant at what you do. You don't also need to be an expert in tax structures, compliance, and wealth creation. That’s what we’re here for.

If you're ready to get your financial plan sorted, we're here to help.

Book your free, first appointment with our team.

📆 Book at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

Your 30s and 40s are arguably the most important financial decade of your life. Not because you have the most money - but because the decisions you make now have the longest time to work for you.

Need help making a plan? We've got you covered.

📆 Book a chat with us at https://bit.ly/3OL46JL
📞 Call us on 03 9748 7999
📩 Email [email protected]

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*This is general information. It is not financial advice. We have not considered your personal financial circumstances. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice for your circumstances before making any decision.