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Lantern Financial Group

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Australia
Charlestown, NSW
Lantern Financial Group

Helping you make the most of your wealth—today and in retirement. We provide personalised financial advice.

Whether you're building your wealth, preparing to retire, enjoying retirement or navigating later-life decisions such as aged care.

20/08/2026

How will your super be passed on when you die?

Your super is one of your biggest assets — but your will doesn't automatically decide who receives it.

Superannuation has its own rules around beneficiaries, and the nomination you have in place can make a big difference.

There are several options:

• Binding nomination
Your super fund generally must pay your super to the eligible beneficiary or beneficiaries you nominate, provided the nomination is valid.

• Non-binding nomination
You can tell the fund who you would like to receive your super, but the trustee isn't required to follow your wishes.

• Reversionary beneficiary
If you're receiving a super pension, you may be able to nominate someone to continue receiving the pension after your death.

• Legal Personal Representative
You can nominate your estate, meaning your super is paid to your legal personal representative and then dealt with under your will.

But here's something many people don't realise...

You can't simply nominate anyone you choose.

Super funds can generally pay a death benefit to eligible people such as your spouse or partner, children, someone financially dependent on you, someone in an interdependency relationship with you, or your legal personal representative.

And there can be important tax consequences depending on who receives your super and how the benefit is paid.

Your beneficiary nomination should be considered as part of your overall estate plan — alongside your will and other assets.

Have you checked who your super beneficiary is recently?

It could be one of the most important financial documents you have.

Lantern Financial Group
Guidance Through Experience

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Professional advice should be sought before making decisions about your superannuation or estate planning.

17/08/2026

💵 Give Your Money a Job

Most people work hard for their money…

But how hard is your money working for you?

One of the simplest ways to take control of your finances is to give every dollar a purpose before you spend it.

Instead of wondering where your money disappeared to at the end of the month, decide where it will go before the month begins.

Here's a simple way to get started:

💰 Every Dollar Needs a Job
Whether it's paying the mortgage, buying groceries, building an emergency fund or investing for your future—every dollar should have a purpose.

🏡 Prioritise What Matters
Spend intentionally on the things that are most important to you, and cut back on the things that don't add real value.

📈 Build Wealth Automatically
Set up automatic transfers into your savings or investment accounts. Even small amounts, invested consistently, can grow into something meaningful over time.

😊 Spend Without the Guilt
A plan isn't about saying "no" to everything you enjoy—it's about making room for the things that matter most, knowing you've already taken care of your future.

Financial freedom isn't about earning more—it's about making better decisions with the money you already have.

What's one thing you could give your money a better job to do this month? 💬

📞 If you'd like help creating a financial plan that's tailored to your goals, we'd love to help.

Lantern Financial Group
Guidance Through Experience

11/08/2026

RBA cash rate remains on hold at 4.35%.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the official cash rate unchanged at 4.35% at its August meeting, following three consecutive rate increases earlier this year.

The decision reflects the RBA’s continued focus on inflation, while allowing time to assess how higher interest rates are affecting households and the broader economy.

For borrowers, savers and investors, interest rate decisions can have a flow-on effect on:

• Mortgage repayments
• Savings and cash rates
• Household budgets
• Property markets
• Investment markets
• Retirement planning

With rates remaining at 4.35%, it's a good reminder to make sure your financial strategy still works in the current environment.

If you'd like to understand what the current interest rate environment could mean for your financial plan, we're here to help.

10/08/2026

How much do you really need to retire?

It's one of the most common questions we hear.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) publishes retirement spending benchmarks to give Australians a guide to the level of savings needed for different lifestyles in retirement.

Current ASFA estimates suggest:

• Comfortable retirement (assuming you own your home outright)

Single: Around $630,000
Couple: Around $730,000

Lower savings may be sufficient when combined with the Age Pension.

But here's the important part...

These figures are only a guide.

Everyone's retirement is different.

Your ideal retirement could depend on:
• Whether you own your home
• How often you want to travel
• Your health and medical costs
• Whether you want to help your children or grandchildren
• Your lifestyle and hobbies
• Whether you'll receive a full or part Age Pension

Rather than asking "How much does everyone else need?", the better question is...

"How much will I need to live the retirement I want?"

That's where personalised financial advice can make all the difference.

If you'd like to understand whether you're on track for the retirement you want, we'd be happy to help.

https://www.superannuation.asn.au/consumers/retirement-standard/

04/08/2026

Is aged care on the horizon for you or a loved one?

When the time comes, many families are faced with difficult decisions and often have to make them quickly.

Questions like:
• Should we pay a RAD or a DAP?
• Do we need to sell the family home?
• Will Centrelink benefits be affected?
• How much will aged care actually cost?
• What's the best way to structure our finances?

The answers can make a significant difference to your long-term financial position and the amount you pay for care.

Seeking advice before making these decisions can help you understand your options, reduce unnecessary costs and give your family confidence during what is often an emotional time.

At Lantern Financial Group, we help families navigate the financial side of aged care so they can focus on what matters most—supporting their loved ones.

If you or someone you know is considering aged care, we're here to help.

30/07/2026

Is your super invested the right way?

When you join a super fund, you'll usually be placed into a default investment option. For many Australians, that's where their money stays for years without ever being reviewed.

But the investment option that's right for someone else may not be the right one for you.

If you have years until retirement, even a small difference in long-term investment returns could have a significant impact on your retirement savings.

For example, if you started with $100,000 and earned:
• 6% per year for 20 years = around $320,000
• 8% per year for 20 years = around $466,000

That's a difference of more than $145,000.

Of course, higher-growth investments also come with higher levels of risk and greater ups and downs. The right investment option depends on your goals, your timeframe and how comfortable you are with market movements.

If you haven't reviewed your super investment option recently, it may be worth checking whether it's still the right fit.

27/07/2026

💰 Do you know where your money goes each month?

Most of us have a rough idea—but when we take a closer look, we're often surprised by how quickly the little expenses add up.

The good news? Budgeting doesn't have to mean giving up the things you enjoy. It's simply about being intentional with your money.

Here are four simple ways to get started:

👀 Know where your money goes
Take a look at your bank statements over the last month. Understanding your spending habits is the first step towards making informed financial decisions.

🎯 Give every dollar a purpose
Before the month begins, decide where your income will go—whether it's paying bills, building savings, investing for the future or enjoying a night out. When every dollar has a job, it's easier to stay in control.

💰 Spend on what matters most
Your money should reflect what's important to you. Cut back on the things that don't add value and make room for the things that do.

📈 Remember: small changes add up
Skipping one takeaway coffee won't make you wealthy—but regularly saving or investing small amounts over time can make a significant difference.

Financial wellbeing isn't about being perfect. It's about making small, consistent choices that move you closer to your goals.

If you'd like help creating a financial plan that works for your lifestyle, we're here to help.

23/07/2026

📈 Why is now a good time to invest?

One of the biggest mistakes investors make is waiting for the "perfect" time to invest.

The reality is, no one can consistently predict what markets will do next. History has shown that successful investing is less about timing the market and more about time in the market.

Here's why:

⏰ Time in the market builds wealth
The longer your money remains invested, the more opportunity it has to grow and recover from short-term market fluctuations.

💰 Compounding does the heavy lifting
Investment returns can generate returns of their own. Over time, this compounding effect can significantly increase your wealth.

📊 Markets reward patience
While markets experience ups and downs, history has shown they have generally trended higher over the long term. Staying invested through different market cycles has often rewarded patient investors.

🎯 Start with a plan
Investing isn't about chasing the latest trend—it's about having a strategy that aligns with your goals, timeframe and comfort with risk.

Whether you're investing for retirement, your children's future, or building long-term wealth, having a well-structured investment plan can make all the difference.

📞 If you'd like to discuss how investing could fit into your financial plan, we'd love to help.

21/07/2026

🚗 NSW Drivers: You could save on your next rego renewal!

The NSW Government has announced a one-off registration discount for eligible privately registered vehicles.

✅ $100 off eligible light vehicle registrations
🏍️ $80 off eligible motorcycle registrations

The discount will be automatically applied to eligible registrations with renewal dates between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027—there's nothing you need to do.

While this isn't financial advice, every saving helps when managing your household budget.

Read more here:
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/private-vehicle-registration-discount?utm_source=chatgpt.com

13/07/2026

⚠️ Do you have more than $3 million in super?

From 1 July, the new Division 296 tax introduces an additional 15% tax on earnings relating to super balances above $3 million.

While this won't affect most Australians, it is an important consideration for high-balance super members, particularly those with self-managed super funds (SMSFs) or investments that are difficult to sell.

If you think this may apply to you, now is a good time to review your strategy.

Address

Landmark Building C105 215-217 Pacific Highway
Charlestown, NSW
2290

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61249422922

Website

http://www.lanternfg.com.au/

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