VivaEthical Financial Advice

14/07/2026

I was sitting in my car after a client meeting yesterday, thinking about how much 'good' advice actually causes people stress.

We’ve been told for decades that the path to wealth is through constant, automated contributions. But when the cost of living climbs, that automation starts to feel like a leak in a boat you’re trying to keep afloat.

I’ve seen people stop their contributions entirely because they’re afraid of the commitment. They lose the tax benefit, they lose the compound growth, and they lose the chance to build an ethical investment portfolio.

The mistake is assuming that super is an 'all or nothing' commitment.

The lesson is mastering the sequence of contribution.

By shifting the timing of your strategy, you can keep your money accessible while the economy is volatile, then pivot to your superannuation strategies when the timing is right. This isn't about 'timing the market'; it's about timing your personal liquidity.

A tailored financial plan should work for your life as it is today, not just as you hope it will be when you're 65.

If your current plan feels like it's squeezing your daily budget too hard, it might be time to look at the sequence, not just the amount.

Curious how others are balancing their offset account vs super contributions right now?

06/07/2026

Are you feeling bad about saying "no" to your adult kids when they ask for money? You’re not alone.

Many parents treat the "Bank of Mum and Dad" like an endless resource. But a bank that doesn't manage its reserves eventually collapses. .

When you give too much, you risk blurring the line between your financial security and their responsibility. Protecting yourself means protecting their future independence.

Here’s how to support your kids without risking your retirement

✅ Cover must-haves like education and health.
✅ Set clear limits on big help — like house deposits or business startups — and ask them to invest too.
✅ Keep your super and investments as a top priority.

When you have a clear plan, saying "no" becomes easier because it’s about their long-term success, not just money right now.

If you're looking to balance your own retirement goals with wanting to help your family, let's chat about a strategy that works for both.

Book a FREE Call: https://calendly.com/elizabeth-48/15-minute-phone-chat

01/07/2026

Research from Mindful Money reveals a persistent disconnect in our super.

Out of 31 'sustainable' investment options analysed across 15 major funds, many still hold significant exposure to sectors their members explicitly want to avoid. It turns out that a friendly brand name doesn't always guarantee an ethical portfolio.

The real issue is how much is hidden. In Australia, disclosure standards are currently lagging behind global benchmarks, with only about two-thirds of industry super fund holdings actually disclosed under existing regulations. It is incredibly difficult to align your wealth with your values when the full list of what you own remains private.

You deserve to know if your retirement savings are funding the very issues you are trying to solve. If you want to look under the hood of your own fund, the interactive data at mindfulinvesting.au is a great place to start.

If the results aren't what you expected, it might be time to move beyond the default. We help our clients navigate these disclosures to ensure their superannuation actually reflects their principles.

23/06/2026

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀.

But the net growth didn't match the effort. When we ran the numbers, they were losing roughly 2.2% of their total wealth every year to what I call structural leakage.

Market volatility gets the headlines, but administrative friction is what actually quietens a retirement. This isn't about picking better stocks; it's about the technical 'plumbing' of your wealth.

What does structural leakage actually look like?

• Holding 'ethical' assets in high-fee retail structures that offer zero extra impact or alpha.
• Accumulating tax on dividends that could have been offset through more precise asset cordoning.
• Missing the 'advice deduction'—where the ATO effectively subsidises proactive planning fees for many investors.
• Redundant insurance premiums hidden within old super accounts you haven't consolidated.

It’s like trying to fill a bucket with a dozen tiny pinholes in the bottom. You can keep pouring in more water (income), but you’ll never reach the brim until you seal the base.

What you can do to find the leaks:

1. Audit your management expense ratios (MERs). If you're paying over 1% for a standard ethical screen, you’re likely overpaying.
2. Review your dividend reinvestment plans. Are they sitting in the most tax-effective names?
3. Check your advice fee deductibility. Practical tax planning strategies allow many to claim portions of their professional guidance.
4. Consolidate legacy platforms. Multiple sets of administration fees are the simplest form of leakage.

Bottom line
High income masks a lot of structural inefficiency, but it won't hide the gap once you stop working. Tightening the plumbing now ensures your money actually stays yours.

Next steps
If you suspect your wealth is stagnating despite your income, it might be time for a Portfolio Implementation Review.
Book a FREE Call: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat

19/06/2026

Your bank doesn't care about your tax return. Every June, I see well-meaning contributions miss the EOFY cut-off because a transfer took 48 hours instead of 24.

If the money isn't cleared in your fund's account by midnight on 30 June, the deduction is gone. To protect your strategy, use this Four-Step EOFY Clearing Framework:

1. Respect the 23rd: Treat 23 June as your hard deadline. Banking delays and weekends are unpredictable; giving yourself a 7-day buffer ensures your funds clear in time for the ATO to recognise them this financial year.

2. Check the "Carry-Forward" Room: You aren't necessarily capped at $30,000. If your balance is under $500,000, log into myGov to view your "unused concessional contributions" from the last five years. You might have a much larger tax-deductible limit than you realise.

3. Close the Loop with an NOI: A transfer alone isn't a deduction. You must lodge a "Notice of Intent to Claim" with your fund and wait for their formal acknowledgement before you file your tax return. Missing this piece of paper is a common reason the ATO rejects claims.

4. The Values Audit: Don’t just optimise for tax; optimise for impact. Use this contribution window to ensure your super isn't inadvertently funding industries like fossil fuels or weapons. It’s the perfect time to switch to an ESG-screened option that reflects your principles.

Applying this is simple. A client might find $10k in unused caps on 20 June, transfer by the 22nd, and lodge their Notice of Intent while shifting to an ethical portfolio. By July, they’ve lowered their tax bill and aligned their wealth with their values.

Check your myGov portal tonight to see your unused contribution figures. Knowing that number is your first step.

Book a Call → https://calendly.com/elizabeth-48/15-minute-phone-chat

10/06/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗳𝗼𝗿 '𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹' 𝗮𝗻𝗱 '𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼', 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 '𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗘𝗦𝗚' 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀.

Whilst your portfolio might be free of to***co smoke and coal dust, it could still be the silent engine behind modern armaments or surveillance tech used to suppress human rights.

The reality of 'deep harm' sectors is that they are rarely listed on the stock exchange under their own names. They are tucked away in the supply chains of logistics giants or hidden within the diversified revenue of tech conglomerates.

If your fund isn't specifically auditing for 'supply chain involvement" you are likely funding these industries by default. It’s an uncomfortable thought: your retirement savings might be causing more harm than could be offset by your regular donations to charity.

Key areas where default screens often fail:
• Surveillance technology and data privacy intrusions
• Modern slavery and forced labour in textile supply chains
• Components for precision weapons hidden in 'industrial' sectors
• Predatory lending practices in emerging markets

Truly aligning your finances with your values isn't just about avoiding a few "bad" companies. It requires a deep-dive approach that looks past the marketing pitch, to the actual sources of revenue for every holding in your portfolio.

Bottom line: Checking a box isn't the same as doing no harm. You can aim for attractive returns while maintaining integrity and financial health

Next steps:
If you’re unsure what’s actually moving the needle in your super, we can help.
• Download your free Guide to Ethical Investing: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast
• Book a FREE Call to discuss your portfolio: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat

02/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱.

Most people start by scanning their portfolios for the obvious 'bads' like to***co, weapons, or old-school fossil fuels. It feels like a win when you’ve successfully filtered out the industries that cause harm.

While avoidence is a starting point, it has a hidden flaw: it doesn't actually drive the transition to a sustainable economy.

Removing a company from your list stops you from 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 the problem, but it doesn't necessarily 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

This is exactly where things like '𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨' slip through the cracks. It sounds like a solution, but it often functions as a justification to keep producing more plastic while calling it green.

This mistake persists because 'doing no harm' is easy to measure and even easier to market. It is the default setting for many large-scale ethical funds because it requires less research than finding companies that are moving the needle.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵.

Rather than just screening out the bad, the focus should be on identifying companies that deliver a net positive impact. These are the businesses creating genuine circularity, reducing total production, and solving the energy intensity issues that tech-fixes like chemical recycling ignore.

What you can do to shift your focus:

𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 '𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆': Does your investment actually help a green solution grow, or is it just sitting in a 'less bad' corporate giant?
𝟮. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Question the yield of recycling claims. If a brand promotes chemical recycling, check if they are actually reducing their virgin plastic use.
𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: See if your fund is purely using negative screens or if they are proactively investing in sustainability leaders.
𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘀: Support companies and policies that aim to make less waste in the first place, not just those finding complex ways to burn it.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Ethical investing is more than just a list of 'don'ts'. It is about directing capital toward companies that are physically and economically building a better future.

𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴: 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥?

Book a Call → https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat

20/05/2026

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 '𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁' 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

What does the world look like if millions of Australians redirected their super toward companies fixing the problems we face?

Picture a shift toward:
• Targeting the circular economy instead of just avoiding waste.
• Backing water purification and resource recovery as core portfolio drivers.
• Investing in businesses that actively restore ecosystems rather than those that just extract less.
• Aligning your retirement savings with the long-term survival of the systems we depend on.

When you shift from passive avoidance to active contribution, your superannuation stops being a neutral pot of money. It becomes a vote for a regenerative future where ethics and long-term returns are inseparable.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Screening out harm is only the starting line. True responsible investing targets competitive returns by actively backing the solutions our future requires.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀:
Book a Call: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat
Download your free Guide to Ethical Investing: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast

13/05/2026

Remember to claim your tax deduction for personal super contributions well before the 30 June 2026 cut-off. Most super funds have a pre- set date before the end of the financial year for contributions and submitting the Notice of Intent ( ATO documentation)

Remember: claim your tax deduction for personal super before 30 June 2026

Many people assume tax deductions for super contributions are only for business owners.

They treat their super as a passive "hands-off" account managed by their employer, missing one of the most effective ways to lower their tax bill.

The hidden flaw in this approach is leaving your tax outcome to chance. If you have "headroom" in your $30,000 annual cap after employer contributions and salary sacrifice, you can top it up with your own cash to claim a deduction.

People often miss this because they think the 30 June deadline is just a suggestion. It isn't. If the money hasn't cleared in your fund's bank account by 30 June, the deduction is gone for that year.

Key points to get right:
* Check MyGov for your total employer contributions to date.
* Transfer funds 7–10 days early. Electronic transfers aren't instant during the June rush.
* Lodge a ‘Notice of Intent’ form with your fund before you do your tax return.
* Meeting the work test is mandatory if you are aged 67–74.

Important detail: The "Carry Forward" rule.
If your balance is under $500,000, you might have unused caps from the last five years. You could potentially contribute much more than $30,000, which is useful if you have a capital gain to offset.

Bottom line: Your contribution isn't deductible until your fund sends you a formal acknowledgement. Don't wait until the last week of June to act.

Next steps:
If you want to ensure your contributions are tax-effective and ethically aligned, let’s talk.
Book a FREE Call: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat
Download your free Guide to Ethical Investing: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast

13/05/2026

Remember: claim your tax deduction for personal super before 30 June 2026

Many people assume tax deductions for super contributions are only for business owners.

They treat their super as a passive "hands-off" account managed by their employer, missing one of the most effective ways to lower their tax bill.

The hidden flaw in this approach is leaving your tax outcome to chance. If you have "headroom" in your $30,000 annual cap after employer contributions and salary sacrifice, you can top it up with your own cash to claim a deduction.

People often miss this because they think the 30 June deadline is just a suggestion. It isn't. If the money hasn't cleared in your fund's bank account by 30 June, the deduction is gone for that year.

Key points to get right:
* Check MyGov for your total employer contributions to date.
* Transfer funds 7–10 days early. Electronic transfers aren't instant during the June rush.
* Lodge a ‘Notice of Intent’ form with your fund before you do your tax return.
* Meeting the work test is mandatory if you are aged 67–74.

Important detail: The "Carry Forward" rule.
If your balance is under $500,000, you might have unused caps from the last five years. You could potentially contribute much more than $30,000, which is useful if you have a capital gain to offset.

Bottom line: Your contribution isn't deductible until your fund sends you a formal acknowledgement. Don't wait until the last week of June to act.

Next steps:
If you want to ensure your contributions are tax-effective and ethically aligned, let’s talk.
Book a FREE Call: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast -calendlycom-elizabeth-48-15-minute-phone-chat
Download your free Guide to Ethical Investing: https://www.vivafp.com.au/podcast