Goldsborough Financial Services

31/08/2026

🚨𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 🚨
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We are looking for an experienced Client Services Manager(CSM) to join our friendly and dynamic team in our spacious Parkside offices. This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a supportive workplace where your contribution is valued and your work makes a meaningful difference to clients.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: We are looking for a positive, proactive person who enjoys building strong working relationships and providing outstanding administrative support to advisers and clients.

This role would suit an organised administration professional who enjoys variety, takes pride in their work, and values being part of a collaborative and welcoming team.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲: In this varied and rewarding role, you will support our Financial Advisers in delivering a high standard of service and helping clients feel well cared for. Your responsibilities will include day-to-day administration, strategy implementation, compliance, and following Goldsborough’s internal processes and best-practice standards.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
• Proactively support Financial Advisers in delivering a warm, professional, and responsive client experience.
• Manage day-to-day administrative tasks for adviser clients with care, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and Goldsborough’s internal processes.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
• Strong client service focus and experience in a similar role.
• Comprehensive technical knowledge of financial planning strategies and products.
• Excellent organisational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• High proficiency with technology applications, especially Xplan, Word and Excel.

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: We are ideally seeking a permanent full-time team member to work 37.5 hours per week; however, we are also open to considering part-time arrangements of 0.8 FTE for the right person.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: For candidates keen to continue growing their career in financial planning, there may be an opportunity to undertake a Professional Year with Goldsborough after a minimum of two years in the CSM role.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your relevant experience to our Practice Manager Rebekah Young at [email protected].

All applications will be treated confidentially.

27/08/2026

𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲

From 𝟮𝟬 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, Australia's social security deeming rates will rise by 0.5%, as follows:

➡️ Lower Deeming Rate: 1.75% (applied up to $66,800 for singles and $110,600 for couples – combined amount)
➡️ Upper Deeming Rate: 3.75% (applied to financial assets exceeding the respective single or couple thresholds)

This is the third successive increase since the post COVID pandemic rate freeze ended. Before the pandemic, the deeming rate largely reflected the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) official cash rate. A recent timeline of Deeming Rate increases:

➡️ May 2020 – June 2025: Rates were frozen at historic lows (0.25% lower / 2.25% upper) during the COVID pandemic.
➡️ 20 September 2025: First post-freeze increase of 0.5%, raising rates to 0.75% (lower) and 2.75% (upper).
➡️ 20 March 2026: Second increase of 0.5%, lifting rates to 1.25% (lower) and 3.25% (upper).
➡️ 20 September 2026: Third consecutive increase of 0.5%, moving rates to 1.75% (lower) and 3.75% (upper).

Deeming rates are used by Centrelink to estimate income earned from financial assets such as bank accounts, term deposits, shares and managed investments. The actual return earned is irrelevant. Instead, Centrelink assumes assets earn the deemed rate and this income is then used to determine eligibility for social security payments such as the Age Pension.

The government has timed the increase in the deeming rate to begin on the same day that the Aged Pension and other welfare payments are indexed in line with shifts in the consumer price index (CPI). As part of the overall changes, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 $𝟯𝟲.𝟴𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 $𝟭,𝟮𝟯𝟳.𝟳𝟬, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 $𝟱𝟱.𝟲𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 $𝟭,𝟴𝟲𝟲.𝟬𝟬.

While pension indexation will provide welcome relief against rising living costs, retirees with substantial financial assets may find that some or all of the increase is offset by the higher deemed income assessment, reinforcing the importance of ongoing Centrelink planning and asset management strategies.

If you have any queries about your personal situation, please call us on 8378 4000.

From 20 September 2026, Australia's social security deeming rates will rise by 0.5%.

24/08/2026

👟👟👟👟👟👟
We are counting down - only 11 days to go!

on Friday 4th September, four brave members of the Goldsborough Team are gearing up to take on the 50km Coastrek challenge.

They’ll be joined by three more (almost as brave 😉) team members tackling the 20km course.

Together, we’re raising funds for Beyond Blue to help support mental health across Australia.
💙 💙💙 💙

We’d love your support. Every donation and message of encouragement helps - please consider donating or cheering on Team Goldsborough as we take on Coastrek!

Thank you 🙏🏼

https://lnkd.in/gSPWt9a4



Wild Women On Top

21/08/2026

⚠️💸Fear of Running Out of Money in Retirement: How Australians Can Retire with Confidence

(article by Brenton Miegel)

One of the biggest concerns facing Australians approaching retirement is the fear of running out of money. Financial experts have even coined a term for it: FORO (Fear of Running Out). While this anxiety is understandable, research suggests that many retirees may be more financially secure than they realise.

By understanding the factors that influence retirement income and longevity, Australians can make more informed decisions and enjoy their retirement with greater confidence.

🔶Why Are So Many Australians Worried About Retirement Savings?

Retirement represents a major transition. After decades of accumulating wealth through superannuation and other investments, retirees suddenly need to start drawing on those savings. This shift can create uncertainty, especially as people grapple with questions such as:

❓How long will I live?
❓Will my superannuation last?
❓What happens if markets fall?
❓Will I have enough income to maintain my lifestyle?

Research shows that nearly half of Australians worry they will not have enough money for retirement, while many people continue working beyond their preferred retirement date because they feel financially unprepared.

However, confidence often improves once people actually retire, with many retirees reporting that their savings, combined with Age Pension support, are sufficient to fund a comfortable lifestyle.

Please continue to read the full article here:

One of the biggest concerns facing Australians approaching retirement is the fear of running out of money. Financial experts have even coined a term for it: FORO (Fear of Running Out). While this anxiety is understandable, research suggests that many retirees may be more financially secure than they...

31/07/2026

𝗗𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿?
- by Sam Martin

During recent client review meetings, I've noticed two concerns coming up regularly.

The first is the growing dominance of large US technology companies and whether current valuations can continue rising.

The second is rising government debt levels around the world, particularly in the United States and Australia, and whether governments are willing or able to address these issues over the long term.

While nobody knows exactly what happens next, these discussions highlight an important question:

𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙤?
For more than a decade, investors have enjoyed one of the strongest bull markets in history. Much of that growth has been driven by a relatively small group of US technology companies.
Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Tesla, commonly known as the Magnificent Seven, now make up approximately one-third of the S&P 500 Index. These are exceptional businesses, but their size means many investors have more exposure to them than they realise.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙠
Many Australians believe they are diversified because they invest through a large super fund or a broad market index option.
However, market-capitalisation indices allocate more money to larger companies. As those companies grow, investor exposure automatically increases.
Most super fund members can see their balance, returns and investment option. Far fewer can identify their actual exposure to specific companies, sectors or investment themes.
As a result, portfolios that appear diversified may still be heavily reliant on a small number of businesses continuing to perform.

𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝘽𝙚 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙙?
Nobody can predict when markets will rise or fall.
Importantly, today's technology leaders are highly profitable businesses, unlike many of the speculative companies seen during the dot-com era.
Even so, investors should ask sensible questions:
• Have expectations become too optimistic?
• Will AI investment generate sufficient returns?
• Can earnings growth continue to justify current valuations?
• What happens if investors become less willing to pay premium prices for growth?

At the same time, many investors are questioning whether rising government debt and years of fiscal stimulus have contributed to higher asset prices. Whether these concerns prove justified or not, they reinforce the importance of diversification.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄𝙛 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙡?
A significant correction in large technology companies would likely have broader market impacts, including:
• Lower share market returns
• Reduced super balances
• Increased volatility
• Lower investor confidence
The biggest risk is often behavioural. Investors who become accustomed to strong returns can find it difficult to stay invested during periods of market stress.

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
• Bull markets can make investing look easy.
• Bear markets remind investors why diversification matters.
• A well-constructed portfolio should not rely on a single sector, country or investment trend. Diversification may include Australian shares, international shares, fixed interest, cash, alternative investments and active asset allocation strategies.

𝚃̲𝚑̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚐̲𝚘̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚒̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚗̲𝚘̲𝚝̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚘̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚟̲𝚘̲𝚒̲𝚍̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚕̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚕̲𝚘̲𝚜̲𝚜̲𝚎̲𝚜̲.̲ ̲𝚃̲𝚑̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚐̲𝚘̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚒̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚘̲ ̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚍̲𝚞̲𝚌̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚕̲𝚒̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚌̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚢̲ ̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚖̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚔̲𝚎̲𝚝̲ ̲𝚘̲𝚞̲𝚝̲𝚌̲𝚘̲𝚖̲𝚎̲.̲

𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝘼𝙨𝙠
Rather than trying to predict the next correction, investors may be better served by asking:
• How much exposure do I have to the Magnificent Seven?
• What would happen if they fell 30% or more?
• How diversified is my portfolio really?
• Where is my downside protection?
• Who is monitoring portfolio risks on my behalf?

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚
The objective isn't to predict a market crash or technology correction. Nobody can do that consistently.

The objective is to understand the risks being taken to generate returns and ensure your portfolio is positioned to navigate different market environments.

Technology shares may continue to perform strongly for many years. Equally, future returns may be lower than investors have become accustomed to.

Either way, investors should understand what they own, where the risks lie and whether their portfolio is truly diversified.
Because when markets are rising, everyone talks about returns.

When markets fall, investors ask a different question:
"𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗼𝘄𝗻?"

During recent client review meetings, I've noticed two concerns coming up regularly. The first is the growing dominance of large US technology companies and whether current valuations can continue rising. The second is rising government debt levels around the world, particularly in the United States...

21/07/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Sitting down with a financial planner for the first time can feel a little daunting. You might be wondering what to bring, what will be asked, or simply whether you’re ready to share your personal financial information. The good news is that a first meeting is simply a conversation, and a bit of preparation goes a long way toward making it a productive one.

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Come along prepared. The more complete the picture you can bring, the more useful the conversation will be. Aim to have the following on hand:
• Photo ID
• Recent super statements
• Personal life insurance policies
• Recent pay slips
• Loan and mortgage statements
• Details of your will and Power of Attorney
• A rough household budget is useful, but please don’t worry if you don’t have one. We can work through the numbers together.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀

What are you really aiming to achieve? What does your ideal retirement look like? We’ll often ask about family, including children, grandchildren, and elderly parents who may be receiving different levels of financial support. Is an inheritance likely in the future? Is there a legacy you want to leave behind?

If you have a partner, we strongly encourage you to come along together. Joint planning almost always leads to clearer decisions and better long-term outcomes.

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Be as open as you can about your full financial position, including debts, day-to-day spending habits, and all sources of income. The more complete the picture, the more tailored our advice can be. Everything you share with us is kept strictly confidential. We’ll also talk through your comfort with market movements so we can understand your risk profile, which shapes the type of investment strategy that will suit you.

We’re not aiming to provide financial advice at this initial meeting; that comes later. We will take comprehensive notes, and, with your consent, an audio recording of the conversation helps us cover more at a natural pace.

We’ll ask a lot of questions about you, but the conversation should go both ways. Please feel free to ask us about our fees, qualifications, licensee, or how ongoing advice works. The more open the conversation is, the better we can understand how to help.

𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥.

We look forward to starting the conversation with you.

Please read the full article by Lachlan Harvey here:

Sitting down with a financial planner for the first time can feel a little daunting. You might be wondering what to bring, what will be asked, or simply whether you’re ready to share your personal financial information. The good news is that a first meeting is simply a conversation, and a bit of p...

03/07/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿: 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 𝗢𝗻

When most people think about passing on wealth, they picture a simple process: build it up over a lifetime, then hand it down to the next generation. In reality, it can be far more complex - and getting it right can make a significant difference to your family’s long-term financial wellbeing.

Today’s families are not as straightforward as they once were. Blended families, second marriages and evolving relationships all add layers of complexity. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 - 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
One of the most effective ways to ensure a smooth transfer of wealth is to have the right structures in place early. Trusts and company structures can play an important role here. They can provide flexibility, help protect assets, and allow control to pass to the next generation without triggering the need to sell or transfer assets.
Even something as simple as how your home is owned can matter. Structuring ownership carefully can ensure your intended beneficiaries receive your share, while still allowing a surviving partner to remain in the home.

𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
Many retirees choose to help children financially during their lifetime - whether it’s assisting with a home deposit or providing ongoing support. While this can be incredibly rewarding, it’s important to clearly define whether the assistance is a gift or a loan.
Without proper documentation, misunderstandings can arise, particularly if relationships change in the future. Setting clear terms from the outset helps protect both your intentions and your family relationships.

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Tax can have a surprisingly large impact on what your beneficiaries ultimately receive. For example, superannuation paid to adult children can attract tax, reducing the amount they inherit.
Planning ahead can help minimise these outcomes. Structuring investments appropriately and considering how assets will be distributed can ensure more of your wealth stays within the family rather than going to the tax office.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗳𝘀”
While no one likes to think about relationship breakdowns or disputes, they are a reality that needs to be considered. Taking a proactive approach, such as encouraging financial agreements or ensuring your will is clear, can help safeguard your wealth.
These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they are increasingly common and often prevent larger issues down the track.

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲
Your Will, Powers of Attorney and other legal documents should always reflect your current wishes and circumstances. Life events such as separation or remarriage can significantly impact how your estate is distributed if documents aren’t updated.
A simple review can ensure your intentions are carried out as planned and avoid unnecessary stress or disputes for your family.

𝗔 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳
Successful wealth transfer isn’t about complexity for its own sake - it’s about clarity, structure and forward planning. By taking a proactive approach and seeking the right advice early, you can ensure your wealth supports your family in the way you intend.

𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸.

Brenton Miegel

When most people think about passing on wealth, they picture a simple process: build it up over a lifetime, then hand it down to the next generation. In reality, it can be far more complex - and getting it right can make a significant difference to your family’s long-term financial wellbeing.

22/06/2026

Trusts in focus – What the 2026 budget means for family structures
- By Craig Kirkwood

The recent Federal Budget has brought discretionary (family) trusts firmly back into the spotlight, with proposed changes that could reshape how these structures are used over the coming years.

At the centre of the announcement is a proposal to introduce a minimum 30% tax on discretionary trust income, expected to apply from 1 July 2028. While not yet legislated, the measure signals a clear shift in policy direction.

Traditionally, discretionary trusts have offered flexibility, particularly the ability to distribute income across family members on lower marginal tax rates. This has made them a popular vehicle for investment, asset protection, and succession planning.

However, under the proposed changes, this flexibility may become less effective from a tax perspective. The new rules would effectively establish a tax floor, meaning that even where income is distributed to lower-income beneficiaries, the overall tax outcome may not fall below 30%. Previously the distributions would be taxed at the recipients marginal tax rate and benefiting from tax-free thresholds.

Importantly, the Government has been clear that trusts will continue to play a role in areas such as asset protection and intergenerational wealth planning. The intent appears less about eliminating trusts altogether, and more about reducing the tax advantages associated with income splitting.

In addition, a three-year restructuring window from 1 July 2027 has been proposed, allowing individuals and families time to review and, where appropriate, adjust their structures. This suggests an expectation that many existing arrangements may need to reviewed and potentially restructure depending on the goals of why the trust was initially established.

It’s also worth noting that these changes come alongside heightened ATO scrutiny of trust distributions in recent years, particularly around whether beneficiaries genuinely receive and benefit from trust income.

While the detail is still developing, the broader message is clear: the tax landscape for trusts is shifting, and long-standing strategies may not deliver the same outcomes in the future.

For many families, discretionary trusts will remain appropriate. For others, it may be an opportune time to revisit how structures are configured and whether they continue to align with long-term objectives.

As always, changes of this nature are best considered in the context of your broader financial position. A proactive review, even at a high level can help ensure your arrangements remain fit for purpose as the rules evolve.

The recent Federal Budget has brought discretionary (family) trusts firmly back into the spotlight, with proposed changes that could reshape how these structures are used over the coming years.At the centre of the announcement is a proposal to introduce a minimum 30% tax on discretionary trust incom...

02/06/2026

A little bit of excitement out the front of the Goldsborough offices yesterday!

11/05/2026

Financial strategies at 55, 60 and 65 — why timing changes everything!

By Momir Vuksa

“I wish I’d known all this earlier.” It’s a phrase I regularly hear after presenting a financial plan to new clients. It’s rarely ‘too late’ but proactive planning for the future is often the biggest advantage you can harness.

At 45 retirement still seems far off, by 55 it feels very real. Many reach their mid-50s with a super target in mind but little clarity on how they want to live, full-time work, part-time, consulting, travel or supporting family.

Financial strategy isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about when you do it. The same conversation at 55, 60 or 65 can lead to very different outcomes even with similar income, super balances and lifestyles.

It’s not about choosing the perfect investment or timing the market. More often it’s about conversations that happen too late. How much is enough, what retirement should look like, balancing lifestyle with security and how super, tax and work choices interact over time.

Contribution and tax strategy: shaping the balance vs managing the result

At 55
Superannuation strategy is still about building positioning. There’s time to deliberately shape outcomes through concessional strategies, catch up contributions, spouse strategies and timing around work transitions. Mistakes can be corrected and most importantly, good decisions compound.

At 60
Strategy becomes more selective. Contribution opportunities still exist but they are often constrained by shorter timeframes, employment changes or preservation considerations. Strategy is about maximising what’s left rather than redesigning the whole picture.

At 65
The strategy conversation becomes mostly retrospective. Super balances are largely set. The focus shifts to minimising tax, managing withdrawals and ensuring sustainability rather than materially changing the trajectory.

• At 55, strategy actively builds future flexibility.
• At 65, strategy focuses on protecting what already exists.

Sequencing goals: designing the order vs absorbing the overlap

At 55
There is still room to sequence competing goals properly. Private education costs, renovations, investing outside super and work transitions. With projections, goals can be staged so they support rather than undermine each other.

At 60
Goals start to overlap whether planned or not. Cash flow decisions tend to collide with retirement timing and trade offs become unavoidable. Strategy shifts from optimisation to prioritisation.

At 65
Sequencing becomes fixed, if major goals weren’t planned earlier, they either don’t happen or come at the expense of lifestyle or financial certainty. Strategic conversations focus on “Can we?” rather than “How should we?”

• At 55, sequencing creates efficiency.
• At 65, sequencing mostly determines limitation.

Investment strategy: positioning for growth vs managing volatility

At 55
Investment strategy can still meaningfully evolve. Time allows for market cycles to play out, growth assets to recover from volatility and portfolio’s structure to support long term objectives. Risk can be taken intentionally, not emotionally.

At 60
Investment strategy becomes more sensitive to timing and sequencing risk. Portfolios often need adjustment to reduce reliance on short term market behaviour and asset allocation decisions matter more because the recovery time is shorter.

At 65
Investment strategy is primarily about durability. The focus is on income sustainability, capital preservation and controlling sequencing risk, portfolio positioning becomes something to manage rather than fix.

• At 55, investment strategy drives outcome.
• At 65, investment strategy supports stability.

Same strategies. Different leverage.

What surprises many people is that the strategies themselves can be similar at 55, 60 and 65 because the principles are largely the same. What changes is the impact of those decisions. Earlier strategy shapes results while those same strategies later help to limit regret. That’s not a failure of planning it’s simply how time works.

If this raised a quiet “we should probably look at this” moment, that’s usually a sign worth paying attention to. The earlier these conversations happen, the more flexibility they tend to create. If you’d like to understand what your choices look like at your current stage and which decisions matter the most — I’m happy to help.

“I wish I’d known all this earlier.” It’s a phrase I regularly hear after presenting a financial plan to new clients. It’s rarely ‘too late’ but proactive planning for the future is often the biggest advantage you can harness.