13/05/2026
Post Budget 2026 — one thing is becoming very clear:
đź’° Superannuation continues to remain one of the most attractive investment structures available for Australian investors.
While investors are worrying about rising taxes, policy uncertainty and increasing holding costs, the CGT treatment inside Super/SMSF structures remains unchanged — and that matters.
For many investors, this creates a strong case to reconsider where long-term wealth should actually be built.
A few key observations post Budget:
âś… Negative gearing benefits continue to apply for diversified share & ETF portfolios
Meaning investors can still strategically borrow to invest — without taking on the additional costs that come with property investing.
Unlike property, diversified portfolios don’t come with:
• Stamp duty
• Land tax
• Property management costs
• Maintenance headaches
• Large selling costs
• Tenant risk
This is an important conversation because many Australians still view property as the “default” wealth creation strategy — despite the increasing drag from holding costs and taxation.
At the same time, another strategy many investors implemented over the last few years may now become far less effective…
Family Trust + Bucket Company structures.
Many accountants recommended these structures to cap tax rates and retain profits inside bucket companies.
However, under the recent changes:
➡️ Income distributed to a bucket company may effectively face another layer of tax when funds are ultimately drawn personally.
➡️ Whereas income distributed directly to individuals allows franking credits to be utilised more efficiently.
For many investors, this may significantly reduce the long-term effectiveness of these structures.
The bigger picture?
The gap between “traditional” investment thinking and tax-efficient wealth structuring is widening.
Investors who focus purely on asset selection — without understanding ownership structures, tax positioning and long-term flexibility — may end up leaving substantial wealth on the table.
The post-budget environment is making one thing obvious:
Strategic investing is no longer just about returns. It’s about structure.
