Superannuation Advice
Is Your Current Strategy Appropriate?
For most people, super will be their largest asset outside of their family home by retirement. Getting the strategy right matters.
Your super isn't on autopilot. It shouldn't be.
Most Australians have their superannuation sitting in the fund their employer chose when they started their job, invested in the default option, reviewed perhaps once a year when a statement arrives. That arrangement might be fine. But it also might be costing you money through high fees, underperforming investments, or a contribution strategy that could be doing a lot more for you.
Superannuation is one of the most tax-effective investment environments available in Australia. The earnings inside a super fund are taxed at just 15% in accumulation phase, and tax-free in pension phase. Contributions made before tax are taxed at 15% rather than at your marginal rate, which for higher earners represents a substantial advantage. And compounding over decades means that even relatively small optimisations early on can translate into very large differences at retirement.
We are an investment management firm. We don't just advise you on your super. We manage the investment portfolio inside it. That means we select the investments, monitor them, and adjust the strategy as conditions change and your situation evolves. Our fee is a percentage of the assets we manage, which means our incentive is straightforwardly aligned with yours: to grow your super as effectively as possible.
How we work with your superannuation
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Investment management inside super
We actively manage the investment portfolio inside your superannuation account. We select assets, monitoring performance, and adjusting the mix as markets change and your time horizon shortens. This is the core of what we do, and It is genuinely different from simply recommending a fund and walking away.
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Super fund review
Not all super funds are equal. Fees, investment options, insurance cover, and platform capabilities vary enormously. We assess whether your current fund is the right one for your situation, and if not, what the move to a better-suited fund would mean for your balance over time.
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Contribution strategies
From salary sacrifice and catch-up concessional contributions to non-concessional contributions and spouse contributions, there are multiple strategies available to legally accelerate your super balance. We identify which apply to your situation and model the after-tax benefit of each.
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Super and tax planning
The tax advantages of superannuation are significant, but they require active management to fully realise. We work with your accountant to ensure your contribution strategy is optimised for your income level and tax position.
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Investment option selection
The default 'Balanced' investment option in most super funds is designed for the average member. It is not designed for you. We select the investment options appropriate for your specific risk tolerance, time horizon, and retirement goals.
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Transition to retirement (TTR)
If you're 60 or over and still working, a TTR income stream can allow you to draw income from your super while continuing to contribute. This can reduce your tax position and boost your super balance simultaneously. We assess whether this strategy applies to your situation.
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Super consolidation
Multiple super accounts mean multiple sets of fees and fragmented investment management. We review all accounts you hold, assess the insurance implications of consolidation, and merge accounts where it makes financial sense.
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Retirement income stream setup
When you retire, we manage the conversion of your super to an account-based pension, the income stream that will fund your retirement. The investment strategy at this point shifts from growth to income and capital preservation, and we manage this transition carefully.
A question worth answering with real numbers
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) estimates that a couple aged 65 needs approximately $690,000 in superannuation at retirement to fund a comfortable lifestyle, and a single person approximately $595,000. These are widely referenced benchmarks, but they are averages. Your situation may be quite different.
Whether you're on track depends on your current balance, your contributions, your investment returns, your expected retirement age, and what comfortable means to you specifically. We model this in detail for every client, not with a generic online calculator but with a projection built from your actual numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Accumulation phase is when you're working and building your super balance. Investment earnings are taxed at 15% inside the fund. Pension phase begins when you convert your super to an income stream in retirement, at which point investment earnings become tax-free (for balances up to the Transfer Balance Cap).
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In limited circumstances, such as severe financial hardship, compassionate grounds, or terminal illness, early access may be permitted under strict ATO conditions. For most people, super cannot be accessed until they reach their preservation age (between 55 and 60 depending on birth year) and meet a condition of release, such as retirement.
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For the 2025-26 financial year, the concessional contribution cap is $30,000 per year. This includes compulsory employer contributions (the Superannuation Guarantee) and any voluntary salary sacrifice. If you've had unused cap space in prior years, you may be eligible to make catch-up contributions. We assess this for every client.
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Often yes, though not always. Multiple accounts mean multiple fees and fragmented management, which is generally inefficient. However, some older funds carry insurance cover with grandfathered terms that would be lost on exit. We check this carefully before recommending any consolidation.
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Your super is not automatically covered by your will. It passes according to your binding death benefit nomination, or at the fund's discretion if no nomination is in place. Ensuring your nomination is current, binding, and directed to the right beneficiaries is something we review with every client.
Ready to talk? Your first meeting is on us
We’ve been helping individuals, families and business owners make confident financial decisions for over 25 years.
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