AUGUST 2026 In summary August was broadly positive for equity markets, with resilient corporate earnings and renewed enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence (AI) supporting global equities. Sentiment softened late in the month as escalating US-Iran tensions pushed energy prices higher and… Read More »Investment & Economic Snapshot
For a long time, retirement had a fairly familiar shape. You worked full-time until around 65, had a farewell morning tea, packed up your desk and stopped working. But retirement doesn’t look that simple for many Australians anymore. Some people… Read More »The new retirement: why financial planning is no longer about stopping work at 65
The 2026–27 Federal Budget put family trusts firmly back in the spotlight. Among the proposed reforms is a new 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, including many family trusts, expected to apply from 1 July 2028 if legislated. For families… Read More »Why Your Will Might Be the Only Trust Structure Still Standing
2026 FINANCIAL YEAR IN REVIEW & OUTLOOK 2026 Financial Year in review The Financial Year 2026 was a strong year for global equities, driven by beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out that favoured US technology companies and select… Read More »Investment & Economic Snapshot
From 1 July 2026, the way many Australians receive superannuation will change – and for most employees, it should be a welcome improvement. Under the new payday super rules, employers will need to pay superannuation guarantee contributions at the same… Read More »Payday super: A positive change for your retirement savings
It’s one of the biggest questions Australians approaching retirement are asking right now: what does the new $3 million super tax actually mean for me? For Mike Beal, Senior Financial Planner at Wealth Architects on the Sunshine Coast, the answer… Read More »Navigating the $3 Million Super Tax: Why Strategy Matters More Than Ever
Ready to get serious, but not always clear on how There’s a particular kind of energy that shows up when people in their 30s and early 40s start thinking more seriously about their finances. They’re not disengaged. If anything, it’s… Read More »The decade where everything happens – and why a plan matters more than ever
Clients: Peter (66) and Bron (63) Adviser: Erica Cummins, Principal Adviser Stage: Transitioning into retirement When Bron retired 12 months ago, she commenced an account-based pension and began the shift into retirement life. Peter’s retirement followed a little later, finishing work in January… Read More »A retirement plan that delivered more than expected
This month explores the strategic role of personal insurance when paired with ongoing advice. It shows how insurance is not just about replacing income or clearing debt, but about protecting long-term goals and creating flexibility when life takes an unexpected… Read More »Insurance beyond the sum insured – how the right advice turned a life-changing claim into a retirement reset
When we think about life insurance, most of us hope we’ll never need it. For one client, that decision – made back in 2019 with Ben Day, our Risk Specialist in Melbourne – became life-changing. At the time, she was… Read More »“The best decision I ever made”: How the right advice changed everything for one family