Superannuation Advice
Superannuation is one of the biggest investments most people make, and the questions about it change over time. Which fund and investment option suit you? How much should you add? How will it pay you an income once you stop work? We can advise on your super at any stage, and we look at it alongside the rest of your money.
We work with professionals and families who want a clear plan for their super. You might be looking for a super adviser because you:
haven’t changed your investment option since your first job
earn well and want to know whether to add more to super, and how
want to know whether you’re on track for retirement, however far away it is
are about to retire, or have just retired, and want your super to pay you an income
are wondering whether a self-managed super fund would suit you
have super in two or three funds and aren’t sure which to keep
Who We Help
What Super Advice Covers
We look at what you hold now, including the fees, the insurance and how the money is invested. Then we recommend where your super should sit and how it should be invested for your age and timeframe.
For many people, before-tax contributions are taxed at a lower rate in super than as income, and the money is locked away, usually until retirement. We look at salary sacrifice, personal contributions and catch-up contributions (using unused cap amounts from earlier years), within the yearly caps on how much you can add. Then we compare putting extra money into super with keeping it in your offset or investing it outside super.
When retirement is still years away, we work out where your super is heading against what you're likely to need, and what you can still change. Closer to retirement, the questions turn to when you can access your super, how much to keep in growth investments and cash, and how to turn it into a regular income. If you've already stopped work, we advise on drawing that income from your super and how to invest it.
A self-managed super fund (SMSF) gives you more control, along with more cost, responsibility and paperwork. It can cost more than a large fund, especially at lower balances, and as trustee you carry the legal responsibility. Moving to one can also end the insurance in your current fund. We advise on whether an SMSF is appropriate for you and on its investments. Your accountant sets up the fund and its trustee and handles the administration, and an independent approved SMSF auditor audits it each year.
Many funds include life, total and permanent disability, and income protection cover. We review yours as part of your super advice, so you know what you're covered for.
If you choose ongoing advice, we agree how often we meet. At each review we check your super against your plan and the current rules, and recommend changes where they're needed.
What goes into super and what stays outside it depends on when you'll need the money, and extra contributions only work if your cash flow can carry them. More about investment advice or more about cash flow planning.
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We work it out from your income, your cash flow and when you'll need the money, within the yearly caps. We weigh it against your other goals, and your Statement of Advice sets out what we recommend.
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It depends on your balance, how much control you want, and the time and interest you have to run one. We go through the costs and trustee responsibilities with you first, and only recommend one if it's appropriate for you.
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Sometimes. Fewer accounts can mean lower fees, but closing one can end insurance you may not be able to replace. We check each account before recommending anything.
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No. The years just before and after you stop work are when many of the biggest super decisions are made: your last contributions, how your money is invested and how you'll draw an income.