It all starts with a conversation
It’s time to stop treading water and build confidence with a better performing business.
23 Hamilton St,
Subiaco WA 6008
It’s time to stop treading water and build confidence with a better performing business.
23 Hamilton St,
Subiaco WA 6008
Is your superannuation statement a source of confusion rather than confidence? For many Australians, navigating the world of super feels like trying to solve a complex puzzle without all the pieces. You know it’s the key to your retirement, but the shifting rules, endless investment choices, and confusing fees can leave you feeling like you’re treading water. This uncertainty makes it difficult to know if you’re truly on track to build the future you deserve.
Knowing when to seek professional superannuation advice is the critical first step toward replacing that chaos with clarity and control. In this guide, we’ll uncover the seven key signs that indicate it’s time to talk to an expert. You’ll discover the pivotal moments where the right strategy can significantly grow your wealth, giving you a clear, actionable plan for a secure and comfortable retirement.
Many Australians see their super as a passive savings account that ticks along in the background. But this view misses the point: your superannuation is one of the most powerful investment vehicles you will ever have. The system itself is complex, with rules and strategies that can feel overwhelming. A good overview of superannuation in Australia highlights its intricate structure. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to feel like you’re treading water, unsure if you’re making the right moves for your future.
This is where professional superannuation advice provides clarity and control. It’s not about picking a ‘hot’ fund; it’s about building a strategic roadmap tailored to your life. An expert can help you navigate contribution caps, investment choices, insurance, and tax-effective strategies to maximise your final retirement balance. But it’s crucial to understand that not all advice is created equal.
General advice is broad information that doesn’t consider your unique circumstances. Think of it like a brochure from a super fund or a generic seminar-it’s educational but not a personal plan. Personal advice, however, is customised specifically for you. It takes into account your income, debts, family situation, and retirement goals to create an actionable strategy designed to achieve your specific outcomes.
Many super funds offer ‘intra-fund’ advice, often at no extra cost. This is a valuable service, but it is limited to your account with that specific fund-they can’t advise you on your property, shares, or your spouse’s super. Comprehensive superannuation advice looks at your entire financial world. It integrates your super strategy with your other assets and goals to build a holistic plan for long-term wealth and certainty.
Certain life events can feel like you’re just treading water, reacting to constant change. But when it comes to your financial future, these moments are critical trigger points for your super strategy. Ignoring them can lead to missed opportunities or costly mistakes, while proactive planning turns them into significant advantages. These are the most common signs that it’s time to get professional superannuation advice and build certainty for your future.
The final stretch to retirement is about locking in your gains and finalising your plan. This is the time to shift from aggressive growth to a more conservative, de-risked investment strategy. A financial advisor can help structure a transition-to-retirement (TTR) strategy, calculate if you’re on track to meet your goals, and identify which levers to pull-like salary sacrificing or downsizing-to close any gaps and maximise your nest egg.
A new job often means a new super fund, and leaving multiple accounts open can erode your balance with unnecessary fees. A redundancy payout comes with its own complex tax and superannuation rules. Seeking advice ensures you consolidate funds effectively and make the most tax-efficient decisions with your payout, turning a challenging situation into a strategic financial move.
For business owners, personal super is deeply linked to your business structure and cash flow. It’s not just about meeting your Superannuation Guarantee obligations. An advisor helps you leverage strategies like maximising concessional contributions or exploring Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) options for greater control. This ensures your business is actively building your personal wealth, creating a solid plan that extends beyond the business itself.
Receiving a lump sum from an inheritance or property sale is a unique opportunity to significantly boost your retirement savings. However, strict contribution caps and complex rules apply. Professional superannuation advice is crucial to navigate these limits, avoid unnecessary tax, and integrate this new capital into your long-term financial plan. Finding the right professional is key, and the government’s Moneysmart website offers excellent guidance on how to choose a financial adviser to match your needs.
Most major Australian super funds offer members access to ‘free’ or low-cost financial advice. This can be an excellent starting point if you feel like you’re treading water and just need answers to simple questions. However, it’s crucial to understand that this service comes with significant limitations.
This type of guidance, known as ‘intra-fund advice’, is strictly regulated. As the peak superannuation industry body confirms, it can only relate to your account with that specific fund. They cannot legally discuss other investments, other super funds, or your broader financial strategy. This is the ‘trap’: what seems like comprehensive advice is actually a narrow view of your financial world.
For straightforward queries about your account, your fund’s adviser can provide valuable clarity. This service is best suited for helping you with:
When your financial life involves more than just one super account, you need a plan that sees the whole picture. Independent superannuation advice becomes essential when you need to:
While your fund’s advice is a useful tool, it cannot build the comprehensive financial roadmap you need for long-term success. To create a plan that truly moves you forward, it all starts with a conversation.
Finding a trustworthy advisor for professional superannuation advice is the most critical step in taking control of your retirement savings. You aren’t just looking for a one-off transaction; you’re seeking a long-term partner for your entire financial journey. The right professional will offer qualifications, transparency, and a clear, methodical process. Don’t hesitate to interview a few advisors before you commit-it’s your future, and you deserve to feel confident in your choice.
A good advisor will welcome your questions and provide clear answers. Before engaging their services, be sure to ask:
Transparency around fees is key to a healthy advisor relationship. In Australia, advice fees are typically structured in one of two main ways:
While commissions are now banned on most new investment products, it’s always wise to confirm your advisor is working solely in your best interest.
We believe your superannuation is a powerful tool, but it’s just one part of your broader financial picture. True financial certainty comes from having a coordinated plan for your entire life, both inside and outside of super.
Our process doesn’t start with products; it starts with a conversation to understand your personal and financial goals. From there, we build a comprehensive roadmap that aligns your business, investments, and retirement savings to help you build the future you want.
Let’s start the conversation about your financial future.
Your superannuation is more than just a savings account; it’s the foundation for your future. Recognising the key life events that call for a strategic review is the first step toward taking control. While the ‘free’ advice from your fund has its place, it cannot replace a personalised plan tailored to your unique goals, risk tolerance, and timeline.
Making informed decisions about your super today can have a profound impact on your lifestyle in retirement. Getting the right superannuation advice provides the clarity needed to navigate complex rules, optimise your investments, and build genuine financial certainty. At KHT, our team of Chartered Accountants and Certified Financial Planners uses a proven approach to create personalised strategies for business owners and individuals just like you.
Stop treading water and start building the future you deserve. It all starts with a conversation.
Book a meeting to get clarity and confidence in your retirement plan.
The cost of professional superannuation advice varies based on complexity. For a comprehensive Statement of Advice (SoA), you can expect to invest between A$3,000 and A$6,000. This initial plan provides your strategic roadmap. Ongoing advice is often charged as a fixed annual fee or a percentage of the funds managed. Think of it not as a cost, but as an investment in your financial certainty and a clear plan to build the future you want.
No, you don’t need a specific balance to benefit from advice. It’s about building momentum, not about your starting point. If you have a smaller balance, advice might focus on consolidating funds, checking insurance, and setting a contribution strategy. For larger balances, the focus may shift to investment structures and retirement planning. Getting expert guidance early ensures your super is working hard for you from day one, helping you move from treading water to building real wealth.
A financial advisor and an accountant play distinct but complementary roles. A licensed financial advisor helps you create a strategic plan to grow your wealth, focusing on investment selection, risk management, and retirement goals. An accountant typically focuses on the compliance and tax obligations of your super, especially for an SMSF. A great financial strategy involves both: the advisor builds the plan, and the accountant helps ensure it remains tax-effective and compliant.
Yes, a licensed financial advisor is essential when setting up an SMSF. They are legally required to provide you with a Statement of Advice (SoA) to confirm that an SMSF is the right strategy for your financial situation and goals. They will assess your circumstances, explain your responsibilities as a trustee, and help you build an investment strategy. This ensures you start with a solid foundation designed for control and growth.
We recommend a full review of your superannuation strategy at least once a year. Your financial plan should adapt as your life changes. It’s also crucial to seek fresh superannuation advice after a significant life event, such as changing jobs, getting married, having a child, or receiving an inheritance. Regular check-ins ensure your strategy remains aligned with your goals and is optimised for your journey toward financial freedom.
Yes, there are strong protections in place for Australian consumers. All licensed financial advisors must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and hold professional indemnity insurance. If you believe you have received inappropriate advice that resulted in a financial loss, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). This independent body provides free, fair dispute resolution to help you achieve financial certainty and peace of mind.