Winter 2026 Edition

Certain uncertainty – An evolving tax landscape

• From 1 July 2027, the 50% CGT discount is set to be replaced with an indexation approach and a minimum 30% tax on net gains — even pre-1985 assets get caught for the first time.
• Proposed minimum 30% tax on trust distributions could reshape how families and business owners use discretionary trusts.

Why diversification matters more in a concentrated market

• Just seven tech stocks now make up more than a third of the S&P 500 — so "broad" index funds may be far less diversified than they look.
• True diversification isn't owning more investments; it's owning ones that behave differently when conditions shift, as 2022 showed when shares and bonds fell together.

Want a flourishing retirement? Plant seeds of financial security

• Retirees who choose when and how they retire report greater wellbeing than those forced into it — purpose matters as much as money.
• Nearly half of retirees want a guaranteed lifetime income, yet fewer than one in ten actually have one.

Life insurance at tax time

• Some premiums are deductible and some aren't — and where the policy is held (inside or outside super) changes both the deduction and the tax on any payout.
• Life, TPD and Trauma payouts are generally tax-free outside super, while Income Protection payouts are usually taxable.

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