Futurevest

Australia's sitting on record wealth.

But flip the numbers over, and it gets complicated fast.
The ABS just dropped data that tells two very different stories depending on which end you're standing at:

Household wealth hit $19.2 trillion in the March quarter. Up $224.9 billion in a single quarter.
Sounds incredible, right?
Then you see the rest of it.

GDP per person actually fell 0.1% in the same quarter.
Wage growth came in at 3.2% - but inflation hit 3.5% by July. Households spent faster than they earned, pushing the savings rate down from 7.0% to 6.2%.
Housing costs jumped 5.0%, with new builds up 5.7%, rents up 3.6%, electricity up 6.1%.
Unemployment climbed to 4.5%. Hours worked dropped 0.6%.

So the national balance sheet looks healthy. The kitchen table? That's a different conversation.
Here's the thing most people miss, the wealth is real, but it's mostly locked up in property and superannuation.
You can't pay your electricity bill with home equity.
I've seen this pattern with clients for years. Asset-rich, cash-poor, and quietly more vulnerable than anyone around them realises.

True financial health isn't about what you own on paper. It's about whether you can actually live.

That means: → Cash flow you can count on every month → Savings you can actually access when life hits → Debt that doesn't own you back → A buffer between you and a bad quarter → Investments that aren't all riding on one asset class → A plan that still works when the economy doesn't

Australia isn't a sick economy. Australian households are quietly stretched in ways the headline numbers don't show.

Record wealth and genuine financial security aren't the same thing. Not even close.

What do you think is the real measure of financial health for Australian families right now?

Do you think the government should be telling Australians where to invest their super?

We have recently seen proposals that move in that direction, including restrictions around borrowing to purchase residential property inside an SMSF. If SMSF property lending is reportedly a small part of the market, it is hard to see how limiting it materially improves first home buyer access, especially in the context of a rental shortage. SMSF members cannot live in those properties, so they are typically contributing towards the rental supply.

More recently, we have seen suggestions that superannuation should be directed into government projects. The question is simple: if many government projects run over budget, where does an attractive risk-adjusted return come from? Because without returns, members ultimately pay the price.
At a minimum, super should remain focused on member outcomes: returns, diversification, liquidity, and risk management. Governments can set rules to protect the system, but directing capital to suit policy priorities is a very different line to cross.

Where do you draw the line?

I am glad to see parts of the industry pushing back. And with Australia’s share market a small portion of global markets, offshore diversification will continue to be part of how many investors manage risk and seek opportunities.

Australians should retain control over where their retirement savings are invested, within appropriate and transparent guardrails.

Do you know exactly where your money went in the last 90 days?
Most money leaks come from one problem, no clear tracking system.

"7 Money Leaks to Fix This Month"

1. No budget categories
2. Subscriptions you forgot about
3. Eating out by default
4. Not reviewing statements weekly
5. No savings automation
6. Buying convenience with no cap
7. Using credit without a payoff plan

Grateful to spend time with Tim Gannon (founder of Outback Steakhouse) and Brian Smith (founder of UGG Boots).
Reminder: brand = distribution + consistency.
Great products don’t spread by accident. They’re positioned, repeated, and reinforced.
Back to work.

The wealthy don’t just chase returns. They protect longevity: making sure what they’ve built survives volatility, lawsuits, taxes, and bad timing.
If you’re building wealth, you need the same mindset: safely, securely, and profitably.

“Longevity” is simple: keep your downside controlled so time can do its job.

Here are 3 moves I see consistently:

- Own assets with a plan: clear buy box, reserves, and a hold strategy.
- Use the right structures: entities and insurance aligned with what you own and the risk you carry.
- Document everything: clean leases, operating agreements, and a paper trail that holds up when things get messy.
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The 2026 Federal Budget proposes a major CGT shake-up from July 1, 2027: moving away from the 50% CGT discount toward an indexation model, plus a proposed minimum 30% tax on net capital gains.

Most people will ignore this until the month they sell. That’s when it’s too late.

Three questions to ask yourself:

If you had to sell in 2027–2029, would you still buy the same assets today?
Are you building wealth… or building a tax outcome that can change overnight?
If the rules tighten, is your plan hold, sell, or upgrade quality?

Interesting 🤔

Under Labor, Australians pay more.

Where do you stand with your current investment journey?

“Stagflation”… you’re going to hear this word a lot more.

Sounds technical…
But it’s actually simple.

Stagflation =
• Prices keep rising 📈
• The economy slows 📉
• Jobs start tightening

The worst of both worlds.

We’re starting to see early signs globally… and potentially here in Australia.

Fuel costs are rising.
Interest rates are staying higher.
Growth slowing.
Confidence dropping.

That combination?
That’s what makes economists nervous.

So… does this mean a recession is coming?

Not necessarily.
But it does increase the risk.

Some call it a “meaningful risk”…
Others think we’ll just see slower growth.

Either way, this is where it gets interesting.

Because in environments like this:

• Old investment strategies stop working
• Costs rise faster than income
• Bad financial decisions get exposed… quickly

This isn’t about panic. It’s about awareness.
The next 12–24 months may look very different
to the last decade.

The real question is:
Are you positioned for that shift?
Interest rates are staying higher.