Energy Financial Planning

I hear this question a lot.

People usually don’t ask it out loud at first, but it’s there in the background.

“𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙈𝙎𝙁?”

It’s a fair question. And it’s not one you answer by reading a headline or comparing returns.

An SMSF isn’t something you rush into, and it’s not something you should rule out based on half-formed opinions either.

The starting point is simple.

Understand what an SMSF actually is, what it isn’t, and whether it fits how you want to make decisions about your super.

Clarity first. Decisions second.

That’s always the right order.

If you want to talk it through and get clear on where you stand, I’m always happy to have that conversation.

I’ll put a link in the comments for anyone who wants to take that next step.

Brad A. Gunn
Principal Private Wealth Adviser
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

🏦 I𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

Since this Budget dropped, the case for a Self-Managed Super Fund has never been stronger:

✅ 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 — direct shares, property, ETFs, MDA, term deposits. You call the shots, not a fund manager.
✅ 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱% on investment income and capital gains — compared to up to 45% outside super.
✅ 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 — your retirement income can be entirely tax-free.
✅ 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 via Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements — grow your property or share portfolio inside a concessionally taxed structure.
✅ 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 — ideal for family strategies, with lower relative costs and greater buying power.
✅ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 — binding death benefit nominations that don't expire, so more of your wealth stays where you want it.
✅ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 — new Budget measures open fresh property investment pathways for SMSFs, including a 4% capital works deduction on eligible developments.

With Labor's strengthened parliamentary position, super reform is firmly on the agenda. The window to structure your SMSF correctly — before further changes arrive — is open right now. If you're a small business owner, a professional, or a farmer, this is the moment to act.

More than 𝟲𝟰𝟳,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙𝘀 already manage over $𝟭 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in retirement assets across Australia. The question isn't whether an SMSF works. It's whether one is right for *you*.

📞 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗔. 𝗚𝘂𝗻𝗻, 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Brad works with Australians who are serious about taking control of their retirement and making the most of every opportunity the current environment offers.

👉 www.energyfinancial.au

*General information only. This does not constitute personal financial advice. Please ensure you consult a licensed financial adviser regarding your individual circumstances. *

You’ve probably come across this before...

Someone working hard, running a business or farm or just doing what they do day-in, day-out. They’re doing well.

But when you ask about retirement or succession, they just shrug.

They’ve been too busy working 'in' the business or busy life to plan beyond it.

That’s the gap we’ve been helping fill lately with our 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

I’ve shared it with you a few times now and the take up has been really encouraging.

If you know someone who might benefit, please, do me (and them) a favour and tag or share this with them.

Even one good conversation could change how they approach the years leading up to retirement...

And if you’d like a refresher on how the new contribution or CGT timing rules might affect you personally, let’s line up a review.

You will find the link in the comments to make it happen.

Always happy to help,

Brad A. Gunn
SMSF Specialist Adviser

A lot of business founders tell me the same thing.

"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣..."

And yes, I do understand that logic. You have poured everything into building something valuable. Selling it one day will fund retirement. So why think about other options or divert money into super now?

But there is a potential flaw in that thinking.

Your business value is 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸. If the market shifts, the buyer pool dries up, or the exit does not happen on your timeline, you have no backup.

By strategically utilising and SMSF in conjunction with your other assets, you're not taking money off the table. You are diversifying the exit plan. You keep building the business. You also build a parallel structure that compounds independently and can have some incredibly valuable tax-advantages when the time comes*.

People who plan this early - in the 'pre-retirement' phase do not choose between business growth and retirement planning. They do both. Because the businesses that exit successfully are the ones where the owner is not desperate to sell...

If you have been delaying super contributions because it feels like betraying the business, that is backwards thinking and I would love the opportunity to show you the difference.

𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁.

Let's talk about what that looks like in practice. Link in comments 👇

Brad A. Gunn
Founder
Energy Financial Planning

𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘔𝘚𝘍 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭, 𝘵𝘢𝘹, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗔. 𝗚𝘂𝗻𝗻 has spent more than 25 years helping clients navigate financial decisions around superannuation, retirement, and SMSFs.

Rather than offering generic solutions, Brad tailors his advice to each client’s specific circumstances, explaining options clearly and without pressure.

His focus is on helping people feel comfortable and and importantly - informed throughout the entire process.

𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 supports clients through every stage of their financial journey, from initial conversations to long-term strategy implementation.

If you’d like to get a clearer picture of your own situation in the years leading up to retirement, he would be happy to talk it through with you.

Alternatively - follow for superannuation and SMSF strategy made simple

Energy Financial Planning

You make '200' decisions a day running your business or managing your team.

By the time someone asks you about your super, you have nothing left.

That is what I call 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲. And it is why so many executives have been 'thinking about' their SMSF for three years without moving.

Here is what I have learned: you do not need more information about SMSFs. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲.

The business owners and executives who get this sorted are not the ones who research every option.

They are the ones who find someone they trust and delegate the (bulk) of their decision-making process.

At 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, setup happens in defined stages. You make strategic calls. Someone else handles ex*****on. That is it.

If you have been stuck in research mode for longer than you should, it might be time to stop researching and start delegating (just like you do in your work environment) 😊.

I can walk you through what that looks like. Link in comments 👇

Brad A. Gunn
SMSF Specialist
Energy Financial Planning

There is a clause in most SMSF trust deeds that almost nobody reads.

And it is the one that causes so many problems later. Curious what it is?

It is the clause that governs 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱.

Most families assume that if someone wants out, they can just leave. Take their share and go.

But the trust deed might not allow that. Or it might allow it under conditions that the family has never discussed.

Some trust deeds require unanimous consent from all trustees before a member can exit. Some require a formal valuation of the fund's assets before a payout can happen. Some have restrictions on how quickly the exit can occur.

And most families do not know which version they have until someone actually wants to leave.

That is when the tension starts. Because what seemed like a simple request - "𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦" - becomes a legal and financial process that nobody planned for.

So please, make sure you read the trust deed carefully. Understand the exit provisions. And talk about what would actually happen if someone needed to leave before the situation forces it.

If you are not sure what your SMSF trust deed says about exits, it is worth checking now rather than later.

Link in the comments if you need help reviewing it.

Brad A. Gunn
SMSF Specialist Adviser
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

*𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 advisor or 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘔𝘚𝘍 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥.

Here is something the industry does not always mention upfront.

When you move super into a Self-Managed Super Fund, you can lose your insurance cover without realising it.

Not because the SMSF does not allow insurance. It does. But unlike an industry or retail fund, there is no automatic default cover. If nobody arranges it deliberately, it simply does not exist.

And most families do not notice until they actually need to make a claim.

Life insurance. Income protection. Disability cover. All of it can disappear in the transfer if nobody checks.

For families where one person's income is critical to the whole structure, that gap is serious.

The fix is simple. Insurance needs to be arranged inside the SMSF at the same time the money moves. Not after. Not when someone remembers. At the same time.

If your family has moved to an SMSF or is about to, check the insurance position before anything else happens. Link in the comments if you need help reviewing it.

Brad A. Gunn
SMSF Specialist Adviser
Energy Financial Planning



Source: ASIC — Insurance in super (moneysmart.gov.au)

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial planner regarding your personal circumstances.