Joel Kerin - Financial Adviser

“You’re not spending it so well that we should be donating extra” - Kerry Packer.

In 1991, one of Australia’s most wealthy media entrepreneurs faced a parliamentary inquiry into tax evasion. Decades later, his words still resonate perfectly. Current budget included.

We are just 2 weeks out from the end of the Australian financial year and if you are not doing everything to minimise your tax, you want your “head read”.

Whether you are an Aussie resident or an expat, here is your last-minute EOFY battle plan:

💰 Superannuation Top-Ups: Max out your concessional contributions cap (the cap is $30,000 for the 2025–2026 financial year). Remember, the funds must hit your super account by June 30 to claim the deduction this year.

💰 Bring Forward Deductions: Prepay expenses for the next 12 months (like income protection insurance or work-related subscriptions) to claim the deduction immediately.

💰 Capital Gains & Losses: Offsetting capital gains by realizing losses on underperforming assets? Ensure these trades are fully settled before June 30.

💰 Expats & Tax Residency: If you moved or changed your expat status this year, have you reviewed how your foreign vs. Australian-sourced income will be treated?

💰 Charitable Giving: Any donation over $2 to a Registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) is tax-deductible. Do good and reduce your taxable income simultaneously.

Looking forward to spending the next few days in Singapore 🇸🇬 catching up with clients that call the lion city home.

For any connections in Singapore who would like to catch up personally or attend our minimise tax, maximise opportunities seminar on Thursday evening. Please send me a DM. 👋🏼

“I have insurance in my super.” - Every client to a financial adviser.

Yes… but at what cost?

Group insurance absolutely has its place and has gone a long way in addressing Australia’s underinsurance problem. In recent years, I’ve even seen premiums on lump-sum covers reduce, something that, in hindsight, is proving to be unsustainable.

AustralianSuper, the country’s largest super fund by member numbers, is now increasing its insurance rates by as much as 40%.

I recently completed a piece of advice for a client where I ran a like-for-like premium comparison between their AustralianSuper insurance and a retail insurance solution.

The premium difference?
👉 $3,497 per annum.

Again… yes, but at what cost?

If you have insurance inside your super, log in.
Look at your cover.
Look at the premium.

Then DM a financial adviser and ask a few questions:
- Is this cover right for me?
- Do I have the right level of insurance?
- Does this insurance cover me if I’m overseas?
Ask the question.

In cases like this, the advice more than pays for itself.

AussiesLivingAbroad

With the cost of fuel in Australia doing its best impression of a space launch 🚀 you might of considered your next vehicle upgrade be electric or perhaps should come with four legs instead of four wheels.

At this rate, a horse might just be the most cost‑effective mode of transport:

• Runs on grass & hay instead of unleaded
• No rego, no servicing schedule
• Serious networking potential at the hitching post 🐎

Jokes aside, rising fuel prices are a good reminder of why budgeting and financial planning matter more than ever.

When everyday essentials climb:
✅ A clear cash‑flow plan helps you stay in control
✅ Small spending tweaks can free up meaningful savings
✅ Forward planning turns “price shocks” into manageable adjustments

You don’t need to ditch your car for a saddle (yet), but reviewing your budget and stress‑testing your plan against rising costs can make a real difference.

So if you’d rather keep driving than neighing, now’s a great time to revisit your numbers.

AustraliansInFinance

Wrapping up a quick trip to Adelaide visiting clients and I see this in Adelaide airport and it couldn’t be more true.

When interest rates rise.
When markets dip.
When cost of living pressures squeeze your budget.

That’s not the time to abandon your plan, it’s the time to lean into strong money habits.

Financial progress isn’t built in perfect conditions. It’s built through discipline when things feel uncomfortable.

Just like a plane needs resistance to lift, your wealth often grows through:

🛫Sticking to a savings plan when it feels tight
🛫Investing consistently during market downturns
🛫Avoiding lifestyle inflation when income increases
🛫Playing the long game instead of chasing quick wins

The real edge is consistency when headlines are negative, which there are plenty at the moment.

Good money management isn’t about timing the market.
It’s about building habits that work in any environment.

🛫Save with intention.
🛫Invest with discipline.
🛫Think in decades, not days.

The wind isn’t there to stop you.