Shayne Sommer - Private Wealth Adviser

https://open.spotify.com/track/7DYKOiDofbXUrY5AaLSub2
And so this is EOFY 🗓️
And what have you done?
Another year over
A new one’s begun

And so this is EOFY
The emails have come 📨
With “last chance deductions”
And “buy now for fun”

But what are we chasing? 🏃‍♀️‍➡️
A spreadsheet that’s neat?
Or a feeling our money
Is somehow complete?

Because here’s the funny thing -
EOFY’s not real.
It’s a line in the sand ⛱️
With a deadline appeal.

The numbers will carry,
The habits will too.
1 July doesn’t reset
What you actually do.

So if you feel pressure
To suddenly act;
Take a breath. Step back.
Sit with the facts.

Maybe this year
It’s not what you buy, 🛒
But the questions you ask
As the deadline ticks by. ⏰

👉 What worked for me?
👉 What felt out of sync?
👉 Where did I act fast -
Instead of pausing to think?

Because a new year is coming,
Not just on paper - but choice.
A chance to be clearer,
More measured, more voice.

And so this is EOFY…
Not an ending to chase,
But a moment to reset
Your financial pace. 💰

Ok accumulators, this one's for you ...

While most of us understand the benefits of topping up our super - not everyone feels like they have the dollars available in June to take advantage of the opportunity.

Here’s the hack we’re going to put in place to make reaching that contributions cap a little easier next financial year - check it out on my substack:

https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/ok-accumulators-this-ones-for-you?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

And a general public service announcement - if you're thinking of topping up super this year, maybe get that transaction planned to take place on or before 25 June to allow for processing times ... and if you make a contribution, let your adviser know - we do think about each and every one one of you and the mental load is so much lighter when we know it's been taken care of for you :)

Ok accumulators - this one's for you ...

Heard of 'accumulation phase' and 'pension phase' but would like that broken down into an easy understand article?

Excellent - I wrote one for you - a quick summary is here on my substack:

Superannuation: Not just an account, but a structure A practical guide to accumulation, pension phase and making your super work harder in retirement.

If your weekend was anything like mine, your feed has probably been full of “end of financial year” sales - all hinting that now is the perfect time to buy something “for the tax deduction”.

Yes, we’re in the second half of June. And yes, buying something now may mean it makes it into your FY26 deductions.

But here’s the boring, straight-up reminder from me:

A tax deduction does not make something free.

It still means you’re spending money.

If the item is genuinely deductible, it would generally have been deductible whether you bought it this week, last month or earlier in the financial year.

This week on , I’m unpacking how tax deductibility actually works - what may be deductible, what usually isn’t, and why “tax deductible” is not the same as “free”.

Head over to my substack for the lowdown:

https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/tax-deductions-are-helpful-but-they?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Before you click “buy now”, ask: would I still buy this if there was no tax deduction attached?

Your prompt this week: talk with a friend, family member or colleague about the EOFY advertising showing up in your feed.

Tax deductions are helpful - but they don’t make things free

This month our conversation is going to be about all things End of Financial Year, how to make the most of it and what to be mindful of as FY26 comes to a close.

For our first week, the conversation is around collating our receipts!

Do you have a system for keeping your receipts all year round for inclusion in your tax return?

Donations, work-related expenses, how do you keep track?

This week we encourage you to have a chat with another woman as to how you get ready for tax time - do you know that 30% of women don’t speak with a friend, colleague or family member at all during the year?

Let’s get the conversation started by helping each other make the most of those deductible costs that can reduce our taxable income.

Let us know in the comments below your tip for ‘keeping your receipts’ so we can all manage tax time just a little bit easier from here on!

I share a few of the ways I keep on all things for tax time on my substack - check it out here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/getting-started-on-end-of-financial?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

A huge shout out to my team at Shadforth Financial Group as with their support, I was recognised as the Financial Planner of the Year for NSW/ACT, and then also as the Overall Financial Planner of Year at Financial Newswire's Women Empowering Wealth Awards last Thursday night.

Thank you also to Financial Advice Association Australia - FAAA - your work to support advisers and the broader industry is cruicial to our profession.

Here's to continuing to deliver outcomes for our clients providing confidence and clarity in their financial lives.

presents

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about:
• Non‑concessional contributions
• Government co‑contributions
• Spouse contributions
• Concessional caps
• Catch‑up strategies

None of these are ‘loopholes’.

They’re existing rules - but only useful if you know whether you’re eligible.

This week is about connecting the dots.

Practical next steps:
• Log into myGov / ATO Online to view
– Contribution history
– Unused concessional caps
• Ask questions before making contributions
• Consider how each option helps today you and future you

Super doesn’t need to be overwhelming - but it does benefit from intention.

💬 Final contribution-conversation starter:

“If I made one small change to contributions this year, what would future me be grateful for?”

Continue the conversation.
Your future self is listening.

For more resources and the series, head over to substack:

4 Contribution Coversations - Part IV - Turning contribution rules into confident decisions presents

presents

Life doesn’t always allow neat, consistent contributions every year, and super actually recognises that.

This week’s focus: catch‑up concessional contributions.

If you haven’t used your full concessional cap in previous years, you may be able to:
• Carry forward unused amounts
• Make larger concessional contributions later
• Potentially create a bigger tax benefit in high‑income years

Who this can suit:
• People returning to work after time out of the workforce
• Business owners or those with fluctuating income
• Anyone approaching retirement wanting to “top up” strategically

Why this matters:
• Today benefit: potential tax deductions when income is higher
• Future benefit: accelerating your super balance when time matters most

It’s one of the clearest examples of super being a planning tool, not just a compulsory savings system.

💬 This week’s conversation starter:
“What years did I not maximise contributions? and could they help me now?”

Future you doesn’t need perfection.
Just a thoughtful catch‑up.

Join the conversation on this one over on substack:

4 Contribution Coversations - Part III - Using yesterday’s unused caps to help tomorrow’s retirement presents

presents

Most people are contributing to super… they just don’t realise how much control they actually have.

This week’s focus: concessional contributions - contributions made before tax.

These include:

• Superannuation Guarantee (from your employer)

• Salary sacrifice contributions

• Personal deductible contributions

All count toward your annual concessional cap.

Why people lean into concessional contributions:

✔️ They can reduce your taxable income today

✔️ Contributions are taxed at 15% in super (not your marginal tax rate)

✔️ More money invested earlier for future you

This is one of the clearest examples of a strategy helping today you and future you:

Today: potential tax savings and cash‑flow planning

Future: larger balance working for you over time

💬 This week’s conversation starter:

“Do I actually know how much is going into my super? and, am using the rules intentionally?”

Default contributions are fine.
Intentional contributions are powerful.

We delve into this a bit further and provide resources on substack:

4 Contribution Coversations - Part II - The contributions already happening and the ones you can control presents

presents

When people think about super, they often think “that’s future me’s problem.”

But some of the most powerful super strategies help future you and today you.

This week’s focus: non‑concessional contributions - after‑tax money you choose to add to super.

Two often‑missed opportunities sit under this umbrella:

👉 Government co‑contribution
If you’re a low‑to‑middle income earner and make a personal (after‑tax) contribution, the government may chip in too. Free money for future you and a reminder that engaging with super can pay off sooner than you expect.

👉 Spouse contributions
If your partner earns less than you, contributing to their super may mean:
• Boosting their future retirement balance
• Receiving a tax offset today

Same family wealth. Different pocket. Often overlooked.

💬 This week’s conversation starter:

“Are we actually using super rules as a family, or just letting contributions happen by default?”

Future you will thank you.
Today you might feel the benefit sooner than expected.

I unpack this further and provide some resources on my substack this week:

4 Contribution Coversations - Part I - Putting extra into super (and why it can matter more than you think) presents