Pathwise Wealth

Some people think financial advice is about getting rich.

It's not.

It's about getting clear. Clear on what you actually want. Clear on what's in the way. Clear on what to do next week, not just next decade.

When you have clarity, the rest tends to follow. The decisions get easier. The stress gets quieter. The life you want starts feeling more possible.

That's the work. And it starts with a single conversation.

https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact

Three questions worth sitting with this week:
1️⃣ What age do you want to retire?
2️⃣ Is it actually possible, based on where you're at right now?
3️⃣ And what does that retirement look like; travel, time with family, doing less, doing more?

Most people in their late 40s and 50s are earning well, nearly mortgage-free, and starting to think seriously about the next chapter.

But thinking about it and having a plan for it are two very different things.
If you're ready to get clear we'd love to help; https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact

There are three ages that come up again and again in conversations about retirement: 60, 65 and 67.
But they each mean something quite different.

-At 60, you may be able to access your super if you’ve retired and met a condition of release
-At 65, you can access your super regardless of whether you’re still working
-And at 67, you reach Age Pension age (subject to eligibility)

The most important question is; based on what you’ve built and the life you want to fund, when could you actually afford to stop working?

For some people, separating those three ages is the first step towards realising they may have more choice than they thought.

Book a call if you'd like to chat over your unique circumstances: https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact

While Pathwise Wealth is proudly based in Toowoomba and works closely with individuals and families across the Darling Downs, we also support clients right across Australia.

We currently work with clients in Stanthorpe, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, and we regularly meet via video to ensure distance is never a barrier to quality advice.

Book a call if you want to chat over your retirement strategy; https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact

Hi, I'm Stan Moffatt, a Senior Financial Planner here at Pathwise Wealth. I started out studying commerce and accounting, but after a few years I realised what I wanted was more contact with people and their stories; financial planning gave me exactly that.

Ask younger me what I wanted to do for a living and I'd have said a builder. As it turns out, I still build things, just with strategy and legislation instead of bricks and mortar. Building financial plans instead of houses.

The one piece of financial advice I wish everyone learned in school is that getting on top of your finances early makes a massive difference. The earlier you start, the more time you give your money to work for you, and the fewer scrambles you have later trying to make up for lost time.

The money myth I'm most tired of hearing is that superannuation is an investment. It's not; super is the structure, and your investments simply sit inside it. It's a small distinction, but understanding it is a good first step to feeling more in control of your super rather than treating it as a mystery box someone else looks after.

Right now I'm reading Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark by Julia Baird. It's a good reminder to slow down and notice things, which isn't always easy in a job that runs on numbers and deadlines.

Something I'm genuinely terrible at? Saying no! I've got a habit of taking on more than I should (don't we all?).

If I had to describe Toowoomba in three words, it'd be relaxed, comfortable, and positive.

Most of you have heard about the CGT changes coming in 2027. If you've built a share portfolio over the last few decades, here's the detail buried in the legislation that could make a significant difference.

From 1 July 2027, the 50% CGT discount is being replaced with a 30% minimum tax on capital gains. But Australians receiving the Age Pension are exempt.

The carve-out applies as long as you receive at least some payment (even a partial pension) in the same financial year you realise the capital gain.

Which means the order in which you do things matters more than ever. Sell before you qualify for the pension, and you could face a much larger tax bill. Get the sequencing right, and the outcome looks very different.

This is exactly the kind of planning that's easy to overlook and expensive to get wrong.

If you're holding shares or property and retirement is on the horizon, let's talk; https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact

Most debt recycling strategies rely on investment income to make the numbers work. We think that's the wrong starting point.

If the strategy only stacks up when markets perform, dividends land on time, and returns meet expectations; it's built on a shaky foundation.

Our view: the borrowing should be affordable before investment income is counted. Portfolio income then becomes an accelerator, not a lifeline.

Peter Walters breaks down how we approach debt recycling differently at Pathwise and why the structure of the strategy matters just as much as the strategy itself:
https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/blog/debt-recycling

Divorce is one of life's biggest financial curveballs.

But with the right support, it can also be the moment you take back control and start shaping a future that's actually yours.

Because money after divorce isn't just about numbers. It's about independence, choice and freedom.

Instead of "what do we want?" – you get to ask, "what do I want?"

A few things make a real difference:

1️⃣ Get on top of your budget and bills: know exactly what's coming in and going out, so nothing catches you off guard.

2️⃣ Update your accounts, will and super: small admin jobs, but big consequences if they're left undone.

3️⃣ Get advice before you decide anything big: understand your options fully before you commit.

You don't have to figure this out alone. With the right guidance, you can build a financial future that supports the life you actually want to live.

What happens to your super when one of you stops working first?

For many couples, retirement doesn’t happen on the same day.
One person may finish work years before the other, and that transition can change more than just your household income.

It can also affect how much super continues to be contributed, who holds the larger balance, what insurance remains in place, and how you draw income as a couple.

The gap can be especially important where one partner has taken time out of the workforce, worked part-time, or has a lower super balance.

In the years before retirement, it may be worth reviewing:
• Whether the working partner can help build the lower-balance partner’s super
• Whether spouse contribution or contribution splitting strategies are available
• What happens to insurance cover if one partner stops receiving employer contributions
• How much income you need while one person is retired and the other is still working
• Whether your super balances are structured in a way that supports flexibility, tax efficiency and long-term retirement income

Retirement planning is rarely just about one person’s super balance. For couples, it’s about looking at the full household picture and making sure the transition years are planned deliberately, not left to chance.

If one of you is thinking about stepping back from work before the other, it’s a good time to get advice before the income changes; https://www.pathwisewealth.com.au/contact