Our Latest Newsletter

In this issue

• Making the most of EOFY
• Why Bespoke Ethical Investment Stands Out
• 4 steps to choose a Residential Care Service
• Mapping the Momentum: Where the World Stands on ISSB (The International Sustainability Standards Board) Adoption

As we quickly approach the end of the financial year, now is the perfect time to make the most of the opportunities available — especially when it comes to super contributions and tax planning. Your adviser has likely made recommendations for you to consider. Now is the time to act on these to ensure you get everything done before EOFY!

Here’s what you might want to consider actioning in the next couple of weeks:

✅ Top up your super – Make the most of concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions. These can be powerful tools to reduce your tax and grow your retirement savings. Re-read our advice to you to check what needs to be done. 

✅ Claimable deductions – Make those charitable donations, or if you run a Philanthropic Fund, ensure you have donated at least the minimum.  Consider pre-paying deductible expenses. Ensure you have your records in order including receipts for work-related tax deductions, super contributions and donations.

✅ Take your minimum pension – Ensure you’ve drawn the minimum pension for this FY. Our advisers work with you to ensure this is done each year.

🔔 Important: Remember, these EOFY actions must be completed well before June 30, ideally by mid-June, so don’t wait until the last minute. 

If you need assistance or have any questions, please reach out to your adviser now to schedule a meeting. 

Recent events have raised serious concerns about the credibility and consistency of ESG claims made by major industry super funds:

• Active Super was fined $10.5 million penalty by the Federal Court for greenwashing— after it was found to have invested in companies it claimed to exclude under its ESG policy (including gambling and coal), misleading investors about its ESG credentials. It was found to have invested in companies such as:

  • SkyCity Entertainment (gambling)
  • Whitehaven Coal (coal mining)
  • Gazprom (Russian energy)
  • Shell Plc (oil tar sands)
• AustralianSuper and Cbus have faced criticism for delays in processing member claims and transparency issues, further eroding trust in large-scale industry funds.
• UniSuper has recently watered down its Global Environmental Opportunities (GEO) option. This shift has raised concerns that financial performance is being prioritised over environmental integrity, potentially diluting the fund’s original green mandate.

Why Bespoke Ethical Investment May Be a Better Alternative

Unlike large industry funds, bespoke ethical investment services offer:

• Tailored screening aligned with your personal values
• Greater transparency in holdings and decision-making
• Active engagement with fund managers and companies to drive real-world change
• Accountability—as a smaller firm we are more responsive and aligned with investor expectations

When the time comes for you or a parent to move into residential care, choosing the right service is an important but complex decision. Sometimes your choice may be limited because of the urgency or the availability of suitable places, and the pressure can be overwhelming. But making the right choice is key to a good experience.

It might help to take an approach that is similar to the approach you would take if you were buying or renting any property, and break down your decisions into four steps:

1. Choose the location

2. Consider what feels like home and what amenities are important to access

3. Check the price for affordability

4. Structure your finances to meet the costs.

Choosing the location

When choosing where to live, location is always the first consideration. This might be based on the lifestyle you want to live, or what you want to be close to.

Do you want to stay in the same area where you have been living so you can continue for example, with the same doctor, hairdresser, church group and friends. Or would it be better to move closer to your children so visits can be more regular.

What feels like home

This can be different for everyone – but it is important to understand where you feel comfortable and what makes you happy.

Is this a newly-built service or does an older style service feel more homely? If you have always lived in a stand-alone home, would you be comfortable in a multistorey building? If you loved to spend time in the garden, you might be happiest if you can find somewhere with access to good gardens and lots of open space.

As well as the physical look and feel, think about how it might feel to live there. Does it have a friendly and relaxed feel or does it all feel a bit clinical?

If you are taking a tour of a residential service watch how staff interact with the residents. Ask about additional lifestyle services and choices you might have for things like entertainment and meals.

Choose an affordable service

The price of a room in residential care can range up to $3 million. But so do the price of homes vary greatly. The reality is that you need to find something in an affordable price range.

This does not mean you have to hand over large lump sums for aged care. You can choose to pay a daily fee to “rent” if that suits you better. This can help you to afford a more expensive room.

Structure finances to meet the costs

Structuring finances and assets correctly can significantly reduce aged care fees and maximise Centrelink benefits, ensuring financial sustainability and peace of mind.

By strategically managing investments, superannuation, and property holdings, individuals can influence means-tested fees and optimise entitlements.

Proper planning helps avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes, minimise unnecessary expenses and also safeguard long-term financial security, allowing for a smoother transition into aged care.

If you need help with understanding aged care, and in particular with the financial decisions, contact us today.

The two ISSB standards aim to create a global baseline for sustainability disclosures, making it easier for investors to assess companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. Meaning companies adopting these standards are likely to be better positioned for future regulations. Australia is one of these countries integrating ISSB standards into its mandatory sustainability reporting.

How does this benefit you? As your ethical adviser, instead of relying on fragmented ESG reports,this allows for greater transparency and comparability when evaluating businesses based on sustainability criteria and less guesswork when assessing a company’s sustainability efforts. As an ethical investor, this helps you avoid greenwashing by confidently knowing the companies your are invested in, are disclosing real sustainability risks and climate-related financial risks in a standardised way, allowing for better long-term investment decisions which can lead to better financial resilience.

Interested?  This interactive map and link highlights the latest global developments in the uptake of the ISSB’s standards. Where does the world stand on ISSB adoption?