Superannuation
Most people think of superannuation as a tax-favoured way of saving for your retirement. For employees, it is compulsory. For self-employed people, it is optional. For everybody, it is a great idea.
But superannuation is about more than retirement planning. It is actually a cornerstone of most people’s financial plan. This is because ‘super’ touches every other aspect of your financial planning. The way you manage your super impacts on how you manage your insurances, your other investments, your tax planning, your retirement planning, your marriage, your divorce, how and when you might help your adult kids out financially, your estate planning and even how you repay your own mortgage.
It is super by name and even more super by nature.
There are several types of super funds, such as retail funds, industry funds, corporate funds and self-managed superannuation funds. Different clients are suited to one or more of these types, and sometimes it makes sense to use more than one type in combination. We help you select the appropriate type of fund. We then help you make best use of whichever option you take. This is important because super can and should be incorporated into your thinking about everything to do with your finances.
If you decide to manage your own super (a ‘self-managed super fund,’ or SMSF), we assist with all facets of establishing and maintaining this fund. This includes liaising with external legal professionals to facilitate the production of all documents needed to start, and our advice on the assets you hold within the fund.
Nick Shanley
Financial Adviser / Director
Born and bred in Newcastle, Nick is passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals.
Having completed a Bachelor of Finance degree and the FPA’s internationally recognised Certified Financial Planner® course, Nick is well versed on the technical aspects of providing financial advice. With over 10 years’ experience in the financial advice industry, he understands the value of reputation in the hunter and focuses on establishing long term relationships with the people he assists.
Throughout his career, Nick has provided advice to people from all walks of life including high net worth individuals and successful business leaders. The scope of this advice has been wide ranging from simple savings plans to sophisticated Centrelink, pre-retirement and investment strategies.
It is Nick's goal to always display the highest level of integrity and ethical behaviour in all circumstances. This is evidenced by his membership of the Financial Planning Association and the Hunter Young Professionals.
The vast majority of people Nick assists come from word of mouth and appreciate his no pressure methods of simplifying and improving their financial situations through continuous communication and support.
Nick is always interested in sharing his knowledge so feel free to contact him on 0425 345 128 or nick@shanleyfinancial.com.au
Nick Shanley is an authorised representative (338220) of Sensibly Pty Ltd (AFSL 533923).
Contact Us
Relevant Articles...
Can You Really Coast to Retirement?
Coast FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) promises a tempting middle path between grinding until 65 and retiring at 40. Save hard early, let compounding do the heavy lifting, then ease into part-time work or a less demanding career without adding another dollar to your retirement savings. In Australia, the idea works a little differently because superannuation sits at the centre of the plan. Here is how the maths works, where super fits in, and the risks that the online calculators tend to gloss over.
Why Spring Is Made for Financial Planning
Spring is here, and the research says it’s a good time to think about your money. Studies suggest that pleasant, sunny weather can lift our mood and help us think more broadly, as long as we get outside to enjoy it. That makes the warmer months a good time to step back, look at the whole picture, and ask where your finances are heading. In this article, we look at what sunshine does to our thinking, why financial planning covers far more than most people expect, and six spring questions worth asking.
What Happens to Your Super as You Approach Retirement?
Reaching preservation age doesn't hand retirees a single obvious next step, it hands them a decision. Should you convert your balance into a regular income stream, ease into retirement with a Transition to Retirement strategy, take a lump sum, or simply leave the money where it is? Each path carries its own tax treatment, its own trade-offs, and its own effect on your Age Pension eligibility down the track. This article walks through the four main options, plus a handful of lesser-known strategies most retirees never hear about, so you can work out which combination fits your circumstances.
Are You Contributing Enough to Super for a Comfortable Retirement?
Most working Australians assume their employer’s compulsory super contributions will be enough to fund a comfortable retirement, but the numbers tell a different story. With ASFA now putting the comfortable retirement benchmark at $630,000 for singles and $730,000 for couples, this guide breaks down the age-based savings milestones you should be tracking against, why the 12% Super Guarantee alone may leave a shortfall, and the tax-effective strategies, from salary sacrificing to carry-forward contributions, that can help close the gap before you stop working.