Maximise Your Retirement Wealth
Your superannuation is one of the most powerful tools for securing your financial future, managed strategically. At Glasshouse Wealth, we help you take control of your super by optimising contributions, leveraging investment opportunities, and implementing tax-efficient strategies. Whether you’re looking to accelerate your growth, transition to a self-managed super fund (SMSF), or ensure a comfortable retirement, we provide expert guidance to help you make the most of your superannuation.
What Makes Super So Powerful
Super isn’t just forced savings. When managed well, it provides
Tax advantages on contributions and earnings.
Compounding growth over decades.
Access to income streams in retirement under preferential tax settings.
Flexibility through contributions, investment choices, and changing retirement strategies.
Key Super Rules & Features You Should Know
To make smart decisions, these are the current laws and thresholds that matter most
Contribution Caps
Includes employer super guarantee, salary sacrifice, personal deductible contributions. The cap is currently $30,000 per financial year.
Up to $120,000 pa, or using a “bring-forward” rule allowing up to three years’ worth in one year if eligible.
Eligibility for higher or bring-forward non-concessional contributions depends on your Total Super Balance (TSB) and other conditions.
Transfer Balance Cap
When you move part of your super into a retirement phase income stream (e.g. an account-based pension), there’s a lifetime cap on how much can be in that phase. From 1 July 2025, the general Transfer Balance Cap is $2 million.
Anything above that needs to remain in “accumulation phase”, where earnings are taxed(usually 15%) rather than being tax-free.
Common Pitfalls People Miss
Even small errors or misunderstandings around super can cost you. We help clients avoid
Exceeding contribution caps unknowingly, which triggers excess contributions tax.
Letting super grow above thresholds that restrict further contributions or benefits.
Not optimising investment mix inside super; default options may not match your risk tolerance or goals.
Failing to use catch-ups: If your concessional-contribution cap isn’t fully used in prior years and your super balance was below certain thresholds, you may carry forward unused caps.
Misunderstanding the timing of switching from accumulation to pension phase, which affects tax-treatment of earnings.
Strategic Moves to Maximise Your Super
Here’s where pro planning makes a difference
Salary Sacrifice & Personal Deductible Contributions
Shift pre-tax income into super while you’re working to reduce taxable income.
Use Non-Concessional Contributions Wisely
Especially when you have lump sums or capital to invest. Timing and balance caps matter.
Investment Strategy Inside Super
Choose funds or options that match your risk horizon; from growth-oriented earlier, to more defensive as retirement nears.
Plan for Tax & Retirement Phase
Ensure you understand how much of your super you can move into retirement phase, and the tax impact of staying in accumulation longer vs moving early.
How Glasshouse Wealth Supports Your Super Journey
We don’t believe in generic advice. Here’s how we work
1. Review your current super position – contributions, fees, investment options, fund performance.
2. Identify tax-efficient opportunities – e.g. under-utilised concessional caps, bring-forward non-concessional contributions, splitting contributions with spouse if beneficial.
3. Model multiple retirement phase scenarios – factoring in the transfer balance cap, expected expenses, and lifestyle goals.
4. Adjust investment strategy over time – reduce unnecessary risk, maintain growth, and ensure cash flow when retiring.
5. Ongoing monitoring & legislative updates – super rules change regularly. If you don’t keep up, you may accidentally be inside a disadvantageous setting.
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What You Should Do Now
If your super currently feels like something you ‘hope’ will be enough, it’s time to get proactive.
Pull together your latest super statements, details of all contributions, TSB, fund fees, and investment options.
Book a super-strategy session with one of our experts.
We’ll run through projections under different scenarios and identify actionable steps to improve your super performance, reduce tax, and align growth with your lifestyle goals.
"Referred by a friend and has been the best decision Ive made to join Chris and put my trust in his financial acumen!!"
"We recently (within the last 12 months) began our journey with Chris as our financial planner, and I’ve found him to be thorough and detailed. He has taken the time to really understand my family’s financial situation and goals, which has provided a strong foundation for our planning. I feel confident that we are in good hands with Chris—he stays on top of market changes and keeps us updated on our progress, while guiding us through any adjustments needed along the way"
"Absolutely outstanding service! My financial advisor Chris took the time to truly understand my goals and provided clear, practical advice tailored to my needs. Communication was prompt and professional, and I always felt supported and confident in the decisions we made. I couldn’t recommend him more highly."
"Chris finance advice has set my future up for success we have nothing but appreciation for his guidance, the process was very quick and easy"
"Recommend Chris Carlin's Glasshouse Wealth as your first stop for financial advice. He is a professional who wants to help you look after your financial health - he also is a great ambassador for those who haven't been so lucky with previous Advisors in the past. Don't go past Glasshouse Wealth to stay financially healthy."
"Thanks to Chris, we have peace of mind knowing our family's financial future is secure. As a teacher and parents of two young kids, the advice and ongoing support have been invaluable. We feel confident in our financial decisions and are grateful for the guidance. Thank you, Chris, for helping us build a secure future for our family."
"Working with Chris has been incredibly beneficial for us. As a small business owner, I often overlooked personal finances, but Chris's guidance helped us set up for the future. For Emma, just starting her career as an optometrist, the advice on planning ahead has been invaluable. Chris's clear and simple explanations make financial concepts easy to understand. We are grateful for his ongoing support and look forward to a secure financial future."
"Working with Chris has given us peace of mind about our financial future. With two young kids and Mez being self employed, Chris's guidance has been invaluable. He breaks down complex concepts into simple terms, making it easy for us to understand and stay on track with our goals. Thank you, Chris, for being an essential part of our financial journey."
"We were shocked to discover that Mel didn't have any personal insurance cover. With our first child on the way it was important to us to know our family would be looked after if something was to happen to us. The fact Chris also maximised our super and we have plans for future investments was a bonus! Thankyou Chris!"
"In 2021, after a cancer diagnosis, Chris supported us through the insurance claim process, easing the financial stress during treatment. Thank you for making it so easy! Couldn't recommend a better financial planner."
Wall of Champions
Hear from those who have transformed their financial futures with Glasshouse Wealth
"Referred by a friend and has been the best decision Ive made to join Chris and put my trust in his financial acumen!!"
"We recently (within the last 12 months) began our journey with Chris as our financial planner, and I’ve found him to be thorough and detailed. He has taken the time to really understand my family’s financial situation and goals, which has provided a strong foundation for our planning. I feel confident that we are in good hands with Chris—he stays on top of market changes and keeps us updated on our progress, while guiding us through any adjustments needed along the way"
"Absolutely outstanding service! My financial advisor Chris took the time to truly understand my goals and provided clear, practical advice tailored to my needs. Communication was prompt and professional, and I always felt supported and confident in the decisions we made. I couldn’t recommend him more highly."
"Chris finance advice has set my future up for success we have nothing but appreciation for his guidance, the process was very quick and easy"
"Recommend Chris Carlin's Glasshouse Wealth as your first stop for financial advice. He is a professional who wants to help you look after your financial health - he also is a great ambassador for those who haven't been so lucky with previous Advisors in the past. Don't go past Glasshouse Wealth to stay financially healthy."
"Thanks to Chris, we have peace of mind knowing our family's financial future is secure. As a teacher, I wanted to ensure that we were prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Chris's guidance has been invaluable in setting up a financial safety net, especially with two young kids. Anna and I have also appreciated the ongoing support and advice that have allowed us to make informed decisions about our finances. The ability to constantly turn to Chris for financial advice has made a significant difference. We no longer worry about our financial future because we know we are making wise decisions with Chris's help. Thank you, Chris, for being an essential part of our financial journey and for helping us build a secure future for our family."
"Working with Chris has been incredibly beneficial for us. As a small business owner, I often overlooked personal finances while focusing on growing my company. Chris's guidance on superannuation and insurance has given us peace of mind, knowing we are on the right track. For Emma, just starting her career as an optometrist, the financial advice has been invaluable. Transitioning from a university student to a full-time professional comes with significant financial changes, and Chris's expertise has made the process much smoother. Chris's ability to break down complex financial concepts into simple terms has helped us create a clear financial plan. We are saving for our first home, planning future travel, and securing our financial future. We are grateful for his ongoing support and personalized advice. Thank you, Chris, for being an essential part of our financial success."
"Working with Chris has been a game-changer for our family. My main concern was ensuring our family's financial security, especially with two young kids, and Chris's advice has given us the peace of mind we needed. Chris's guidance has been invaluable in navigating the financial challenges of being self-employed. His expertise has helped us stay on track with our financial goals, including contributing to our super and planning for our children's future. We appreciate Chris's ability to break down complex financial concepts into simple, understandable terms. It's comforting to know we have someone we can turn to for reliable advice and support. Thank you, Chris, for being an essential part of our financial journey.""
"We were shocked to discover that Mel didn't have any personal insurance cover. With our first child on the way it was important to us to know our family would be looked after if something was to happen to us. The fact Chris also maximised our super and we have plans for future investments was a bonus! Thankyou Chris!"
"Having a young family, personal insurance was a must have. In 2021, getting a cancer diagnosis was something that shocked my family and me. Chris was aware of my situation and his support in making an insurance claim eased the burden of financial stress during treatment. Thank you for making the claim process so easy! Couldn't recommend a better financial planner."
FAQs
You can invest either through your superannuation or in your personal name. As part of the advice process, we will determine the most appropriate structure for your situation and develop an investment philosophy tailored to your needs. Our goal is to ensure you have a clear and effective strategy that aligns with your financial aspirations.
It is highly likely that you cannot use your existing superannuation fund due to the limited investment options, especially with leverage. You may need to transfer to an alternative provider. Our preferred platforms are cost-competitive, easy to use, and transparent, having been around for a long time. If you have a self-managed super fund (SMSF), we can consider that too, but it is not required.
Absolutely. Investing in your personal name is a common approach and can be beneficial for various reasons, such as tax planning and asset ownership. However, it’s important to consider other structures like investment bonds, which might offer additional benefits depending on your situation. We will guide you through these options to find the best fit for you.
With 12 years of experience as a financial advisor, I specialize in helping aspirational accumulators. My expertise spans investment strategies, superannuation, retirement planning, and personal insurance. At Glasshouse Wealth, our team is dedicated to providing professional, personalized advice to help you navigate your financial journey.
Many people don’t realize that when working with a financial planner, you may not need to pay out of pocket, as the cost of advice can often be funded directly from your superannuation or investment portfolio.
At Glasshouse Wealth, we use a hybrid fee model, meaning we have a flat fee and a percentage of funds under management. We are an ongoing financial advice provider and do not offer once-off advice. The standard fees for the overwhelming majority of our clients are $1,100 plus 0.55% of funds under management as a once-off payment. Then, ongoing fees are $1,100 plus 0.55% of funds under management, renewable every 12 months. These fees can usually be funded 100% from your investment platform or superannuation if you implement all of our recommendations, unless advised otherwise.
Here are some examples:
• If you are a single 40-year-old with $200,000 in super, you will pay an initial advice fee of $2,200 upfront ($1,100 + 0.55% of $200,000 = $2,200) and $2,200pa for ongoing advice in the first 12 months, subject to market fluctuations.
• If your situation is more complex and you are part of a couple (e.g., John has $300,000 in super, Sally has $200,000 in super, and they have $100,000 in their personal name), total funds under management is $600,000. The fee would be $3,300 for three accounts plus 0.55% of $600,000 ($3,300), totaling $6,600 pa.
Take the First Step Towards Financial Freedom
Join Glasshouse Wealth and start your journey to achieving generational wealth today.