SUPERANNUATION
FINANCIAL ADVICE
Your super is likely your largest financial asset, but most Australians don’t give it the attention it deserves until retirement is already close. Independent superannuation advice helps you make the most of what you’re building, at every stage of your working life.
Unlike advice from your super fund, which is limited to their own products, Viridian’s advisers provide independent superannuation advice across the market, focused entirely on what’s right for you, not what any particular fund offers.
HOW A SUPERANNUATION ADVISOR CAN HELP
Superannuation rules are complex and change frequently – contribution caps, tax thresholds, preservation rules and government co-contributions all shift regularly. Without advice, it’s easy to miss opportunities or make costly mistakes that compound over decades.
At Viridian, we review your existing superannuation to ensure your investment approach supports your goals without exposing you to unnecessary risk. We look at your full financial picture – income, tax position, family situation and retirement planning goals – and build a strategy that works across every stage of your working life and into retirement.
Our superannuation advice covers:
- Salary sacrifice strategies to grow super and reduce tax
- Concessional and non-concessional contribution planning
- Super fund selection and investment option review
- Superannuation consolidation and finding lost super
- Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF) – setup, strategy and compliance
- Insurance inside super – reviewing and optimising cover
- Spouse contributions and super splitting strategies
- Government co-contribution and low-income super tax offset
- Transition to Retirement strategies
- Transfer balance cap planning
- Super for self-employed Australians
- Binding death benefit nominations and estate planning coordination
- Investment advice and portfolio alignment within super
SUPPERANNUATION FAQS
How much should I have in super at my age?
There’s no single benchmark that applies to everyone, the right super balance depends on your income, lifestyle expectations, when you plan to retire, whether you own your home and what other assets you have. What matters more than hitting a specific number is understanding whether your current contributions and investment strategy are on track to deliver the retirement income you need. A superannuation adviser can model your situation and show you clearly where you stand and what adjustments, if any, could make a meaningful difference.
What is salary sacrifice and how does it work with super?
Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you ask your employer to contribute a portion of your pre-tax salary directly into your superannuation instead of paying it to you as income. Because these contributions are taxed at a lower rate than income tax for most Australians, salary sacrifice can be an effective way to grow your super faster while reducing your overall tax bill. The right amount to salary sacrifice depends on your income, contribution caps and personal cash flow needs, an adviser can help you find the right balance.
Should I consolidate my superannuation into one fund?
Consolidating multiple super accounts into one can reduce the fees you’re paying and make your super easier to manage. However, before consolidating it’s important to check whether you have any insurance cover attached to accounts you’re closing, merging funds can result in losing that cover, which may not be easy to replace. A superannuation adviser can review your existing accounts, compare funds and help you consolidate in a way that protects your entitlements and suits your long-term goals.
What is an SMSF and is it right for me?
A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) gives you direct control over how your superannuation is invested, including the ability to hold assets like direct property, shares and other investments not available through retail or industry funds. However, SMSFs come with significant responsibilities, trustees are legally accountable for compliance, and running costs can make them less cost-effective for smaller balances. Whether an SMSF is appropriate depends on your balance, investment knowledge, time commitment and financial goals. An adviser can help you assess whether it’s the right structure for your situation.
How does super work for self-employed Australians?
If you’re self-employed, you’re not required to receive employer super contributions, which means building your retirement savings is entirely up to you. The good news is that self-employed Australians can make personal super contributions and claim them as a tax deduction, subject to the concessional contributions cap. Getting the timing and structure right can make a significant difference to both your super balance and your annual tax position. A superannuation adviser can help you put a strategy in place that works around the irregular income patterns common to self-employment.