Financial Success SA - Aged Care Financial Specialists

02/11/2026

16/10/2026

𝗥𝗔𝗗 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗔𝗣? 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

When a family member enters permanent residential aged care, one of the most significant financial decisions may be how to fund their accommodation.

Paying a lump sum, daily payments or a combination can affect cash flow, Age Pension entitlements and aged care costs. Every family's circumstances is different. Understanding the financial implications and comparing available options before making significant decisions can help families make more informed choices.

𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁?

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿.

The decision may depend on several factors, including:
• The residents income, assets and available cash reserves.
• Whether the family home will be retained, rented or sold.
• The impact on Age Pension entitlements and aged care fees.
• The sustainability of ongoing care costs.
• The financial needs of a spouse remaining at home.
• The effect on investments, estate planning and longer-term financial security.

Importantly, residential aged care arrangements changed from 1 November 2025. For many residents entering care under the newer arrangements, RAD retention deductions and DAP indexation may apply.

This makes it particularly important to understand the rules that apply before deciding how accommodation should be funded.
The largest lump-sum payment is not necessarily the most appropriate strategy, and preserving all available capital may not be the best option either.

For more information, contact us at Financial Success SA (specialising in Aged Care Financial Advice) on 𝟎𝟖 𝟖𝟐𝟐𝟑 𝟔𝟖𝟖𝟎 or visit our website:𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁.𝗰𝗼𝗺.𝗮𝘂.

This information is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. Seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making financial decisions.

06/10/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫

The right support at home can help you stay independent and comfortable at home for longer. But with different providers, services and fees, how do you know which one is right for you?

A little research can make a big difference.

Our 4-step guide gets you started with an explanation on what to look for, what questions to ask and how to compare providers — from the people providing your care through to costs and communication.

These steps cover:

*Start by thinking about what you need
*Create a shortlist of providers that service your area
*Compare the things that matter – the people, the fees and communication
*Ask for help and regularly review your care plan and needs.

👉 Read our article Four things to get right when choosing support at home, and make your decision with greater confidence at: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au.

01/10/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲?

For many families, the move into residential aged care happens quickly.

A hospital stay, a change in health or increasing care needs can suddenly mean important financial decisions need to be made — often while the family is also dealing with the emotional and practical aspects of finding suitable care.

Ideally, aged care financial advice should be considered before significant financial decisions are made.

Some of the questions families may need to work through include:
• What aged care fees will apply?
• How should the accommodation costs be funded?
• Should we pay a RAD, a DAP, or a combination of both?
• Should the family home be retained, rented or sold?
• How might these decisions affect Centrelink or Age Pension entitlements?
• Will there be sufficient cash flow to meet the ongoing cost of care?
• What happens financially if one member of a couple remains living at home?
• How should superannuation and investments be considered?

These decisions are often interconnected.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁-𝘁𝗼-𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

To make an Appointment, please phone 08 8223 6880 or visit our website: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au

13/09/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Receiving an inheritance can provide welcome financial security, but it may also affect your Age Pension or other Centrelink/DVA entitlements.

And what if you don’t need the money and would rather give it to your children? Simply passing on an inheritance may not avoid the Centrelink impact, because gifting rules can apply.

The good news is that planning ahead can sometimes make a significant difference. Or at least being aware of the impacts so you don’t make a disastrous decision.

Our latest article explains what happens when you inherit, what it could mean for your pension, and why getting advice early can help you make better decisions for you and your family.

📞 Get in touch to talk through your options. Please phone
(08) 8223 6880 or visit: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au.

01/09/2026

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗠𝗦𝗙

If you have a self-managed super fund (SMSF), have you thought about what might happen if you need to move into residential aged care?

It’s something many of us would prefer not to think about. But planning ahead can make a significant difference – particularly when your SMSF may be one of your largest financial assets.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

* How would you fund the cost of aged care accommodation?
* Could your super be used to pay a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)?
* What are the tax implications of keeping money in super for your estate?
* Who would manage your SMSF if you were no longer able to?
* And importantly, is an SMSF still the right structure for you?

Thinking about these issues before aged care is needed can give you more options and allow you to make important decisions while you’re still firmly in control.

Get in touch to talk through your options. Call (08) 8223 6880 or visit: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au.

09/07/2026

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞

Have higher interest rates made aged care more expensive? The answer is yes… but perhaps not in the way you think.

While the average cost of an aged care room is now around $570,000, you don’t have to pay that amount upfront.

Instead, you can choose to pay all or part of the accommodation cost as a daily payment. The catch? That daily payment is calculated using a government-set interest rate. As interest rates have risen, so has the cost of paying this way. Indexation linked to inflation also applies each six months.

The good news is that how you pay is your choice. Despite what some people believe, aged care providers can’t require you to pay a lump sum. You can choose a lump sum, daily payments, or a combination of both.

If you or a family member are considering aged care, taking the time to get advice could help you make the most of your available resources and avoid paying more than you need to.

Have you or someone you know started navigating through aged care decisions? We’d love to hear from you.

📞 Get in touch to talk through your options
by phoning 𝟎𝟖 𝟖𝟐𝟐𝟑 𝟔𝟖𝟖𝟎 or go to our website at: 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁.𝗰𝗼𝗺.𝗮𝘂.

08/05/2026

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐬

Paying a large lump sum for a room in aged care can feel overwhelming — but a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) isn’t as daunting as it sounds and is often misunderstood. Four key things to know:

* The amount paid is mostly refundable
* Government guaranteed
* Can reduce ongoing daily fees
* May even improve your Age Pension position.

It’s not about losing money — it’s about structuring your finances in the right way.

Every situation is different, and the right approach can make a significant difference to your cashflow and estate planning objectives so that you can afford the care you need.

📞 Get in touch to talk through your options by phoning
08 8223 6880 or visit our website to make an appointment at: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au.

20/03/2026

𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆

The new lifetime cap for Non-Clinical Care Contributions (NCCC) paid in residential care might seem simple — but we are seeing real confusion.

There are two caps:

✅ A dollar cap (currently $135,318.69), and

✅A time-based cap (1,460 days)

And you stop paying the NCCC when either is reached.

What many people don’t realise is that the 1,460 days only counts days when the NCCC is actually payable – not simply days in care. That distinction can materially change outcomes.

Add in prior Home Care or Support at Home contributions, grandfathering rules, and changing asset positions… and it quickly becomes complex.

If you or your family are navigating residential aged care, understanding how these caps work is critical to managing cashflow and determining your affordability.

Need help navigating the changes? We’re here to guide you. Please call us on 08 8223 6880 or go to our website to book your appointment: www.agedcarefinancialspecialist.com.au.

18/03/2026

𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
The need to access aged care, can be a worrying and daunting time for the whole family! The responsibility to make the right decisions for yourself, or a loved one, may weigh heavily on your mind.

Our specialist services can assist you to make the right decisions by providing clarity and understanding so that you are fully informed at all times.
For more information on us and to make an appointment, please visit our website at: 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁.𝗰𝗼𝗺.𝗮𝘂.