Schuh Wealth

02/11/2026

Smart investors still make poor decisions.

Not because they don’t understand markets, but because understanding and behaving are two different things.

When markets fall, the question quietly shifts from “what’s my long-term strategy?” to “how do I make this feeling stop?” And with recent performance feeling like evidence, we end up buying optimism and selling fear.

That’s the behaviour gap: the difference between the return an investment could produce and the return an investor actually experiences.

The answer isn’t to become emotionless. It’s to set your framework before emotions run high:

→ What is this money for?
→ When will you need it?
→ How much uncertainty can you genuinely tolerate?
→ What would justify changing course, and what wouldn’t?

Swipe through for more. Full article at the link in our bio.

29/10/2026

Family trust tax changes: What's been walked back?

The Government's proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts has raised plenty of questions for families, investors and business owners.

Following concerns about the original proposal, several concessions and alternatives have been introduced.

But what has actually changed, and what does it mean for existing trust arrangements?

We've broken down the key developments in this carousel.

The takeaway?

The proposal is not yet law, and the right response isn't necessarily to restructure. It's to understand your options and consider the bigger picture.

For a more detailed explanation, read the full article below.

26/10/2026

The Government is proposing a minimum 30% tax on income from affected discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028.

Following concerns from businesses, investors and families, some concessions and alternatives have been introduced.

But here's the important part: the changes are not yet law.

And they won't affect every trust in the same way.

Before making decisions about your family trust, it's worth understanding what is proposed, what has changed, and what it could mean for your broader financial position.

We've broken down the key developments in our latest article.

Read the full article on our blog today. SchuhWealth.com.au.

26/10/2026

Family trusts: What’s changing, what’s been walked back, and what does it mean for you?

The Federal Government's proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts has raised plenty of questions for families, investors and business owners.

Since the initial announcement, several changes and concessions have been introduced. But the legislation isn't final, and the implications will depend on your individual circumstances.

Before rushing to restructure, it pays to understand what’s proposed and consider the bigger picture.

We've broken down the key changes, what's still uncertain and what trust owners should be thinking about now.

👇 Read the full article below.

What do the proposed 2026 family trust tax changes mean for you? Explore the 30% minimum tax, exemptions and options for Australian families and investors.

20/10/2026

Most people think an estate plan means having a will. But a will is only one part of the picture.

Think of a tree. The branches are the things you can see: your will, your home, your super, your business. The roots are what connects them all and holds them together: making sure each piece works with the others.

Here’s why that matters. A will generally only covers assets that form part of your estate. Things like super, jointly owned property and trust assets are often handled separately. If they’re set up on their own, your will can say one thing while your super nomination says another, and your family is left to deal with the conflict.

Families who pass wealth on well tend to:

Start early
Review their plans regularly
Explain their decisions to the people affected

They also make sure their lawyer, accountant and financial adviser are all working from the same information, so nothing gets missed between them.

The biggest risk to a family legacy isn’t always having too little wealth. Sometimes it’s having too little preparation.

📖 Read the full article, “The Inheritance Illusion: Why Having a Will May Not Be Enough”, in the Knowledge Hub at schuhwealth.com.au

General information only. Estate laws differ between states and territories. Seek advice from qualified professionals about your circumstances.

18/10/2026

“You’ll get the farm one day.” “The house is yours when we’re gone.” “Don’t worry, you’ll be looked after.”

Most families have a version of one of these. Said warmly, often years ago, and usually meant completely. But rarely written down.

The trouble is that other people may be relying on those words. A child who has worked in the family business for decades on a modest income, passing up other opportunities because of what they were told, has built a life around that promise. If the plan later changes, or was never formalised, that child can be left with nothing to show for it.

Claims based on undocumented promises and reliance can be complex, expensive and painful. They can damage family relationships and, where a business is involved, threaten the future of the business itself.

It’s also not just about farms and companies. A new spouse may assume they will stay in the family home. One child may expect an equal share while another remembers being promised something different.

Each person can hold a different version of what was said, and everyone believes theirs is right.

So it’s worth asking honestly: has anyone in your family been told something that your current plan doesn’t reflect?

If so, the fix isn’t awkward conversations forever. It’s working out what you really intend, and putting it in the right documents while you’re still here to explain it.

*General information only. Estate laws differ between states and territories. Seek advice from qualified financial, legal and taxation professionals.

15/10/2026

Having a will doesn’t mean the job is done.

These five questions test whether it actually is.

1. Do I have a current and valid will?
Not “I think there’s one in a drawer somewhere,” but one that is up to date and properly signed.

2. Does it line up with my super, trusts, insurance and ownership structures?
A will generally only covers assets that form part of the estate. Super, jointly owned property, trust assets and some insurance benefits are often handled separately, so your will and the rest of your arrangements can end up pointing in different directions.

3. Have my family or financial circumstances changed?
Marriage, separation, new children or grandchildren, a property purchase, a business sale. Any of these can make a document that was right at the time quietly wrong now.

4. Would my family understand the reasoning behind my decisions?
Many estate disputes begin with the gap between what different people believed would happen. The goal isn’t agreement. It’s clarity.

5. Are my adviser, lawyer and accountant working from the same information?
Without coordination, each professional solves only the part of the problem they can see.

If any of these gets a “not sure,” that’s useful to know now, while there’s still time to do something about it.

A signed will provides reassurance.

A coordinated estate plan gives your intentions a far better chance of surviving the realities of law, tax, family relationships and time.

*General information only. Estate laws differ between states and territories. Seek advice from qualified financial, legal and taxation professionals.

12/10/2026

Two weeks on from the rate announcement, most borrowers haven’t felt it in their repayments yet. The banks are still working through passing it on.

That gap is a useful window. It’s a time to review, not react.

Before the change lands, it’s worth asking:
→ Is my cash buffer where it needs to be?
→ Could I manage my repayments if rates move higher again?
→ Has my plan changed, or only the headlines?

Rates will keep moving. A strong plan is built to stay purposeful when they do.

Preparation over prediction.

11/10/2026

RATES ARE HIGHER.
SO SHOULD YOU HOLD MORE CASH OR PAY DOWN DEBT?

It can be tempting to look for one clear answer.

But financial decisions rarely exist in isolation.

Higher rates can make cash and term deposits more attractive.

They can also make reducing debt more valuable because the interest you avoid paying is greater.

But before moving money, it’s worth asking:

What does this money actually need to do?

Do you need access to it?

Is it part of your emergency buffer?

Will you need it in the next few years?

Would using an offset account preserve useful flexibility?

What type of debt are you carrying?

What longer-term opportunities might you give up by moving the money?

The goal isn’t simply to chase the highest rate or eliminate every dollar of debt.

It’s to make sure your cash and debt are structured in a way that supports your overall financial plan.

07/10/2026

ONE WEEK ON FROM THE RATE RISE:
WHAT ACTUALLY DESERVES A REVIEW?

When rates rise, it’s natural to start looking at the small things.

But for investors, the more useful question is often bigger:

Has this change materially affected your financial position — or simply changed the environment around it?

It may be worth reviewing:

• your cash buffer
• your debt structure
• your investment timeframe
• your portfolio diversification
• whether your current strategy still supports your goals

Because a rate rise may justify a review.

It doesn’t automatically justify a reaction.

Good financial decisions are rarely about responding to one headline.

They’re about understanding what has changed, what hasn’t — and what actually matters to your broader financial position.



Photo Credit: David Kristianto on Unsplash