Spring 2026: Australian Economy, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning
Spring 2026
September is upon us, and spring is in the air. It’s time to shake off the winter cobwebs and enjoy the warmer weather the new season brings.
In a mixed picture for the Australian economy, inflation eased but not as much as expected. Meanwhile, rapidly rising discretionary spending along with global uncertainties may mean another interest rate rise in September or November.
The CPI was at 3.5% in the 12 months to July, down from 3.8% but a bigger fall was expected. And, underlying inflation, which the Reserve Bank watches more closely, remained steady at 3.6%.
Consumer confidence improved during August, rising to its highest level since March. Nonetheless, the result is considerably lower than a year ago.
There were some solid gains (and falls) in Australian shares during the month with the S&P/ASX 200 above 9000 for the first time since the Iran air strikes began. Globally, markets remained resilient despite the ongoing uncertainty.
The Aussie dollar ended August at its highest level in three months.
In this issue
Ensure your estate planning reflects your wishes
Many people are surprised to learn that some of their largest assets may not be covered by their will. With recent changes affecting testamentary trusts and ongoing complexity around superannuation death benefits, now is a good time to review your arrangements.
New rules announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget, combined with the growing complexity of superannuation death benefits, mean that it’s worth reviewing your arrangements to make sure your wishes can be carried out.
Testamentary trusts under the spotlight
Testamentary trusts have long been a popular estate planning tool because they can provide asset protection, flexibility and potential tax advantages for beneficiaries, particularly children.
The 2026-27 Federal Budget announced a new 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts, including testamentary trusts (those established by a will), from 1 July 2028.i
Following an outcry over what some called a “death tax”, the government announced exemptions for testamentary trusts, along with others including fixed trusts, special disability trusts and charitable trusts.ii
While the final shape of the rules remains uncertain, the Budget changes highlight the importance of ensuring estate planning arrangements are reviewed regularly.
The risks of an outdated will
Many people prepare a will and then leave it in a drawer for decades. But your personal and financial circumstances can significantly change over time.
Marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, the death of beneficiaries, changes in asset ownership, or business succession arrangements can all affect whether an existing will still achieves the intended outcome.
Outdated wills can result in assets passing to unintended beneficiaries, family disputes and missed opportunities to achieve tax-effective outcomes.
So, review your will regularly and particularly after major life events occur.
Who gets your super?
One of the most common estate planning misunderstandings is assuming superannuation automatically forms part of an estate.
In most cases, superannuation benefits are not governed by your will. Instead, the trustee of the super fund determines who receives the death benefit unless a valid nominated beneficiary is in place.iii
A binding death benefit nomination allows you to direct the trustee of your super fund to pay your death benefit to specific beneficiaries.
Without a valid binding nomination, the trustee generally has discretion to decide who receives the benefit, subject to the fund’s governing rules and superannuation law.
Not all nominations remain effective indefinitely. Some funds require nominations to be renewed periodically, while others allow non-lapsing nominations.
Who qualifies as a dependant?
For superannuation purposes, the definition of a dependant is often different from what you might expect.
Generally, dependants may include:
a spouse or de facto partner
former spouses in some circumstances
children of any age
individuals who are financially dependent on the deceased
It may also include people in an “interdependency relationship” with the deceased. An interdependency relationship can exist where two people have a close personal relationship, live together and provide financial or domestic support to one another.iv
Importantly, being a beneficiary under a will does not automatically make someone a superannuation dependant.
The tax consequences can be significant
The tax treatment of superannuation death benefits depends heavily on who receives the money.v
If a death benefit is paid to a tax dependant, the benefit is generally received tax-free. Tax dependants include spouses, children under 18 years of age and people who were financially dependent on the deceased or in an interdependency relationship.
But adult children are often surprised to learn they may not qualify as tax dependants. If an adult child is financially independent, tax may apply to some components of a lump-sum superannuation death benefit.
As super balances continue to grow, the potential tax difference between payments to dependants and non-dependants can be substantial. This makes beneficiary nominations and estate planning decisions particularly important.
A coordinated approach is essential
Effective estate planning requires consideration of more than just a will. Superannuation nominations, testamentary trust structures, tax consequences and changing family circumstances should all form part of the conversation.
A regular review can help ensure your estate plan remains aligned with your objectives, takes account of current legislation and minimises the risk of unintended outcomes for your beneficiaries.
Please get in touch for information and advice about your estate planning and to confirm that it reflects your wishes.
i Introducing a minimum tax on discretionary trusts | ATO
ii Discretionary trusts reform implementation | Treasurer
iii Who gets your super if you die | Moneysmart
iv Superannuation interdependency relationships | AFCA
v Superannuation death benefits | ATO
Ensure your estate planning reflects your wishes
Many people are surprised to learn that some of their largest assets may not be covered by their will. With recent changes affecting testamentary trusts and ongoing complexity around superannuation death benefits, now is a good time to review your arrangements.
New rules announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget, combined with the growing complexity of superannuation death benefits, mean that it’s worth reviewing your arrangements to make sure your wishes can be carried out.
Testamentary trusts under the spotlight
Testamentary trusts have long been a popular estate planning tool because they can provide asset protection, flexibility and potential tax advantages for beneficiaries, particularly children.
The 2026-27 Federal Budget announced a new 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts, including testamentary trusts (those established by a will), from 1 July 2028.i
Following an outcry over what some called a “death tax”, the government announced exemptions for testamentary trusts, along with others including fixed trusts, special disability trusts and charitable trusts.ii
While the final shape of the rules remains uncertain, the Budget changes highlight the importance of ensuring estate planning arrangements are reviewed regularly.
The risks of an outdated will
Many people prepare a will and then leave it in a drawer for decades. But your personal and financial circumstances can significantly change over time.
Marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, the death of beneficiaries, changes in asset ownership, or business succession arrangements can all affect whether an existing will still achieves the intended outcome.
Outdated wills can result in assets passing to unintended beneficiaries, family disputes and missed opportunities to achieve tax-effective outcomes.
So, review your will regularly and particularly after major life events occur.
Who gets your super?
One of the most common estate planning misunderstandings is assuming superannuation automatically forms part of an estate.
In most cases, superannuation benefits are not governed by your will. Instead, the trustee of the super fund determines who receives the death benefit unless a valid nominated beneficiary is in place.iii
A binding death benefit nomination allows you to direct the trustee of your super fund to pay your death benefit to specific beneficiaries.
Without a valid binding nomination, the trustee generally has discretion to decide who receives the benefit, subject to the fund’s governing rules and superannuation law.
Not all nominations remain effective indefinitely. Some funds require nominations to be renewed periodically, while others allow non-lapsing nominations.
Who qualifies as a dependant?
For superannuation purposes, the definition of a dependant is often different from what you might expect.
Generally, dependants may include:
a spouse or de facto partner
former spouses in some circumstances
children of any age
individuals who are financially dependent on the deceased
It may also include people in an “interdependency relationship” with the deceased. An interdependency relationship can exist where two people have a close personal relationship, live together and provide financial or domestic support to one another.iv
Importantly, being a beneficiary under a will does not automatically make someone a superannuation dependant.
The tax consequences can be significant
The tax treatment of superannuation death benefits depends heavily on who receives the money.v
If a death benefit is paid to a tax dependant, the benefit is generally received tax-free. Tax dependants include spouses, children under 18 years of age and people who were financially dependent on the deceased or in an interdependency relationship.
But adult children are often surprised to learn they may not qualify as tax dependants. If an adult child is financially independent, tax may apply to some components of a lump-sum superannuation death benefit.
As super balances continue to grow, the potential tax difference between payments to dependants and non-dependants can be substantial. This makes beneficiary nominations and estate planning decisions particularly important.
A coordinated approach is essential
Effective estate planning requires consideration of more than just a will. Superannuation nominations, testamentary trust structures, tax consequences and changing family circumstances should all form part of the conversation.
A regular review can help ensure your estate plan remains aligned with your objectives, takes account of current legislation and minimises the risk of unintended outcomes for your beneficiaries.
Please get in touch for information and advice about your estate planning and to confirm that it reflects your wishes.
i Introducing a minimum tax on discretionary trusts | ATO
ii Discretionary trusts reform implementation | Treasurer
iii Who gets your super if you die | Moneysmart
iv Superannuation interdependency relationships | AFCA
v Superannuation death benefits | ATO
Grow or stay safe: Leave your comfort zone behind
Spring has long been celebrated as the season of renewal. Trees bud, gardens awaken and nature quietly reminds us that growth continues, season after season.
Perhaps we should take the hint.
It’s natural to settle into routines. We shop at the same supermarket, holiday in familiar places, cook the same meals and choose activities we know we’ll enjoy. There’s comfort in familiarity and, ease in routine.
But comfort comes at a cost.
Our brains are designed to adapt. They’re wired so we can solve problems, learn from experience and respond to new situations. When we repeatedly choose the familiar, we ask less of our brains. Over time, opportunities for growth become fewer.
Your brain is built to change
That’s where the science of neuroplasticity offers an encouraging perspective.
For a long time, scientists believed the brain became largely fixed in adulthood. We now know that’s not the case. Throughout our lives, the brain retains the ability to form new neural connections in response to learning and experience.i Every time we master a new skill, navigate an unfamiliar environment or tackle a challenge that requires sustained effort, the brain is strengthening and reshaping its networks.
The key word is effort.
Neuroplasticity isn’t driven by doing what comes easily. It thrives when we’re challenged, when we have to concentrate, make mistakes, adapt and try again. The very experiences we often avoid because they’re uncomfortable are often the ones that provide the greatest benefit.
In many ways, the friction is the point.
Why novelty feels so rewarding
There’s another reason trying something new can feel surprisingly energising.
Novel experiences activate the brain’s reward system, including the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in motivation, attention and learning. Rather than simply making us feel good, dopamine helps signal that something is worth paying attention to. It increases our readiness to learn and encourages us to repeat behaviours that challenge and reward us.ii
It’s one reason why mastering even a small part of a new skill can feel so satisfying. That sense of progress motivates us to keep going, creating a positive cycle where curiosity leads to learning, learning builds confidence and confidence encourages us to embrace the next challenge.
Resilience is built through challenge
Whether it’s learning a language, taking up a hobby, using new technology or travelling somewhere unfamiliar, the process can feel awkward and frustrating. But that mental effort is doing important work. It’s encouraging the brain to remain flexible, adaptable and engaged.
Research also suggests that regularly challenging the brain helps build what scientists call cognitive reserve. This refers to the brain’s ability to adapt to age-related changes by drawing on alternative neural pathways. While no single activity can prevent cognitive decline, maintaining a mentally active lifestyle is associated with better cognitive health and resilience as we age.
The benefits don’t stop with the brain
Trying new things also strengthens psychological resilience. We often think of resilience as something we call upon during major life events, but it is equally shaped by the smaller challenges we encounter every day.
Each time we become a beginner, we practise tolerating uncertainty. We discover that it’s okay not to have all the answers straight away. We learn to work through frustration instead of avoiding it. Over time, those experiences build confidence, not because the task becomes easier, but because we become more comfortable with being challenged.
Nature doesn’t burst into bloom because conditions are effortless. Growth follows a season of dormancy and requires energy, adaptation and resilience.
We’re not so different.
Growth rarely happens when life feels comfortable. It happens when we choose to stretch ourselves, whether that’s enrolling in a course, joining a walking group, volunteering, learning an instrument or simply saying yes to an experience we’ve never had before.
None of these moments will change us overnight. Together, however, they reinforce something powerful. Our capacity to learn, adapt and grow doesn’t and shouldn’t disappear with age. Like the seasons, it continues throughout life, provided we keep giving it the opportunity.
This spring, while you’re tending the garden or enjoying the longer days, consider planting something else too. A new skill. A new experience. A new challenge. To fuel your growth.
i Conceptualizing functional neuroplasticity | Science direct
ii The Science of Novelty | Psychology Today
Kauri Wealth Management is a Fee for Service investment advisory business and as such my advice is built around ongoing personal relationships with my client base. Personalised independent advice is backed up by a breadth of industry knowledge.
I accept a limited number of new clients each year and would be happy to discuss this further with you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Russell Lees
Senior Adviser
Phone: +61 439 852 963
Email: russell@kauriwealth.com.au
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