Shayne Sommer - Private Wealth Adviser

25/05/2026

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about:
• Non‑concessional contributions
• Government co‑contributions
• Spouse contributions
• Concessional caps
• Catch‑up strategies

None of these are ‘loopholes’.

They’re existing rules - but only useful if you know whether you’re eligible.

This week is about connecting the dots.

Practical next steps:
• Log into myGov / ATO Online to view
– Contribution history
– Unused concessional caps
• Ask questions before making contributions
• Consider how each option helps today you and future you

Super doesn’t need to be overwhelming - but it does benefit from intention.

💬 Final contribution-conversation starter:

“If I made one small change to contributions this year, what would future me be grateful for?”

Continue the conversation.
Your future self is listening.

For more resources and the series, head over to substack:

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18/05/2026

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Life doesn’t always allow neat, consistent contributions every year, and super actually recognises that.

This week’s focus: catch‑up concessional contributions.

If you haven’t used your full concessional cap in previous years, you may be able to:
• Carry forward unused amounts
• Make larger concessional contributions later
• Potentially create a bigger tax benefit in high‑income years

Who this can suit:
• People returning to work after time out of the workforce
• Business owners or those with fluctuating income
• Anyone approaching retirement wanting to “top up” strategically

Why this matters:
• Today benefit: potential tax deductions when income is higher
• Future benefit: accelerating your super balance when time matters most

It’s one of the clearest examples of super being a planning tool, not just a compulsory savings system.

💬 This week’s conversation starter:
“What years did I not maximise contributions? and could they help me now?”

Future you doesn’t need perfection.
Just a thoughtful catch‑up.

Join the conversation on this one over on substack:

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11/05/2026

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Most people are contributing to super… they just don’t realise how much control they actually have.

This week’s focus: concessional contributions - contributions made before tax.

These include:

• Superannuation Guarantee (from your employer)

• Salary sacrifice contributions

• Personal deductible contributions

All count toward your annual concessional cap.

Why people lean into concessional contributions:

✔️ They can reduce your taxable income today

✔️ Contributions are taxed at 15% in super (not your marginal tax rate)

✔️ More money invested earlier for future you

This is one of the clearest examples of a strategy helping today you and future you:

Today: potential tax savings and cash‑flow planning

Future: larger balance working for you over time

💬 This week’s conversation starter:

“Do I actually know how much is going into my super? and, am using the rules intentionally?”

Default contributions are fine.
Intentional contributions are powerful.

We delve into this a bit further and provide resources on substack:

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04/05/2026

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When people think about super, they often think “that’s future me’s problem.”

But some of the most powerful super strategies help future you and today you.

This week’s focus: non‑concessional contributions - after‑tax money you choose to add to super.

Two often‑missed opportunities sit under this umbrella:

👉 Government co‑contribution
If you’re a low‑to‑middle income earner and make a personal (after‑tax) contribution, the government may chip in too. Free money for future you and a reminder that engaging with super can pay off sooner than you expect.

👉 Spouse contributions
If your partner earns less than you, contributing to their super may mean:
• Boosting their future retirement balance
• Receiving a tax offset today

Same family wealth. Different pocket. Often overlooked.

💬 This week’s conversation starter:

“Are we actually using super rules as a family, or just letting contributions happen by default?”

Future you will thank you.
Today you might feel the benefit sooner than expected.

I unpack this further and provide some resources on my substack this week:

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03/05/2026

We tend to imagine wealth as a dramatic moment - a windfall, a breakthrough, a heroic leap.

In reality, financial strength is built the same way Jedi are:
through small, repeated behaviours that compound quietly over time.

Slow is fast.
Quiet is powerful.
Consistency is the real Force.

I wrote a short fiction piece exploring this on my substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/a-may-the-fourth-money-story?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

19/04/2026

What’s Your Biggest Question About Super Right Now?

Not knowing everything about super isn’t a failure; it’s completely normal.

This week, we ask:
What’s your biggest question about super right now?
💵 Contributions?
💶 Tax?
🚑 Insurance?
📊 Investment risk?
💴 Access later in life?

💬 Your call to action:
Ask another woman what she wonders about super.

Or comment below with a question you think more people have than admit.

🐈Curiosity🐈‍⬛ leads to better decisions.

Follow this link to substack, where we include a list of resources providing information regarding contributions, tax, insurance, investment risk and accessing super 👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/whats-your-biggest-question-about?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

13/04/2026

Have You Ever Changed Your 🦸‍♀️Super🦸‍♀️ Investment Option?

Many people never touch their super investment option, often because they’re unsure where to start.

This week, we ask:
Have you ever changed your super investment option? 📈

What prompted the decision, and how did it feel afterward?

💬 Your call to action:
Talk to another woman about how her super is invested (no balances needed).

Or comment below: What helped you feel comfortable making a change?

😎 Confidence grows with clarity. 🎓

We’ve listed some considerations around amending your investment options via this post on substack👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/have-you-ever-changed-your-super?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

06/04/2026

❔ What’s Something Your Future Self Will Thank You For? 🙏

Some of the most important 💰money💰 decisions don’t feel exciting in the moment.

They just quietly make life easier, later.

This week, we ask:
What’s something your future self will thank you for?
⏱️ Starting early?
✅ Getting organised?
🎓 Learning the basics?
💁‍♀️ Asking for help?
💬 Your call to action:

Share your future you action with another woman this week.
Or comment below: What’s one decision you’re glad you made earlier?

Future you (and today me!) is already cheering you on.
For a few strategies I’ve employed with myself, and my clients, for our future selves, view this article on my substack: 👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/whats-something-your-future-self?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

29/03/2026

Romance finance fiction is back!

Check out the latest via the link below - thank you Vanessa Stoykov for giving these stories a home on the web!!

New on the blog.

One of the expert financial advisers who writes for my platform has tackled a topic we don’t talk about enough — romance and money.

What’s the financial risk profile of the person you’re dating… safe or sparkling?

A simple way to think about whether someone’s money habits will work with yours in the long run.

Read it on my blog — link in bio
https://vanessastoykov.com.au/blog/manage-finances/romance-risk-profile-safe-or-sparkling/

29/03/2026

The 🙋‍♀️gender super gap🤷‍♀️ isn’t just a statistic; it shows up in real lives, real retirements, and real choices women are forced to make later in life.

Talking about it openly with friends is one of the easiest ways to start shifting confidence, awareness, and action. These conversations matter. They 🎇spark🎇 questions. They create momentum. They close gaps, one chat at a time.

This week ask, "have you talked about the gender super gap recently?" ... and this can include building awareness, taking steps to combat it, or ways to boost your own super balance.

For a couple of ways my clients are closing the gap - head over to my substack 👉
https://open.substack.com/pub/shaynesommer/p/have-you-spoken-about-the-gender?r=2lpkzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn