Family Wealth Advisory

Yesterday I attended a Stonepeak update in Sydney, hearing directly from Michael Dorrell and the Stonepeak team.

Private infrastructure forms part of the broader opportunity set we consider within our wholesale investment portfolios.

That doesn’t make private markets automatically better for all clients.

They can bring different risks, less liquidity and greater complexity.

But understanding the full opportunity set matters.

For me, events like this are less about finding the “next investment” and more about continuing to learn.

Hearing how experienced global investors are thinking about risk, return and long-term structural themes helps us challenge assumptions and ask better questions on behalf of the families we advise.

That’s an important part of the job.

The more we learn, the better the questions we can ask.



𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

#privatemarkets #infrastructure #investing #wealthmanagement #familywealth #financialplanning | Michael Bova Yesterday I attended a Stonepeak update in Sydney, hearing directly from Michael Dorrell and the Stonepeak team. Private infrastructure forms part of the broader opportunity set we consider within our wholesale investment portfolios. That doesn’t make private markets automatically better for all c...

Some moments feel bigger when you know they may be the last.

This weekend, I taught my youngest child to ride a bike.

I’ve done it with my other three children, so I knew the drill.

Run beside them.
Hold the bike steady.
Tell them, “I’ve got you.”

And then comes the hard part.

Letting go.

You can see the wobble.
You imagine the fall.
Every instinct says to keep holding on.

But eventually, you have to trust them.

Watching her ride away on her own was wonderful.

And a little emotional.

Because I realised this might be the last time I ever teach one of my children to ride a bike.

Parenting seems to be full of moments like this.

Holding on when they need you.

And finding the courage to let go when they’re ready.

Although I’d forgotten one thing…

Running bent over holding a bike is an incredible hamstring workout.

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

A significant development for anyone using a family trust.

And potentially a much better outcome than first feared.

Andrew Hobbs and Michelle Bowes report in the AFR that the Government has softened its proposed changes to the taxation of discretionary trusts.

Under the draft legislation:

• Existing trusts may be able to 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝟯𝟬% 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝘅 by making a one-off election fixing how income is distributed.

• Importantly, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.

• This could 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 of existing trust arrangements.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗼𝗳𝗳.

Once the election is made, flexibility around future distributions is significantly reduced — and getting it wrong can have major tax consequences.

Family trusts are commonly used by business owners, investors and families as part of tax planning, asset protection and intergenerational wealth strategies.

So, this is an important development to watch closely.

As the article points out, this is still exposure draft legislation and may change before becoming law.

Well worth reading the full piece by Andrew Hobbs and Michelle Bowes.

https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/chalmers-trust-changes-preserve-the-bucket-company-20260903-p60u6x?utm_source=afr-web&utm_medium=share_article&utm_campaign=policy&utm_content=afralldigital%2Cwebbasic&utm_term=product_feature



𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

Chalmers’ trust changes preserve the bucket company Trusts can avoid the 30 per cent minimum tax and continue to split income to bucket companies and low-tax-rate individuals. But there’s less flexibility.

Tax changes are one thing. Knowing what they mean for you is another.

CGT changes may affect investments, trusts and broader wealth structures.

The key is understanding whether anything actually needs to change.

If you’re unsure, it may be worth a conversation.



𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

After sixteen years, we've changed how we look, not who we are.

Today we're launching the new Family Wealth Advisory — a new brand, a new logo, and a new website.

We started with a simple belief: that great financial advice isn't really about money.

It's about helping families make confident decisions, navigate uncertainty, and create the future they want for the people they love most.

Hundreds of families later, that belief hasn't shifted an inch. Our brand had simply stopped keeping up with it.

So, we rebuilt it around the idea that sits at the heart of the work:

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

What hasn't changed: The same team, same values and same commitment to helping families live with greater clarity, confidence and freedom

To every client, referral partner, friend and family member who has trusted us along the way — thank you.

We've never taken that responsibility lightly, and this next chapter is built for you.

Have a look and tell me honestly what you think.

New Website: www.fwa.com.au

Thank you Toby Potter and IMAP - Institute of Managed Account Professionals for letting me share the Family Wealth Advisory story.

Thank you Toby Potter and IMAP - Institute of Managed Account Professionals for letting me share the Family Wealth Advisory story. | Michael Bova Thank you Toby Potter and IMAP - Institute of Managed Account Professionals for letting me share the Family Wealth Advisory story.

The market hasn't changed, our perception of it has.

Turn on the news and you'd think we're living through unprecedented uncertainty.

Interest rates. Inflation. Oil prices. Geopolitics.

The headlines are loud, but here's what fascinates me:

Behavioural finance teaches us that investors don't make decisions based on facts alone.

𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹.

And feelings are contagious.

That's why the most valuable investment skill isn't predicting the market.

It's managing your own behaviour when the market becomes unpredictable.

Because successful investing has never been about avoiding volatility.

It's about avoiding the temptation to do something stupid when volatility arrives.

Markets test portfolios.

Volatility tests behaviour.

And behaviour usually wins.



𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦.

Good partnerships don't happen overnight.

Some of the strongest professional relationships are built over decades.

For more than 16 years, Family Wealth Advisory and Succession Plus have worked together to help business owners navigate some of life's biggest decisions.

We've shared clients, exchanged ideas, and collaborated to help business owners build, protect and ultimately transition the wealth they've created.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

We're delighted to welcome the Succession Plus team into our office, where they'll be sub-leasing part of our tenancy and working alongside us day-to-day.

Led by Dr Craig West, Succession Plus is one of Australia's leading business succession and exit planning firms, helping business owners maximise business value and transition ownership on their terms.

It's a natural fit.

Around 40% of the families we work with are business owners, and succession planning is often one of the most important — and most overlooked — components of their long-term wealth strategy.

I'm looking forward to having Craig and the team just a few desks away and exploring even more ways we can help business owners, their families, and their advisers achieve better outcomes together.

Welcome to the family.

13 years. Wow.

Yesterday marked 13 years since Jessica Stevens joined Family Wealth Advisory.

When Jess started in 2013, the business looked very different. She joined in an administration role and, over the years, has grown into Practice Manager and my Executive Assistant.

What hasn't changed is her unwavering commitment to our clients, our team and our business.

Jess is often the first person our clients speak to, the person keeping countless moving parts on track behind the scenes, and the steady hand that helps keep everything running smoothly.

Over 13 years we've grown the team, moved offices, navigated market cycles, welcomed hundreds of clients and celebrated plenty of milestones. Through it all, Jess has been a constant.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you Jess.

Family Wealth Advisory is a better business because of you, and I'm incredibly grateful for everything you've contributed over the past 13 years.

Here's to the next chapter.

👏 Congratulations Jess.

If you planted a seed and dug it up every week to check the roots, it would never grow.

You know that instinctively with a garden.

We forget it completely with money.

We check the balance daily. We react to every headline. We pull things up, move them around, replant — and then wonder why nothing seems to take.

Compounding is the most powerful force in wealth building, and it only works when it's left undisturbed. Quietly. In the dark. For longer than feels comfortable.

Our brains hate that. We're wired to want visible progress now, not in twenty years. So we tinker — and tinkering feels like doing something useful.

Usually, the most useful thing you can do is nothing.

Plant well. Then let it grow.



𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.