Financial Planning Newcastle

Count Wealth’s Newcastle and Hunter office is based in Charlestown and has been supporting local clients for more than eight years. Our five financial advisers bring more than 95 years of combined advice experience, and most have lived in the region for decades.

We work with people across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Hunter Valley. Many are retired or approaching retirement after careers in mining, steel, aluminium, farming, defence, healthcare and education. Our advice is practical, clear and built around the realities of life in the Hunter, so you can make confident decisions about your financial future.

Superannuation

Strategic advice to help you maximise your retirement income, understand your super investments and keep up with regulatory changes.

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Cash flow budgeting

Practical budgeting advice that shows where your money is going, so you can take control of your cash flow and work towards your goals with confidence.

Debt management

Clear guidance on managing your repayments and reducing debt, so it supports your financial future rather than holding it back.

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Personal insurance

We help you get your cover right from the start, protecting you and your family so your wealth is secure when it matters most.

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Estate planning

We help you organise your will, guardianship, executors and beneficiary nominations, so your wishes are carried out and your family is protected.

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Our Newcastle team of Scott Jacobs, Graham Frater, Jonathon Missingham, Adam Bennett and Kerry Said brings more than 95 years of combined experience as financial advisers. Many of our clients have been with the same adviser for more than a decade, and we now look after many of their children too.

That kind of loyalty comes from regular, honest conversations and an adviser who remembers the details: your goals, your family and what keeps you up at night. As your life changes, through retirement, a health scare, a new grandchild or the loss of a partner, your adviser is already up to speed, so you don’t have to start from scratch with someone new. For many of our clients, their adviser has become someone they trust with the whole family’s future.

Frequently asked questions

How do I plan for retirement when I've worked in the Newcastle defence sector?

Defence personnel often have specific superannuation arrangements, such as DFRDB, MSBS or ADF Super, depending on when they served. How these schemes work, including the relationship between defined benefit and accumulation components and how invalidity benefits operate, has a big impact on retirement planning. Our Newcastle advisers work with clients in these schemes and plan around the relevant rules so you get the most from your entitlements.

What's the right way to think about Hunter region property in my plan?

Hunter property has its own cycle, often linked to activity in the mining and energy sectors. Property should be one part of a diversified plan, not the whole plan. Concentration risk applies whether your property is in Newcastle, Sydney or anywhere else.

I work in Newcastle healthcare or education - what should I be doing about super?

State public sector workers may be in the State Authorities Superannuation Scheme (SASS) or a related defined benefit scheme. Federal public sector workers may be in the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) or the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS). Each scheme has its own rules around contributions, retirement age and how benefits are calculated. Knowing which scheme you’re in is the first step.

How do I plan for retirement in the Hunter Valley?

The Hunter offers a wide range of retirement lifestyles, from the coast to wine country to urban Newcastle. Your plan needs to cover income strategy, access to healthcare, aged care availability and the real cost of the lifestyle you want. Conservative income projections that hold up over 25 to 30 years of retirement are the foundation, along with an investment structure that means you’re not forced to sell assets when markets fall.

What estate planning considerations are common for Newcastle families?

Common questions include how to plan for property (often the main asset), how to provide for children with different needs or financial situations, how to handle blended families and how to make sure superannuation goes to the right beneficiaries. Wills, binding death benefit nominations and powers of attorney are the key documents. Where a family member has a disability, structures such as a Special Disability Trust may also be worth considering.

I run a small business in Newcastle - what financial planning do I need?

Business owners often have most of their wealth tied up in the business. Typical starting points are building wealth outside the business through super, putting the right personal insurance in place, planning for an eventual sale or succession and keeping personal and business finances separate. If the conditions are met, the small business capital gains tax concessions can make a significant difference when you sell.

Case study 1

Securing a young boy’s future after the loss of his mother

The situation
A young boy lost his mother unexpectedly and was entitled to her superannuation death benefit. His family wanted the money to grow for his future while also paying for his schooling and extracurricular activities. They wanted to avoid unnecessary capital gains and income tax, and they needed clear rules about who could access the money and how often.

What we did
Instead of paying the benefit out as a lump sum, we set up a superannuation death benefit pension for him. We put a clear structure in place for how and when funds could be drawn, so the money is always used for his benefit.

The outcome
He now receives a regular, tax-effective income to cover school and activities, while the remaining balance stays invested in a tax-free environment. The pension can continue until he turns 25, when the remaining balance will be paid to him, giving him a strong start to adult life, such as buying his first home.

Case study 2

Helping a mother access the Age Pension while securing her son’s home

The situation
A retired client owned an investment property that her adult son, who has an acquired brain injury, lived in. Because the property was in her name, it counted under Centrelink’s assets test and stopped her from receiving the Age Pension.

What we did
We set up a Special Disability Trust for her son and transferred the property into it. Using the concessions available for these trusts, the transfer was made free of capital gains tax and within the gifting concessions, so it wasn’t treated as a deprived asset.

The outcome
She became eligible for the Age Pension, and her son has a secure long-term home held in a structure designed to support his care, giving the whole family peace of mind.

Financial advisers Newcastle locals trust

What we bring to the table

Superannuation

Cash flow budgeting

Debt management

Personal insurance

Estate planning

Local advisers, long-term relationships

Why choose us in Newcastle

Frequently asked questions

Case study 1

Securing a young boy’s future after the loss of his mother

Case study 2

Helping a mother access the Age Pension while securing her son’s home

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