CU Financial Planning Logo

Latest News

Div 296 sparking death benefit discussions

The Division 296 impost has prompted SMSF members looking at retaining assets in super to consider the tax impact of their death on their beneficiaries.

.

More SMSF members are looking at the effect of death benefit taxes on their beneficiaries as part of their consideration around whether to move assets out of superannuation to avoid the impact of the proposed Division 296 impost, according to administration provider Heffron.

Heffron managing director Meg Heffron said recent discussions with clients on the Division 296 tax had expanded to include issues such as where to move assets outside of super and estate planning.

“One of the most useful things about Division 296 tax being threatened, even if it’s never introduced, is it’s really focused the mind of a lot of people who have kept money in super because it’s a good tax deal and don’t want to take it out, and the government doesn’t make them take it out anymore,” Heffron said during a recent practitioner briefing.

“What they’re doing is running the gauntlet on death benefit taxes.

“A lot of the conversations I’ve been having with clients about this has been: ‘If I have this tax, which doesn’t necessarily make me worse off in super than outside super, and with that money over $3 million I don’t mind taking it out of super because at least I’m protecting my beneficiaries from that death benefit tax.’”

She said the issue of death benefit taxes arises because if a member moves assets out of superannuation, they are dealt with by the will, but where they are retained in super, they can have an impact on those receiving a death benefit from the fund.

“One of the things that has the biggest detrimental impact on wealth is dying with a whole heap of money in super and no spouse to leave it to,” she said.

“Usually, if there’s no spouse, it’ll end up with adult children or other beneficiaries that are not dependants and they pay very high rates of tax on most death benefits and that will end up dwarfing any Division 296 tax.

“I think in the end, we’ll end up having a very productive discussion about death benefit taxes prompted by something completely different, which is Division 296.”

 

 

 

June 26, 2025
Jason Spits
smsmagazine.com.au

Hot Issues

Anjan Das

Anjan Das

Founder / CEO

Anjan Das

Anjan Das is a financial advisor with more than 33 years of service. He specializes in helping clients plan for the future and achieves their goals, whether it’s saving for retirement or buying a home.

CU Financial Planning is a boutique firm that offers financial planning assistance to clients all around Australia from its location in Sydney’s central business district. Anjan Das has over 33 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 17 years as a financial planner. He holds postgraduate degrees.

Mr. Das began his career in financial planning at a credit union, where he has since been offering full service to a chosen clientele. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, a Certified Financial Planner, a Fellow of the FlNSlA, and a Senior Assessor / Marker for Post Graduate programs offered by FINSIA / KAPLAN Higher Education.

When his former employer, a Credit Union, decided to unload the Financial Planning business in November 2006, Mr. Das founded the Sydney CBD-based professional advice service CU Financial Planning in February 2009.
Mr. Das created a credit union business strategy where the needs of the customer came first and would provide customers with a better value proposition and more individualized service.

Mr. Das has 36 years of experience in the financial services industry, 20 of those as a senior financial planner who offers thorough counsel. Mr. Das is a Post Graduate Financial Planner certified by FINSIA and a former Post Graduate assessor for students vying for Kaplan Professional Financial Planning certifications. Mr. Das has also been accepted as a Senior Fellow of FINSIA and has earned the Certified Financial Planner accreditation from FPA, Australia. Anjan specializes in helping clients with investments, SMSFs, personal risk insurance, and superannuation.

John Menezes

John Menezes

Mortgage Broker / Financial Planner

John Menezes

John Menezes is a highly qualified and passionate financial professional with a diverse background and a deep commitment to helping Australians achieve financial freedom and wellbeing.

He is a Chartered Accountant from India and a CPA Australia member. John also holds multiple industry-recognized qualifications, including:

  • Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking Management
  • Diploma in Financial Planning
  • Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Adviser (Personal Advice) qualification
  • Certificate IV in Property Services
  • Class 1 Real Estate Licence

With nearly 20 years of experience as a Financial Controller for multinational companies across India and Australia, John developed a strong foundation in corporate finance. However, his true passion lies in educating and empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures.

In 2013, John transitioned into Mortgage Broking, driven by a desire to help everyday Australians secure their dream homes and build investment property portfolios. Over time, he identified a critical gap in his clients’ financial journeys—many were burdened with large mortgages and young families, yet lacked adequate protection and long-term financial planning.

This realization led John to expand into Financial Planning in 2019, enabling him to offer holistic advice on:

  • Personal Insurance (Life, TPD, Income Protection, Trauma)
  • Superannuation strategies
  • Wealth creation and investment planning

Today, John provides a comprehensive, one-stop financial solution, combining mortgage broking, financial planning, and property services to support his clients at every stage of their financial journey.

Retirement Planning

At CU Financial Planning, Retirement Planning is about helping people achieve the life style goals and objectives that are important to them. Retirement means different things to different people. For some it is becoming a grey nomad and travelling Australia, for others it’s endless days sitting on the back porch. Maybe it’s the opportunity to reduce the golf handicap or perhaps try a whole new career as an unpaid volunteer.

Money in our view should not be an objective in itself, so our job is to help clients make wise choices with the wealth they have accumulated so they can maximise the life style afforded them by a lifetime’s hard work.

When making decisions as to the strategies and structures we recommend, the types of income streams appropriate, and the mix of investments, we are always mindful of what impact these decisions will have on our clients. As part of our retirement planning service, we focus heavily on clients achieving their lifestyle objectives rather than focusing solely on taxation savings or leaving a large legacy.

Topics we expect to discuss with you about your retirement include:

  • Minimising tax
  • Maximising Centrelink benefits
  • Estate planning wishes and minimising beneficiary tax
  • Structuring of income streams
  • Income needs in the short and long term in retirement
  • Potentially funding Aged Care
  • How long your capital will last or how much of a legacy you wish to leave to your children

Many of our clients also appreciate the interest we take in their estate planning. We provide estate planning advice and visit our clients’ legal advisors with them to ensure they and their families get the best outcome from this important area.

Contact Us

Superannuation & SMSF's

Superannuation

Superannuation, including SMSF’s (self-managed superannuation funds) is a complex area and the rules are forever changing. Almost all Australian’s have a superannuation account due to legislative requirements however few understand all the opportunities that a well-managed superannuation account can bring.

For those approaching age 60, superannuation strategies can often save a savvy investor thousands of dollars of tax without impacting on their available cash flow. Even for those who are younger, strategies such as co-contributions, spouse contributions, personal deductible contributions and salary sacrifice to name but a few, can significantly improve one’s wealth if regularly taken advantage of.

At CU Financial Planning we have access to some of the lowest cost products available in the market and we are often able to save our clients significant amounts of fees.

Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF’s)

Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF’s) are growing in popularity and we regularly assist clients to decide if this is an appropriate investment vehicle for them. We can assist in setting up self-managed superannuation funds, investment advice and management and structuring the SMSF in either accumulation or pension phases.

We also have significant expertise in the structuring of personal insurance within superannuation accounts including self managed super funds. Protecting against things going wrong is an important aspect of a well made plan, and Life insurance, TPD, Trauma and Income Protection can help minimise this risk.

Caution should be taken with superannuation investing and more particularly with contributions as it easy to incur unnecessary tax and there are now many traps for the unwary. For more information about superannuation and the services that we provide, please contact us.

Contact Us

Investment Advice

After helping our clients get the right strategies and structures in place we put significant emphasis on investment advice and ensuring the portfolio is tailored to the individuals needs.

We commence with a risk profile and that drives the broad asset allocation of the portfolio. We aim to produce a portfolio on the efficiency frontier maximising the possible return relative to the risks that is appropriate for our client to take. Preserving capital is always our priority. Considerations are the clients tolerance to risk, time frame and the willingness to accept volatility.

Through our investment process we consider our clients goals and aim to help them achieve their aspirations in the medium and long term. As part of our investment advice, we focus on minimising costs of investing, finding the best funds to achieve tax effective portfolios, minimise risk at a number of levels and continuously review the results.

We recognise we are in a world that is changing rapidly and a client’s portfolio like their lives never stand still. As a result, our investment advice is tailored to those who want a pro-active approach to managing their assets.

Our Investment Philosophy

  • Preservation of capital is our number one priority.
  • Investment returns are more predictable over lengthier periods of time.
  • Investments go up and down, to achieve higher returns it is essential to accept volatility.
  • There is a direct relationship between risk and return.
  • Investment and administration expenses reduce returns and we endeavor to minimise costs wherever possible.
  • Investment diversification reduces risk.
  • Liquidity of investments should never be ignored.
Contact Us

High Net Worth Services

We understand that high net worth families, businesses and individuals need advice that caters to their specific needs. We can help with speciailsed services in the following:

Structuring of entities (including companies, trusts, SMSFs)

We provide comprehensive financial advice for individuals, families, and their associated entities (companies, trusts and self-managed superannuation funds). Our team offers guidance on financial strategies that align with your overall family wealth management goals after considering taxation, risk management and intergenerational wealth transfer needs.

Wealth management and Investment services

Our core service is developing personalized investment strategies and managing diversified portfolios. We work closely with you to understand your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizons to create and implement tailored family wealth management plans. We have competency in direct equities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), money market accounts, (separately) managed accounts (SMAs) and partner with some of the world’s leading managed fund offers domiciled in Australia, the US and Europe.

Family tax planning and compliance

We offer strategic financial advice that takes into account tax implications. We can help you understand how different investment decisions and financial strategies might impact your tax situation, and work alongside your tax professionals to implement tax-efficient financial plans. Our advice aims to optimise your financial position while ensuring you're well-prepared for your tax obligations.

Estate planning and intergenerational wealth transfer

Our comprehensive financial planning services include strategies for effective estate planning and smooth intergenerational wealth transfer. We help you develop a robust financial framework to support your legacy goals, ensuring your wealth continues to benefit future generations. Our team assists in creating financial strategies that align with your estate planning objectives, including analysing the long-term implications of different wealth transfer scenarios. We also provide guidance on structuring your investments and assets to facilitate efficient wealth transition, helping to preserve your family's financial legacy for years to come and ensure the wealth remains in the family.

Business Succession Planning

This protects and prepares shareholders, trustees and their families from unexpected events such as injury or death of their business partners. This includes advance planning for events that might cause the business to need winding up through to immediate issues upon retirement of a partner such as equity transfer and taxation management.

Specific areas we work on with our clients’ accountants and lawyers include:

  • Funding Buy/Sell (Critical Events) Agreements
  • Structuring funding for tax efficiency
  • Capital gains tax management after sale of business or critical event
  • Key Person Protection

Philanthropy

We can help you integrate charitable giving into your overall financial plan. This includes advice on structured giving strategies, the financial aspects of setting up charitable trusts, and aligning your philanthropic goals with your overall wealth management strategy.

Family Governance and Education

We facilitate a collaborative approach to managing your family's wealth, with an investment committee structure. This service is designed to involve family members in key financial decisions and portfolio management processes. We provide a framework for regular family financial meetings, where we present investment performance, discuss market trends, and explore new opportunities. This approach not only ensures transparency but also helps educate and prepare the next generation for responsible wealth management. By fostering open communication and shared decision-making, we help align your family's financial strategies with your collective values and long-term objectives.

Lifestyle and concierge services

We understand that managing complex financial affairs can be time-consuming and challenging. Our comprehensive financial planning services are designed to simplify your financial life, allowing you to focus on what matters most to you. We act as your primary point of contact for all financial matters, coordinating with other professionals such as accountants and lawyers to ensure seamless management of your wealth. Our team provides regular consolidated reporting, proactive advice on financial opportunities and risks, and timely reminders for important financial deadlines. By centralising your financial management, we help minimise the complexities and administrative burden, providing you with peace of mind and more time to enjoy your lifestyle.

Contact Us

Service 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris eget pulvinar velit. Pellentesque condimentum felis enim, vitae mollis felis feugiat sed. Fusce quis eros rutrum, blandit sem ut, pharetra felis. Aenean pulvinar et risus et rhoncus. Maecenas feugiat consectetur risus, eu lobortis erat viverra vitae. Nam tempor tellus bibendum, tempus elit a, laoreet metus.

Sed consectetur quam quis purus lobortis, sed rhoncus enim finibus. Sed fringilla eu lectus sit amet pretium. Ut tempus aliquam iaculis. Nulla enim elit, pellentesque ut maximus a, efficitur eu risus. Praesent finibus interdum finibus. Pellentesque et maximus dui. Maecenas consequat suscipit eleifend. Curabitur placerat quam nulla, et fringilla nisl consectetur eu. Proin posuere, nisl in viverra egestas, leo urna consequat risus, at euismod orci est quis sem. Praesent convallis viverra elit eu lacinia.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
  • Nulla commodo ex eu blandit maximus.
  • Cras vulputate libero vel felis mattis, a ultricies arcu pellentesque.
  • Etiam suscipit turpis a mauris fermentum, quis accumsan est dapibus.
Contact Us

Service 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris eget pulvinar velit. Pellentesque condimentum felis enim, vitae mollis felis feugiat sed. Fusce quis eros rutrum, blandit sem ut, pharetra felis. Aenean pulvinar et risus et rhoncus. Maecenas feugiat consectetur risus, eu lobortis erat viverra vitae. Nam tempor tellus bibendum, tempus elit a, laoreet metus.

Sed consectetur quam quis purus lobortis, sed rhoncus enim finibus. Sed fringilla eu lectus sit amet pretium. Ut tempus aliquam iaculis. Nulla enim elit, pellentesque ut maximus a, efficitur eu risus. Praesent finibus interdum finibus. Pellentesque et maximus dui. Maecenas consequat suscipit eleifend. Curabitur placerat quam nulla, et fringilla nisl consectetur eu. Proin posuere, nisl in viverra egestas, leo urna consequat risus, at euismod orci est quis sem. Praesent convallis viverra elit eu lacinia.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
  • Nulla commodo ex eu blandit maximus.
  • Cras vulputate libero vel felis mattis, a ultricies arcu pellentesque.
  • Etiam suscipit turpis a mauris fermentum, quis accumsan est dapibus.
Contact Us

Tax Diary

General Calculators

 

Financial Videos

Tax Deductions

Secure File Transfer

Secure File Transfer is a facility that allows the safe and secure exchange of confidential files or documents between you and us.

Email is very convenient in our business world, there is no doubting that. However email messages and attachments can be intercepted by third parties, putting your privacy and identity at risk if used to send confidential files or documents. Secure File Transfer eliminates this risk.

Login to Secure File Transfer, or contact us if you require a username and password.

General Disclaimer

All care is taken in the preparation of the information and published on this website. CU Financial Planning does not make any representations or give any warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose.

To the extent permissible by law, CU Financial Planning will not be liable for any expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damages) or costs which might be incurred as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason.

If you have any concerns regarding the content of the website, please contact us.