Poole Group Wealth – November 2025
Headline CPI rose to 3.2% in the September quarter, up from 2.1% in June, the highest quarterly rise in more than two years.
News of the higher-than-expected inflation numbers was followed by the biggest daily fall in the Australian share market in two months. Wall Street ended the month subdued with mixed results over concerns about no further rate cuts this year but optimism about US-China relations after a positive meeting between the leaders.
The lift in inflation appears to have rattled consumers. The Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell 3.5% in October, adding up to a 6.5% drop in the past two months after gains between May and August when rate cuts were giving a boost.
The Aussie dollar strengthened by the end of the month, closing at US65.4c, making up some of the lost ground of the previous fortnight.
Unemployment rose to 4.5% in September, the highest in nearly four years.
Poole Group Wealth Wins National Practice of the Year
We are proud to share some exciting news — Poole Group Wealth has been awarded National Practice of the Year at the PGW Financial Services Conference on the Gold Coast.
Over two days, our team participated in industry-leading professional development sessions, exploring new strategies, insights and innovations to continue delivering exceptional advice and service to our clients. The conference concluded with an awards evening, where we were honoured to receive the top national award.
This achievement is a reflection of our team’s dedication to:
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consistent growth and improvement
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delivering high-quality advice and outstanding client service
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maintaining strong compliance and professional standards
We are incredibly grateful to our clients for your ongoing trust and support — this recognition would not be possible without you. As always, we remain committed to helping you achieve your financial goals and continuing to raise the bar for advice and service.
Spring Clean Your Finances Workshop – A Full House and a Fantastic Afternoon
Spring Clean Your Finances Workshop – A Full House and a Fantastic Afternoon
We recently hosted our Spring Clean Your Finances Workshop in the Poole Group boardroom, and we’re thrilled to share that it was a full house and a great success. With an engaged room of clients and expert speakers joining us, the session offered valuable insights across markets, property trends and practical financial housekeeping tips.
The afternoon opened with a warm welcome from our PGWealth team before diving into a series of informative presentations:
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Economic Market Update — David Bassanese, Chief Economist at Betashares
David provided a timely market outlook, sharing key economic trends and indicators shaping investment conditions. -
Commercial Property Market Update — Laurence Parisi, Head of Property at Trilogy
Laurence walked us through the current landscape in commercial property, including demand drivers, lending conditions and opportunities within the sector. -
QLD Residential Property Hot Spots — Ben Everingham, Director at Pumped on Property
Ben highlighted emerging residential growth areas across South East Queensland and the factors influencing buyer trends and investment interest.
We wrapped up with a practical Spring Clean Your Finances session where attendees worked through a financial checklist, helping identify opportunities to refresh, refine, and refocus their financial strategy heading into the new year.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to our presenters for sharing their expertise. We look forward to hosting more client events throughout the year and continuing to support your financial journey.
Market movements and review video – November 2025
Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month.
Australia’s economy remained under pressure in October. Investors sharply pared back future rate-cut bets after inflation data came in higher than expected.
News of the higher-than-expected inflation numbers was followed by the biggest daily fall in the Australian share market in two months.
Wall Street ended the month subdued over suggestions of no further rate cuts expected this year but there was some optimism about US-China relations.
Click the video below to view our update.
Please get in touch if you’d like assistance with your personal financial situation.
Super tax shake up
Superannuation tax rules are changing again and there are implications for those with very large balances as well as those on lower incomes.
In a nutshell, the new plans include:
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more targeted tax rules for people with very large super balances
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extra support for low-income earners who contribute to super
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indexation (automatic increases) to make sure the tax thresholds keep up with inflation
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the removal of the proposed tax on unrealised gains
The new super tax rules will begin on 1 July 2026 and will be based on your total super balance as at 30 June 2027.
The changes follow feedback from industry groups, financial experts, and the public. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the updates are designed to make the system fairer while still meeting the government’s goals.i
New rules for higher balances
If your total super balance (TSB) is more than $3 million, you’ll be affected by new tax rates on earnings.
Here’s how it works:
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for balances between $3 million and $10 million, earnings will be taxed at 30 per cent instead of the usual 15 per cent for the proportion of earnings between the thresholds
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for balances over $10 million, a tax of 40 per cent will apply on the proportion of earnings over the threshold
These are still concessional rates, meaning they’re lower than the top personal income tax rate, but they’re higher than the standard super tax rate.
The thresholds will be indexed over time. The $3 million threshold will increase in steps of $150,000 while the $10 million threshold will increase by $500,000 each time.
This means fewer people will be affected in the future as the thresholds rise with inflation.
Only a small number of Australians will be affected by the new rules. Less than 0.5 per cent of super account holders are expected to have balances exceeding $3 million in the 2026-27 financial year. The $10 million rule is expected to apply to fewer than 8,000 accounts, less than 0.1 per cent of all super accounts.ii
If you’re affected, you can choose to pay the tax from your super account or from funds outside of super.
No tax on unrealised gains
One of the most controversial parts of the original proposal was a tax on unrealised gains, meaning increases in the value of assets that haven’t been sold yet (such as property or shares).
This idea has now been dropped.
Instead, the new tax will only apply to realised gains (actual earnings such as interest, dividends or profits from selling assets).
Extra top-up for low income earners
The government is increasing support for low-income earners through the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO).iii
LISTO is a 15 per cent tax offset paid by the government into the super accounts of people earning up to $37,000 a year and is worth up to a maximum of $500.
From 1 July 2027, the current LISTO income threshold will increase to $45,000 to match the top of the second income tax bracket. Around 3.1 million Australians will then be eligible for LISTO.
The maximum government top-up payment will also be increased from $500 to $810 to account for the recent increase in the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate to 12 per cent.
Special rules for defined benefits funds
Some judges and politicians are members of defined benefit super funds, which work differently from regular super accounts.iv
Because it’s harder to calculate earnings in these funds, the government will develop equivalent arrangements to apply the new tax fairly.
We’re here to help you understand how the changes may affect your super and your long-term financial goals, so please give us a call.
i Reforms to support low-income workers and build a stronger super system | Treasury Ministers
iii Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset | Treasury.gov.au
Your retirement. Your way. Your adventure.
Retirement has often been seen as a time to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of daily life. And for many, that’s the dream. But retirement is no longer defined by one image or one path. In fact, it can be something much more expansive. Today, retirement is increasingly viewed as a time of freedom, possibility, and reinvention.
Retirement isn’t about stepping back. It’s about stepping into a new chapter where you decide what comes next.
Even if you are not yet there, and retirement is still a way off, it’s never too soon to think about who you want to be, what gives you joy, and start to gravitate towards living your dreams.
Let go of conformity, embrace freedom
Of course, you can live your dreams at any stage of your life but the exciting part about retirement is that you are no longer bound by the expectations that shaped your earlier years. You don’t have to earn a living anymore, so what you do with your time can be driven purely by passion, curiosity, or purpose.
For much of our lives, we learn to conform. We wear the suits, follow the rules, meet the deadlines, and often suppress our wilder ideas or untapped creativity to fit the roles expected of us, whether as professionals, parents, providers, or partners.
But something shifts later in life. With age often comes clarity, and a new kind of confidence. Retirement can be the moment when we stop asking what others think we should do and instead, begin to ask what our hearts are calling us to do.
This is your opportunity to push boundaries, shed old labels, and express your true self without apology. It is a time to honour your inner voice, whether that means embracing bold adventure, creating, starting over, or simply doing what feels meaningful to you.
Unconventional can be unforgettable
Retirement can be the perfect time to try something unexpected or bold. Consider these inspiring examples:
Isabella Rossellini
After being let go by Lancôme at age 45 for being “too old,” Rossellini redefined what aging looks like. She went back to school in her 50s to study animal behaviour, wrote books, bought a working farm, and later, in a full-circle moment, was rehired by the same brand that once let her go. Now in her 70s, she continues to model, act, write, and farm, all on her own terms.
Diana Nyad
At 64, Nyad swam from Cuba to Florida, a journey of 110 miles through open ocean, after four earlier attempts. It was a dream she had carried her whole life, and she proved that persistence and passion don’t expire with age.
Harriette Thompson
Harriette ran her first marathon in her 70s and, at 92, became the oldest woman ever to complete one. Her story is a celebration of physical endurance and mental strength at any age.
Anthony Hopkins
Well into his 80s, the Oscar-winning actor continues to create. He acts in major films, paints, composes music, and shares his work with younger generations online. He shows that creativity and passion do not have a use-by date.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize at age 69 for her work with “Missionaries of Charity,” a world-wide organization that helped the sick, the poor, the dying and left an incredible legacy of benevolence that continues today.
Finding your joy
This chapter of life gives you the rare opportunity to redefine yourself, or finally be yourself, in ways that may not have been possible earlier in life.
Whether your dream is to travel the world, volunteer overseas, write a novel, take up painting, or pursue a long-held interest that never fit into your working life, now is your chance.
And it doesn’t have to follow tradition. Retirement can be adventurous, creative, active, or entrepreneurial. It can be spent on a cruise ship, in a mountain village, running marathons, making movies. And you don’t have to set the world on fire – if what makes you happy is watching your roses bloom then go for it! The point is, this part of your life, is yours to shape.
Retirement is a time to live fully and follow your own path to what brings you joy.
What will your next chapter be?
