Welcome back to the new school year - Frontier Financial 

I hope the summer holidays gave you the chance to switch off, recharge, and enjoy meaningful time with family and friends. As school leaders, you carry immense responsibility, and stepping into a new year feeling refreshed can make all the difference. With new challenges and opportunities ahead, it’s also the perfect time to refocus on your own long‑term wellbeing, particularly your financial health.

In this edition, I’d like to share a few key strategies to help you make 2026 a strong year for your personal financial planning.

1. Planning for Retirement: Setting Your Future Self Up for Success

Between managing staff, supporting students, and reviewing the school’s budget, it’s easy for you to prioritise everyone else first. But having a clear and proactive retirement strategy ensures your hard work translates into security and freedom later.

A few considerations for this year:

• Clarify your retirement timeline - whether retirement is 5, 10 or 20+ years away, your strategy will differ.
• Assess your current super and investment mix to ensure it aligns with your goals, risk tolerance, and timeframe.
• Model different retirement income scenarios to understand what lifestyle your current trajectory supports.

Small adjustments made consistently can have a significant long‑term impact.

2. Making the Most of Your Superannuation

Super remains one of the most powerful and tax‑effective investment vehicles available especially for educators with steady, long‑term contributions.

Key ways to maximise your super in 2026:

• Salary sacrificing: Converting part of your salary into concessional contributions can boost your balance while reducing taxable income.
• Review your investment options some of you may not have reviewed this in years.
• Consider after‑tax contributions, particularly if you're aiming to accelerate growth in the lead‑up to retirement.

• Check eligibility for spouse contributions or contribution splitting to create balance across household accounts.

   

A yearly check‑in often uncovers hidden opportunities.

3. Smart Tax Planning Throughout the Year

Waiting until June to think about tax often means missed opportunities. With strategic planning, you can reduce tax while strengthening your long‑term financial position.

Here are a few avenues to explore:

• Deductible super contributions to lower taxable income
• Reviewing investment structures to ensure they’re tax‑efficient

• Planning ahead for upcoming expenses that may qualify as deductions

   

Thoughtful structuring today can lead to substantial savings over time.

If you’d like tailored advice or a review of your retirement and superannuation strategy for the year ahead, I’d be happy to help. Wishing you a successful start to the school year and all the best for 2026.

👉 Book your review by clicking here

Or email me at melina@frontierfg.com.au or call (03) 9671 4550.