This article was prompted by a real question from a client. Personal details have been omitted, but the figures and the question are genuine. A client recently sent me a screenshot. It said that the median Australian superannuation Growth fund had returned 9.5% for the 2025-26 financial year. Her portfolio had returned approximately 7.25% (after all fees). The question is entirely reasonable: "Why is my return so much lower?" It is exactly the sort of question investors shoul

One of the biggest changes I've seen over more than 30 years in financial planning has very little to do with investments. It's service. Many Australians now find themselves dealing with large financial institutions where getting help often means navigating phone menus, waiting on hold, explaining their story to someone new, and hoping the person on the other end can actually help. For something as important as your financial future, that seems like a very unhelpful experienc