Q&A - Structure First: Using Equity, Super Tactics & Smarter Portfolio Moves

In this Q&A, Campbell tackles four big themes that trip up otherwise savvy investors: structure, borrowing capacity, super strategies, and sequencing. We start with a couple weighing up whether to extract equity from two Newcastle homes to fund an ~$800k investment purchase before kids. Campbell maps the trade-offs: why structure beats rate-shopping, the role of offsets and interest-only, how to protect borrowing capacity for a future PPOR upgrade, and when a buyer’s agent adds real value versus waiting and dollar-cost averaging into ETFs.

Next, we zoom out to a simple roadmap for late starters: build surplus first, automate investing, prioritise asset quality over activity, and use structures (trusts, only when justified) to solve clear tax or estate problems, not to manufacture returns.

On super, he explains capital-loss “harvesting” before starting pension phase, when realising gains to absorb losses makes sense, and what changes once tax on earnings drops to 0% in retirement phase. Finally, he clarifies the two-fund super tactic: separating concessional inflows from future non-concessional contributions to make recontribution strategies cleaner later, plus the frictions and admin worth considering.

The through-line: get the foundations right (cash flow, buffers, structure), buy only investment-grade assets, and sequence decisions so flexibility and optionality stay on your side.

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