Noel in the news: a quick look at Noel Whittaker's latest column, with a link to the full article.
If you've been following the fallout from this year's Federal Budget, you'll know the new capital gains tax rules have rattled a lot of self-funded retirees and investors. In his latest piece for Firstlinks, Noel Whittaker looks at an investment that quietly sidesteps many of the new traps: the humble insurance bond.
Insurance bonds (also called investment bonds) have been around for decades but fell out of fashion once superannuation became the tax shelter of choice. Noel's argument is that the ground has shifted. The bond fund pays tax internally at 30%, nothing appears in your personal tax return each year, and if you hold the bond for ten years you can cash it in tax-free. Unlike super, there are no contribution caps and no preservation age — the money stays accessible.
Where the article really earns its keep is on estate planning. Noel walks through three case studies: a high-earning professional in her 40s, a 60-year-old wanting to leave money to her children outside her will, and an 80-year-old in a blended family who wants to make sure each child gets exactly what he intends. In each case, the bond's beneficiary nomination lets the money bypass probate and go straight to the person named.
"Insurance bonds avoid these issues. There are no contribution limits, your money always remains accessible and can be withdrawn quickly, and there is no death tax payable."
As always, Noel is careful to note that bonds aren't for everyone — super remains the lower-tax environment for most people while they can still contribute. But for anyone who has maxed out their caps, or who wants certainty about where an inheritance ends up, it's worth twenty minutes of your time.
Read the full article: The investment that sidesteps the new tax traps — Noel Whittaker, Firstlinks, 12 August 2026.
Want the full picture on passing on your wealth? Noel's Wills, Death & Taxes Made Simple covers estate planning, superannuation death benefits and the strategies that keep families out of court — in plain language. Buy direct from the author for $22.95 and get PDF and EPUB together.