What can I expect during my first meeting with you?

During our first meeting, we’ll have a relaxed and open conversation about your financial situation, goals, and any concerns you might have. I’ll explain how I work, what you can expect from the process, and answer any questions you have. This meeting is all about understanding your needs and seeing if we’re a good fit to work together. It’s a no-pressure environment, focused on your financial well-being.

How do you tailor your financial advice to my specific needs?

I take the time to understand your unique financial situation, goals, and values. Based on this understanding, I create a personalized financial plan that includes specific recommendations tailored to your needs. In this plan, I’ll explain what each recommendation is, why it’s in your best interest, and how it can help you get ahead financially. My goal is to ensure you have a clear path toward achieving your life goals with confidence.

What is the cost of your financial planning services, and what does it include?

The cost of my financial planning services varies depending on the complexity of your needs, but I provide a clear breakdown of fees upfront. Typically, the service includes an initial consultation, a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your goals, and the implementation of the plan. I also offer ongoing support to ensure your plan stays on track as your life changes. The specific costs and services will be outlined in detail before we begin, so there are no surprises.

How do you help me save on taxes and grow my wealth?

I analyze your financial situation to identify opportunities for tax savings and wealth growth. By optimizing your investments, structuring your income efficiently, and leveraging tax-effective strategies, I help you reduce your tax burden and maximize your returns. My goal is to ensure that your money works harder for you, helping you grow your wealth over time while minimizing unnecessary costs.

What types of clients do you work with?

I work with a diverse range of clients, including professionals, families, and retirees who are serious about achieving their financial goals. Whether you’re looking to grow your wealth, plan for retirement, or manage your super, I tailor my services to meet your unique needs. My clients value personalized advice and a clear, actionable plan to help them navigate their financial journey with confidence.

How do you ensure my financial plan aligns with my long-term goals?

I start by understanding your long-term goals through detailed conversations and fact-finding. From there, I design a financial plan that’s specifically aligned with those goals, whether it’s superannuation planning, investment management, or retirement planning. I also regularly review and adjust your plan to ensure it stays on track as your circumstances and goals evolve. My focus is on creating a plan that not only meets your current needs but also adapts to your future aspirations.

What is your approach to managing investment risk?

I take a balanced approach to managing investment risk by first understanding your risk tolerance through a detailed assessment. Based on this, I recommend a diversified portfolio that aligns with your comfort level and financial goals. I provide examples of both high-growth and low-growth investments, explaining their potential risks and returns over the short and long term. My goal is to help you make informed decisions that balance risk with the potential for growth, ensuring your investments are aligned with your long-term objectives.

How often will we review my financial plan?

We will review your financial plan at least once a year to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and any changes in your circumstances. However, if there are significant life changes or market shifts, we can schedule additional reviews as needed. Regular reviews help us make necessary adjustments to keep your plan on track, so you can feel confident that your financial future is well-managed.

What makes My Wealth Choice different from other financial planning services?

At My Wealth Choice, I focus on providing personalized, unbiased advice that’s tailored to your unique needs and goals. Unlike some advisers who may push products for commission, I’m completely free from bias and do not take commissions, ensuring that my recommendations are solely in your best interest. I work closely with you to develop a plan that truly reflects your financial aspirations, and I prioritize building a relationship based on trust and transparency, so you always feel confident in the decisions we make together.

How do you stay up-to-date with changes in the financial landscape?

Staying up-to-date is a team effort at My Wealth Choice. I’m supported by a large, multi-experienced team from various aspects of financial planning, who all contribute to ensuring we are on top of the latest market trends, regulatory changes, and best practices. We regularly attend industry seminars, complete ongoing professional education, and collaborate to share insights. This collective expertise allows us to provide you with the most current and well-rounded advice, keeping your financial plan effective and aligned with your goals.

Will you receive any commissions from the products you recommend?

No, I do not receive any commissions from the products I recommend. My advice is completely unbiased, and my only focus is on what’s best for you and your financial goals. This approach ensures that the recommendations I make are solely in your best interest, without any influence from product providers. My commitment is to transparency and trust, so you can feel confident in the advice you receive.

How does My Wealth Choice handle my personal information and privacy?

At My Wealth Choice, your privacy is a top priority. We handle your personal information with the utmost care, using strict confidentiality protocols and advanced security measures to protect your data. We comply with all relevant privacy laws, and only share your information with third parties when necessary and with your consent. For full details on how we protect your privacy, please refer to our Privacy Policy available on our website.

What happens if my financial situation changes after we’ve created a plan?

If your financial situation changes, we can revisit and adjust your financial plan to ensure it still aligns with your goals and circumstances. Life is dynamic, and your financial plan needs to be flexible enough to adapt to any significant changes, whether it’s a new job, a major purchase, or changes in your financial priorities. I’m here to support you through these changes and ensure your plan continues to work for you.

Do you offer ongoing support after the financial plan is implemented?

Yes, I offer ongoing support to ensure your financial plan stays on track even after it’s implemented. We’ll regularly review your plan together, making adjustments as needed to keep up with any changes in your life or the financial landscape. My goal is to provide continuous guidance, so you can feel confident that your financial future is well-managed and aligned with your goals.

How do I get started with My Wealth Choice?

Getting started is simple! Just reach out to me via the contact form on my website or book your Financial Clarity Meeting to schedule an initial consultation. During this meeting, we’ll discuss your financial goals, current situation, and how I can help you. This first step is all about getting to know each other and determining if we’re a good fit to work together. From there, we’ll move forward with creating a personalized financial plan tailored to your needs.

What if I don't have time for a financial plan?

If you don’t have time for a financial plan, that’s exactly why you should hire me. You might be crushing it at work, making good money, and even managing a couple of investment properties, but I can help you take it to the next level. While you focus on your career and family, I’ll handle the complex financial details, ensuring that your wealth continues to grow and your financial goals are met. My goal is to free up your schedule by taking care of the research, planning, and implementation. This way, your finances are well-managed, and you can continue doing what you do best without worrying about the details.

What value can I expect from financial planning if I’m unsure about its benefits?

Financial planning provides you with a clear roadmap to achieve your financial goals, offering peace of mind and a sense of control over your future. It helps you make informed decisions about saving, investing, and managing your money more effectively. By working together, I can help you optimize your finances, reduce unnecessary costs, and position yourself for long-term success. Even if you’re unsure about the benefits, the clarity and confidence you gain from a well-crafted plan can be invaluable. Many clients find that the insights and strategies we develop together are worth far more than the initial investment.

SMSF Commercial Property Lending for Tech Professionals

Mo Shouman

10 minutes ago

6 min read

SMSF Commercial Property Loans: What Tech Professionals Need to Know After the 2026 Borrowing Changes

For years, the question I heard most from tech professionals was how to use their super to buy an investment property. Since 10 August 2026, that door has closed for new borrowing. What remains is commercial property. Over the past five years, I have helped a number of tech professionals use commercial property inside their SMSF to build property exposure within super while working to reduce tax over the long term. With residential borrowing off the table, commercial premises are now one of the few ways left to borrow for property inside super, which makes understanding the rules before you act more important, not less.

From 10 August 2026, a self managed super fund (SMSF) can no longer borrow to buy residential property. Borrowing through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) is now limited to business real property, which in practice means commercial premises .

If you are a tech professional with a growing super balance, that change matters for two reasons. It closed a strategy that many SMSF trustees used for years. And it leaves open a narrower one that may suit a small group of people, if the fund, the property and the tenant all stack up.

One correction before we go further. You may have read that SMSF lending has "moved" from residential to commercial property. That is not quite what happened. Parliament restricted residential borrowing. Commercial SMSF loans already existed, and brokers report they are offered by specialist non-bank lenders rather than the major banks. For the right tech professional, that narrower door can still be worth walking through. Here is who it may suit, and who it will not.

What actually changed

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 26 June 2026. It amends the borrowing rules in the SIS Act so that an LRBA can only be used to acquire real property if that property is business real property. The new rule applies to LRBAs entered into on or after 10 August 2026 .

Three things were left alone:

LRBAs entered into before 10 August 2026, and the refinancing of those loans.
Binding contracts to buy property that were exchanged before 10 August 2026, even if settlement happens later.
Buying residential property with the fund's own cash. Commentary from advisers and lawyers indicates this remains allowed.

How commercial property inside an SMSF works

Business real property is, broadly, land and buildings used wholly and exclusively in a business. That test applies when the loan starts and for as long as the borrowing is in place, and the ATO's rulings on the definition are being updated, so a mixed-use building is a risk to check early.

	Residential property	Business real property
New LRBA from 10 August 2026	Not permitted	Permitted if SIS Act rules are met
Purchase with fund cash	Permitted	Permitted
Lease to a related business	Not available as a strategy	Possible, on arm's length terms
Lenders for borrowing	Not applicable for new loans	Specialist non-bank lenders
Main risks	Not applicable for new loans	Vacancy, single asset, illiquidity, loan costs

A few rules do most of the work in practice.

The fund must be the buyer, and the loan must be limited recourse. The property is held on trust while the loan runs, and the lender's claim is limited to that one asset. Lenders typically assess serviceability using expected rent and ongoing super contributions, and they generally expect the fund to fund the deposit and costs from its own cash. Broker-published loan-to-value ratios commonly sit between about 70% and 80%, with rates well above a standard home loan. Terms vary by lender, fund and property.

Related party leases need to be at market rent. SMSF can lease business real property to a related business. If the rent or terms are not arm's length, the ATO can treat the income as non-arm's length income, which is taxed at the top rate rather than the concessional super rate. Rent should be paid on time, supported by a written lease, and reviewed regularly.

The investment must pass the sole purpose test and fit the fund's strategy. The property must exist to provide retirement benefits, not personal benefit, and the trustees need to document why it suits the fund's risk, liquidity and diversification position.

The tax settings are the attraction. Earnings in an SMSF are generally taxed at up to 15% in the accumulation phase, with a one third CGT discount for assets held over 12 months. In the retirement phase, earnings on assets supporting a pension can be tax free, within the transfer balance cap. These are general settings and the outcome depends on the fund's circumstances.

This is why SMSF tax planning Australia should be considered alongside the fund's wider investment and retirement strategy.

Advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Advantages

Borrowing remains available through an LRBA
Rent is paid into the fund and taxed at super rates
Concessional CGT treatment, and possibly tax free in retirement phase
Option to lease to your own business at market rent
Spreads wealth beyond employer shares

Disadvantages

One large, illiquid asset
Vacancy and tenant risk
Higher loan rates and a deposit from fund cash
Rules and ATO guidance still changing

Why some tech professionals may consider it

Commercial property inside super is not for every tech professional. It rewards a specific profile, so the useful question is whether it fits your situation.

These considerations can form part of broader superannuation strategies for high-income earners, particularly for those managing salary income and employee equity compensation.

It may be worth a closer look if several of these are true:

You are a high earner building super fast. At $250,000 or more in combined salary and equity income, concessional contributions and Division 293 tax are already part of your planning. A larger balance can make an SMSF viable in a way it is not at $100,000.
You have, or plan to have, a business. A founder, contractor with a company, or a side business owner may have a genuine use for premises. Leasing a fund-owned property to that business, at market rent, is the scenario business real property rules were built around.
Your wealth is concentrated in one employer. If RSUs and ESPP shares make up most of your net worth, diversifying into other asset classes can matter. Commercial property is one option, but a single illiquid building swaps one concentration for another, so it needs to sit inside a wider plan.
You are prepared to hire a team to run your fund. Trustees carry legal responsibility for compliance, record keeping, an investment strategy and annual audits – surround yourself with the right professionals.

Professional SMSF setup advice Australia can help trustees understand their responsibilities, compliance requirements and ongoing fund management obligations.

It is probably not for you if you want a quick or hands-off investment, if your balance is modest, if you may need to access the money soon, or if you are still deciding whether to act at all. A commercial property can sit vacant, and a loan inside super is serviced from the fund's cash flow, not your pay.

In our Confident Choice System™, this sits in Phase 2: reducing concentration risk (Step 4) and configuring ownership structures (Step 6). The structure comes after the foundations: knowing your cash flow, managing debt and holding emergency reserves. A property inside super does not fix a plan that is not yet built.

The question is rarely "can my SMSF borrow?". It is "should it, given everything else I own, owe and want?" That is where specialist SMSF advice matters.

For technology professionals across Australia, SMSF advice for tech professionals Australia can help assess whether commercial property fits their superannuation and long-term retirement goals.

Next step

If you are a Tech Professional with equity compensation and you are weighing an SMSF, the first step is a Financial Clarity Meeting. Come prepared with your super balances, your equity statements and a clear view of what you want your money to do. We work with people who are ready to act, and the Confident Choice System™ is a partnership with annual reviews, not a one-off project.

Book a time at mywealthchoice.com.au or email Mo@mywealthchoice.com.au.

Frequently asked questions

Can an SMSF borrow to buy residential property in 2026?

Not for new arrangements. From 10 August 2026, an LRBA can only be used for business real property. Loans entered into before that date, their refinancing, and contracts exchanged before it are unaffected. A fund can still buy residential property with its own cash.

What is business real property?

It is land and buildings used wholly and exclusively in one or more businesses. A mixed-use building may not qualify, so the definition and the ATO's updated rulings should be checked before buying.

Can my SMSF lease a commercial property to my own company?

Generally, yes for business real property, on a written lease at market rent. If the terms are not arm's length, the income can be taxed at the top rate instead of the concessional super rate.

Who lends to SMSFs for commercial property?

Broker commentary indicates specialist non-bank lenders rather than the major banks. Loan-to-value ratios commonly sit around 70% to 80%, with the fund providing the deposit.

How much super do I need before considering an SMSF?

There is no legal minimum. Broker commentary suggests lenders often look for roughly $200,000 to $300,000, though some set lower thresholds.

Is a commercial property in an SMSF suitable for a tech professional with RSUs?

It depends on your situation. It may suit a high earner with a business use for premises, but it creates concentration in one illiquid asset. A licensed adviser can assess whether it fits your wider plan.