Clients come to you as they want direction that is accurate, in-depth and practical for their situation. Seeing how other advisers approach similar scenarios can help shape stronger strategies, which is why real statement of advice examples are so useful. They can help show you what’s possible when the thinking behind a plan is clear, intentional and supported by good modelling.
In the work we do as paraplanners in Australia, the same patterns often show up again and again. When advisers and paraplanners talk through the strategy before the SOA is written, the outcomes are consistently stronger. Opportunities are easier to spot, risks become clearer and clients end up with advice they can understand and trust.
The examples of strategies and SOAs below walk through the kind of impact collaboration can create and how small shifts in approach can lead to better outcomes for your clients.
SOA Strategies That Can Give You Better Results For Your Clients
Maximising Centrelink entitlements.
Many clients miss out on age pension benefits because their assets or income are structured inefficiently. Paraplanners can help identify opportunities to restructure super balances, gifting strategies or income streams to maximise Centrelink entitlements, often adding tens of thousands of dollars in government benefits over the court of retirement, which we will demonstrate further along.
Re-contribution strategies.
Re-contribution strategies are central to retirement advice. With higher transfer balance caps and contribution flexibility, they can help maximise Centrelink benefits, reduce tax on death benefits and add huge value to clients.
Where paraplanners can help financial advisers with this is to model and explain the benefits clearly within an SOA, showing how it meets the client’s broader retirement goals. This not not only strengthens the strategy, but adds value to the client.
Contribution splitting.
Contribution splitting is one of the most under-utilised statement of advice strategies out there, with many different ways to use them, such as:
- Maximising the balance of an older spouse who needs to draw an income stream sooner.
- Direct money to a younger spouse to shelter assets for Centrelink.
- Try and keep a client’s super balance under $500,000 for catch-up concessional contributions.
- Even out balances due to one partner having a larger balance than the other.
And many more. Whatever the scenario, a paraplanner can help work it out to add immense value to your SOAs.
SMSF analysis and wind-up strategies.
More and more advisers are reviewing long-standing self-managed super funds (SMSF), realising some no longer serve their purpose. Many were set up years ago for property investment or by advisers with accounting partnerships, but not hold simple wrap or brokerage accounts.
For retirees wanting liquidity and simplicity, the complexity and cost of a SMSF usually outweighs the benefits. When paraplanners draft SOA documents, they will assess if they are still viable from a cost and benefit perspective and easily explain the pros and cons either way.
Debt reduction vs. investment strategies.
Should someone pay off their mortgage or salary sacrifice into super? Is using a redundancy payment to clear debt better than investing for growth? These aren’t simple yes or no questions. They require modelling, comparison and clear communication of the trade-offs. For clients to have a clear understanding to be able to make informed decisions with confidence, it’s important their SOA presents multiple scenarios of each potential outcome. This is where paraplanners can help do this effectively.
Transition to retirement strategies.
For people still working but approaching retirement, the transition to retirement pensions can offer tax benefits and flexibility. By modelling the numbers in the SOA, clients can be given a clear strategy, also making sure the advice aligns with their retirement timeline and goals.
Insurance needs analysis and restructuring.
Good insurance advice protects not just the client, but the adviser’s reputation too. By utilising a paraplanner to generate quotes, compare existing and alternative products, complete needs analysis and summarise results clearly and concisely, advisers can save hours while keeping their advice compliant. Fewer advisers are writing risk advice due to the compliance load and admin requirements, so the support of a paraplanner is becoming an essential strategy.
Product switching and platform consolidation.
Switching from low-cost to high-fee products needs clear justification, also showing clear benefit to people when a platform move is recommended. By documenting the reasoning, comparing the costs and features and making sure the recommendation stands up to scrutiny, advisers can help demonstrate their guidance.
Sample Statement of Advice When Collaboration Works
The best statement of advice examples don’t come from templates. They come from genuine collaboration between adviser and paraplanner before a single word is written. When you start the adviser-paraplanner relationship with a meeting about the client’s goals and needs, true results can be revealed, like the sample statement of advice scenarios below.
SOA Example 1: The Missed Centrelink Opportunity
The situation was a straightforward retirement case for a 61-year-old client retiring now, married to a 69-year-old-husband. While the wife had $200,000 in super, the husband had no super, but kept $440,000 in cash and term deposits, but didn’t trust investing.
The original strategy was simple; start a pension for the wife and draw income of around $52k per annum combined, accounting for minimal Centrelink benefits for the husband. However, there was a significant opportunity being missed to maximise the husband’s Centrelink benefits.
The recommendation:
- Contribute $360,000 of the husband’s cash into the wife’s super as a non-concessional contribution, keeping $80,000 outside of super.
- For the wife to commence a pension with her existing $200,000, while the $360,000 remained in accumulation in cash and term deposits aligned with the husband’s risk profile.
The result:
- A projected Centrelink uplift of $75,000 over six years with compounding benefits to pension balances through retirement.
- The client achieved their income target comfortably and was thrilled with the outcome.
Adviser feedback:
“This is why we use you. You pick up opportunities I sometimes miss. It gives me confidence knowing you’ve got my back.”
SOA Example 2: The Re-Contribution Strategy That Saved $120,000 in Tax
Another recent case involved a 65-year-old client and 62-year-old partner. The wife was retired, while the husband worked part-time and planned to retire at 67. The husband had $600k in super, the wife had $100k.
The original strategy was straightforward, starting both pensions with their full balances and drawing income to meet living expenses on top of the husband’s salary. However, the problem was that both super accounts were 100% taxable. Since both clients had met their condition of release, there was a clear opportunity for a re-contribution strategy.
Our recommendation:
- Withdraw both balances in full.
- Each to make non-concessional contributions of $360,000.
- Commence new pensions drawing the minimum of $32,400 per annum, combined.
- Husband to continue making concessional contributions while still working.
- Consider another re-contribution from the husband’s account to the wife’s in three years, if required.
The result:
- Converted 100% of balances into tax-free pension funds.
- Taxable accumulation account kept separate for ongoing contributions.
- Improved Age Pension entitlements at retirement.
- Potential tax benefit of $122,000 to the estate.
These examples aren’t about showing off but rather demonstrating what’s possible when collaboration happens early, when paraplanners have the time and skill to think strategically, and when the relationship is built on partnership rather than just execution.
SOA Example 3: Strategy Papers for Complex Decisions
More advisers are using strategy papers to help clients test ideas before committing to full advice, which is where collaboration really shines.
For example, a client receives a total and permanent disability (TPD) payout and wants to compare using the lump sum to clear debt versus setting up an income stream. Through modelling, both options can be shown, demonstrating long-term outcomes and trade-offs, and without referencing specific products.
Another common scenario is pre-retirement planning. Scenarios like “retire at 60 vs 65” or “maximise super contributions vs focus on debt reduction” can be modelled, explaining the likely trade-offs in each scenario. For example, a client will be able to see the differences in cutting back living expenses now or taking on higher risk, working longer in retirement.
Once the client chooses a direction, the SOA can be prepared with specific product recommendations. This two-step approach supports stronger conversations, adds value to your clients, and keeps advice compliant at every stage.
An Example of Statement of Advice Financial Planning When You Work With One Trusted Professional
Strong statements of advice examples aren’t just about the strategies themselves. They’re also shaped by the relationship between adviser and paraplanner. By working with one dedicated professional who understands how you think, you can receive an accurate SOA to benefit your clients’ outcomes.
Familiarity raises the standard.
When advisers work with rotating contractors, every new SOA requires explaining their process, style, and licensee requirements all over again. It’s exhausting, inefficient, and increases the risk of errors.
By building a long-term relationship with a trusted paraplanner, they can learn your preferences, communication habits and nuances. You’ll have a primary paraplanner working with you and a back-up who’s also familiar with your needs.
This familiarity means fewer revisions, faster turnarounds, and advice documents that genuinely sound like you. It also means your needs can often be anticipated before you ask, because your paraplanner knows how you work.
Modelling becomes sharper and more useful.
By working with a paraplanner early in the process, advisers can quantify client benefits through modelling and scenario analysis, making it easier to demonstrate value and justify fees with confidence. By drawing on what they see across the market to provide context, paraplanners also help advisers stay competitive without undervaluing their expertise.
A common example of this is when an adviser is discussing a potential strategy and asks their paraplanner what they think the potential benefit might be. After running the numbers, the paraplanner might estimate a $100,000 benefit over five years, giving the adviser confidence to charge a higher advice fee than originally considered, adding value to their business while delivering exceptional outcomes for their clients.
Quality becomes predictable and consistent.
With one trusted paraplanner, nothing feels rushed or pieces together. Every SOA follows a refined process, and is checked for strategy accuracy, compliance alignment, structure and tone. Something we do at Future Paraplanning is have at least two sets of eyes review every SOA, because slowing down in the right places means everything else moves faster. Fewer compliance flags, revisions and headaches.
That level of consistency only happens when the relationship is built on trust, communication and genuine care for the outcome. It’s the kind of partnerships advisers rely on to deliver their best work.
Ask yourself; does your paraplanner do this?
When your paraplanner truly collaborates and doesn’t just execute, you get better strategies, happier clients, and more confident advice.
Does your paraplanner take the time, have the skill, and feel motivated to do that for you? Do they help you find opportunities in every SOA? Do they challenge your thinking and strengthen your strategies?
Because great paraplanning isn’t measured by how fast a plan is written and returned to the adviser – the quality has to be there. And quality comes from partnership, experience, and genuine care for the outcome.
We celebrate a win for you as an adviser as a win for us too. Hearing about your success with securing a high-profile client thanks to awesome strategies and quick turnaround really means a lot to us as a business.
That’s what financial planning looks like when it’s done right – and that’s what we deliver every single day at Future Paraplanning.
