Family Trusts & Wealth Structures
Build wealth with confidence. Protect it with the right structure.
Whether you're starting a business, operating within an existing structure, growing family wealth or planning for retirement, we can help you understand your options, assess what's already in place and support the journey ahead.
- Sole Traders
- Partnerships
- Companies
- Trusts
- SMSFs
- Ongoing Support
Learn more about wealth structures that support your future.
The right structure can provide flexibility, protect family assets and create opportunities for future generations.
We can help you understand and review:
- Family trusts (discretionary trusts)
- Investment trusts
- Holding structures
- Asset protection strategies
- Wealth ownership structures
- Succession planning considerations
- Intergenerational wealth planning
Every family’s circumstances are different. We’ll help you understand the advantages and considerations of each option before recommending a structure that’s right for your goals.
Understanding common business and investment structures.
Each structure has different advantages, responsibilities and considerations. Understanding the basics can help you make more informed decisions.
Sole Traders, Partnerships and Companies
A sole trader structure is often the simplest way to start a business. It can be relatively easy to establish and manage, but there is generally no separation between personal and business assets.
Partnerships allow two or more people to operate together and share profits, responsibilities and decision-making. They can work well in some circumstances, but it’s important to have clear agreements in place.
Companies are separate legal entities that can provide greater flexibility as businesses grow. They are commonly used by business owners seeking a more formal structure and can offer opportunities for succession planning and asset protection considerations.
Family Trusts and SMSFs
Trusts are commonly used by families, investors and business owners looking for flexibility in managing assets and distributing income. Family trusts and unit trusts each operate differently and should be reviewed periodically to ensure they continue to align with your objectives.
Self-Managed Super Funds provide members with greater control over their retirement savings, but they also come with trustee responsibilities and ongoing compliance obligations. Before establishing an SMSF, individuals should seek advice from a licensed financial adviser who can determine whether it is appropriate for their circumstances. Once that advice has been obtained, Amarose Accounting can assist with establishment and ongoing administration requirements.
Lets talk about family trusts. They can be powerful, but they're often misunderstood.
Many people lean towards family trusts without fully understanding how they work or whether it's still appropriate.
At Amarose Accounting, we help clients understand how their existing trust operates, explain the responsibilities involved and review whether their current structure still supports what they’re trying to achieve.
Whether you’re establishing a trust for the first time or simply wanting confidence that your arrangements remain fit for purpose, our goal is to provide clarity and practical guidance without unnecessary jargon.
Family trusts are commonly used by business owners, investors and families looking for flexibility in the way assets and income are managed.
They can play an important role in succession planning, investment strategies and broader family wealth structures.
The challenge is that many trusts were established years ago and have never been reviewed. Circumstances change, families grow, businesses evolve and legislation is updated. A structure that once made sense may no longer align with your current goals or circumstances.
Family Trusts and Unit Trusts Explained
Different trust structures serve different purposes, and understanding the difference can help you make more informed decisions.
What is a Family Trust?
A family trust, often referred to as a discretionary trust, gives trustees flexibility in how income and capital may be distributed among beneficiaries. These structures are commonly used by business owners and families who value adaptability as circumstances change over time.
Family trusts can also form part of broader succession planning and wealth creation strategies. Understanding how decisions are made, who controls the trust and what responsibilities exist is an important part of managing these structures effectively.
Learn more about Family Trusts HERE
What is a Unit Trust?
A unit trust is structured differently, with beneficiaries holding fixed interests through units, much like shares in a company. These structures are often used where multiple parties contribute funds or assets and want certainty around ownership proportions.
Unit trusts can be useful in investment arrangements, property ownership structures and joint ventures. Like any structure, they should be reviewed periodically to ensure they continue to support the objectives they were originally established for.
Learn more about Unit Trusts HERE
Understanding your structure starts with asking the right questions.
The best structure is the one that works best for you.
- What do you own?
- What are you building?
- What needs protecting?
Reviewing your structure regularly can help ensure it evolves alongside your goals.
We help our clients make the most of their structures.
At Amarose Accounting, we work with individuals, families and business owners to establish new structures, review existing structures, explain how they operate and identify opportunities for improvement where appropriate.
We also assist with establishing new trusts when there is a clear reason for doing so and can work alongside solicitors, financial advisers and other professionals as part of a broader advisory team.
Our focus is on helping clients understand their structures, feel confident in the decisions they’re making and ensure the foundations supporting their wealth and business activities remain relevant as life evolves.
You can learn more about Trusts from the ATO website HERE
Why reviewing your structure options matters.
A proactive review today can help create greater confidence and flexibility tomorrow.
Clarity
Understand how your existing structure actually works.Confidence
Know your arrangements still support your objectives.Flexibility
Adapt as family, business and investment goals change.Perspective
Consider opportunities you may not have explored before.
Structures should support your future, not hold you back.
Many of our clients also considering succession planning, SMSFs, family investment structures or business growth opportunities.
Our role is to help bring these conversations together, provide practical guidance and ensure decisions are made with the bigger picture in mind.
Because good structures aren’t created for today.
They’re designed to support the opportunities, challenges and transitions that come tomorrow.
Wondering what structure makes sense for you?
Whether your wanting a new entity or it is already established Amarose Accounting can help you understand how it works and whether it still aligns with your goals.
Book a time to chat