We explore why more Australians are setting up SMSFs, including the ability to choose your own investments, control timing of decisions, and build a strategy aligned with personal goals rather than default fund allocations. Domenic explains what an SMSF can invest in, including ASX shares, cash, property, cryptocurrency, and precious metals such as gold and silver bullion.

We also unpack SMSF structure and governance, including corporate trustee versus individual trustees, single-member fund options, and why administration and membership changes matter over time.

On the tax side, Domenic breaks everything down in simple terms — from how contributions are taxed, to capital gains implications when selling assets, and what happens with different super components during rollovers. We also discuss proposed changes impacting balances above $3 million, including concerns around the taxation of unrealised gains and what this could mean for long-term retirement planning.

If you’re considering an SMSF for flexibility, tax efficiency, or greater control over your retirement strategy, this episode will help you understand the key questions to ask before you begin.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Domenic’s background and focus on SMSF strategy and tax
 • Why Australians are moving to self-managed super funds
 • Control, flexibility, and investment choice inside an SMSF
 • What SMSFs can invest in (property, shares, crypto, gold & silver)
 • Corporate trustee vs individual trustee structures
 • Family SMSFs and how member balances work
 • Rollover rules and “untaxed” super components
 • How contributions and investment earnings are taxed
 • Capital gains tax inside an SMSF and timing considerations
 • Proposed $3M super tax changes and unrealised gains debate
 • Setup costs, admin requirements, and ongoing compliance

Ready to Explore Your SMSF Options?

If you’re thinking about setting up an SMSF or reviewing your current structure, you can reach out for guidance and an initial complimentary consultation.

Connect with Your Host

Carmelle Pavan
General Manager (VIC), As Good As Gold Australia
Phone: (03) 8375 9674 | National: 1300 295 833
Email: carmelle@asgoodasgold.com.au
Website: www.asgoodasgold.com.au

Guest Information

Domenic Costanzo
SMSF Specialist Tax Accountant, Costanzo & Associates
Email: domenic@costanzoassociates.com.au
Website: https://www.costanzoassociates.com.au

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In this episode, we sit down with Brian Panes, Co-Founder of As Good as Gold Australia, to explore why more Australians are questioning inflation, rethinking traditional savings, and turning to physical gold and silver bullion as real money rather than simply another investment.

Brian's journey into precious metals began far from the bullion industry. After decades in Australian engineering and manufacturing, competing in global markets, he witnessed firsthand how exchange rates, interest rates, and economic policy can dramatically impact businesses and personal wealth. These experiences shaped his belief in owning scarce, tangible assets that have historically preserved purchasing power.

Together, we explore the debate between real money and fiat currency, examining the traditional functions of money and why the "store of value" function matters more than ever in today's economic environment.

Brian also answers some of the practical questions first-time bullion buyers often ask, including the difference between spot price and retail price, the costs involved in purchasing physical bullion, and why trust, security, and storage are critical considerations.

We also discuss why an increasing number of Australians are exploring Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) to gain greater control over their retirement savings and diversify beyond traditional superannuation structures. Finally, Brian shares a broader economic perspective on what a potential return to gold-backed monetary systems could mean for long-term wealth preservation.

What We Cover in This Episode

• How exchange rates and interest rates impact businesses and personal wealth
 • Why a mentor encouraged Brian to save in gold and silver early in life
 • The importance of trust and reputation in the bullion industry
 • Why some investors are moving towards SMSFs and precious metals
 • Why official inflation figures often feel disconnected from everyday expenses
 • The difference between money and currency, and the functions of money
 • Spot price versus retail price explained simply
 • Secure storage considerations for physical bullion investors
 • The potential implications of a return to a gold-backed monetary system

Why Are Investors Turning to Gold and Silver as an Inflation Hedge?

As the cost of living continues to rise, many investors are turning to physical gold and silver to help protect their purchasing power. Unlike fiat currencies, which can lose value over time, precious metals have historically acted as long-term stores of value. While no investment is immune to market fluctuations, many Australians view gold and silver as an important part of a diversified portfolio during periods of inflation and economic uncertainty.

If you've been curious about precious metals, wealth protection, or preserving purchasing power, this episode is for you.

Connect with Your Host

Carmelle Pavan
General Manager (VIC), As Good As Gold Australia
Phone: (03) 8375 9674 | National: 1300 295 833
Email: carmelle@asgoodasgold.com.au
Website: www.asgoodasgold.com.au

Connect with Our Guest

Brian Panes
Co-Founder, As Good As Gold Australia
Website: www.asgoodasgold.com.au

To Purchase Physical Gold & Silver Bullion

Contact the team at As Good As Gold Australia on 1300 295 833 or visit www.asgoodasgoldaustralia.com.au

Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone interested in building and protecting their wealth.

With a career in finance dating back to the 1960s, Lynette has worked as a banker, stockbroker, and currency analyst, and has spent decades studying the lifecycle of money systems. She is widely known for her central message: “If you don’t hold it, you don’t own it.”

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore global monetary instability, inflation driven by fiat currency expansion, and the growing role of gold and silver as strategic sound money assets. Lynette also discusses Australia’s debt challenges, cost-of-living pressures, and the increasing relevance of financial sovereignty in an uncertain economic environment.

We also cover emerging trends in digital money, including stablecoin regulation and gold-backed digital assets, and what these developments could mean for the future of the financial system.

What We Cover in This Episode

• The difference between physical gold ownership vs paper gold (ETFs, pooled accounts, and custodial risk)

• The lifecycle of fiat currencies and historical patterns of monetary collapse

• Inflation, debt expansion, and currency debasement and their impact on households

• Why gold and silver continue to function as long-term stores of value

• Central bank gold accumulation and what it may signal about global confidence

• Geopolitical tensions and their influence on currencies and precious metals

• Australia’s economic pressures including debt, housing, and inflation

• Stablecoins, digital currencies, and the rise of tokenised gold assets

• What a potential “financial reset” could look like and key warning indicators

• Strategies for financial resilience, liquidity, and reducing systemic risk

• Lynette’s guidance on building wealth protection through sound money principles

This episode delivers a deep and thought-provoking discussion on monetary history, current global risks, and practical steps individuals can consider when building long-term financial resilience.

Ready to Explore Physical Gold and Silver?

Physical gold and silver offer a way to diversify beyond traditional financial systems. With no third-party risk and a long history of preserving purchasing power, precious metals remain a key consideration for those focused on long-term wealth protection.

Connect with Your Host 

Carmelle Pavan

General Manager (VIC), As Good As Gold Australia

Phone: (03) 8375 9674 | National: 1300 295 833

Email: carmelle@asgoodasgold.com.au

Website: www.asgoodasgold.com.au

Guest Information

Lynette Zang

Founder, Zang Enterprises

Website: Zang Enterprises

Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone interested in sound money, financial independence, and protecting wealth in uncertain times.