Spotlight on Vincent Stranges, Head of Product, Generation Life
Global Thought Leader Spotlight
Vincent Stranges, Head of Product, Generation Life
In my role as the Head of Product at Generation Life, I am responsible for providing tax-effective investment solutions that can meet the demands of both advisers and their clients, with solutions designed for tax-effective wealth accumulation, coupled with succession and estate planning certainty.
My role is to lead and coordinate product development to aid market-leading solutions being brought to market that help advisers deliver investment strategies that align with clients’ goals and objectives. Whether those goals and objectives involve tax-effective investing, creating flexible succession and estate planning outcomes delivered with certainty, or helping to better manage their clients’ life stages and events.
Tax structures for intergenerational equity
Government policy shifts reportedly with the aim of dealing with intergenerational inequities and budget sustainability, have seen a focus on winding back historical government policy positions, particularly in the area of tax and wealth transfers.
Housing affordability and availability are currently hot topics, which are just one part of intergenerational inequity discussions; intergenerational inequity has raised further contentions. Some commentators have queried if “generous” tax concessions should continue to mostly benefit those who are comparatively well off, or, should there be another equitable way of dealing with tax across generations?
Demographically, more complex family structures, coupled with the wave of assets expected to be transferred between the generations within about the next ~20 years, have created a need to clearly articulate and implement robust strategies to deal with:
Wealth transfers happening as planned; and,
Transfers will be undertaken in tax-effective ways.
Historically, asset allocations have been thought of in the context of modern portfolio theory, efficient frontiers, and risk budgeting. Today, we not only see risk in terms of asset class exposures, but importantly, the vehicles that warehouse those assets and how rules around those vehicles can also present risks.
Having the right structures or combination of structures is important from the outset. Unlike asset allocations, where decisions can be implemented on a daily basis, unwinding investment structures may not be that simple, which may mean even more careful planning.
Diversification should therefore be considered not just along traditional risk/return concepts, but also take into account structural or implementation risks.
Implications for sophisticated investors
What has worked in the past may not be the optimal solution going forward. Super has traditionally been the vehicle of choice to accumulate and pass on wealth. With recent changes to tax on the earnings from super large account balances, that historical tax arbitrage may no longer be there.
That requires a review of what vehicles, assets should be held through. What’s a more tax-effective vehicle to drive desired after-tax return outcomes? What vehicles can provide the flexibility, but also certainty when it comes time to pass on wealth to future generations?
Are alternative structures such as trusts, bucket companies and investment companies the answer? Are there other alternatives to be considered, such as investment bonds, which have seen renewed interest? Or is the solution, a combination of some or all? What the solution is, will depend on many factors, including existing structures and future needs.
What is certain is that there’s nothing more certain than change. Having the right tools in the kit bag to deal with change is important, as well as having flexibility in the structures implemented is also important to deal with changes along the way.
Vincent will be presenting at Global Investment Institute’s upcoming Private Wealth Investment Leaders Forum, taking place on Wednesday, 13 May 2026 in Melbourne CBD, Victoria. To register your interest in attending, click here or for more information email zlatan@globalii.com.au.
Vincent Stranges, Head of Product, Generation Life
Vincent is the Head of Product Management & Projects at Generation Life responsible for the development and delivery of product solutions since 2016.
Previously, he was the Portfolio Manager – Property and Mortgage Trusts and Head of Equities and Listed Securities at Australian Unity and Managing Director of Austpac Investments. Vincent has over 25 years of financial services experience spanning investment bonds, superannuation, platforms and managed funds.
Vincent holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Technology) and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Monash University.
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Disclaimer - Generation Life
Generation Life Limited AFSL 225408 (Generation Life) is the product issuer. Superannuation general financial product advice is provided by Generation Development Services Pty Ltd ABN 14 093 660 523 as CAR, No. 001317211 of Evidentia Financial Services Pty Ltd AFSL 546217. The PDS and TMD at genlife.com.au should be considered in deciding whether the product is appropriate for you or to continue to hold the product.
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