When Tim and Nicky began working with Future Assist in 2016, their ambitions were straightforward, if not modest: build wealth steadily and retire with options.
Future Assist assisted the couple in establishing a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), allowing them to take control of how their retirement savings were invested. From there, the strategy expanded to include direct property investments and a share portfolio, with assets held both inside and outside super.
POSITION THEN (2016)
Total Assets: $634,000
POSITION NOW (2026)
Total Assets: $1,830,000
Early Momentum, Then a Period of Patience
The years following were defined less by headline decisions and more by groundwork. Between 2017 and 2019, the couple focused on building their principal residence and converting their former home into an investment property. Cash flow was tight, progress was incremental, and the strategy remained largely unchanged.
It wasn’t a period that produced dramatic gains, but it reinforced something more important: the discipline to stay the course when results weren’t immediate.
COVID Volatility: When Fear Threatened the Plan
The arrival of COVID in 2020 changed the tone entirely. Like many investors, Tim and Nicky were shaken by market volatility. Concerned about falling asset values and economic uncertainty, they began to question their strategy and considered selling down their investments and stepping away from further investing altogether.
At this point, Future Assist advised Tim and Nicky to step back from short-term market movements and return to first principles: wealth is built by owning quality assets and holding them through cycles, not by reacting to headlines.
It was a pivotal conversation. Rather than exiting, Tim and Nicky chose to stay invested.
Confidence Returns — and Growth Follows
In 2021, with renewed confidence and a clearer mindset, Tim and Nicky moved forward with the next phase of their strategy. They acquired additional property investments both inside and outside their SMSF, using a combination of superannuation funds and equity from their principal residence.
This marked a clear turning point — not just in what they owned, but in how they approached investing. Fear gave way to discipline, and short-term noise was replaced by long-term focus.
Letting the Strategy Do Its Work
With the portfolio in place, the next two years were about allowing time to do its job. Property values increased, rental income improved and surplus cash flow strengthened. There were no dramatic changes to the strategy — and that was the point. The compounding effect of staying invested began to show.
Knowing When to Pause
In 2024, Tim and Nicky explored the acquisition of a fourth investment property. However, when Todd faced the possibility of redundancy, the decision was made to pause rather than push forward. Importantly, this wasn’t a retreat from their long-term plan. It was a tactical pause, a reminder that good strategy allows for adjustment without abandoning direction.
2026: Back on the Front Foot
With circumstances stabilised, Tim and Nicky re-engaged with Future Assist in 2026 to revisit their strategy and once again move toward acquiring their fourth investment property. This return to action reflects the confidence they now have in both their plan and their process.
Tim and Nicky’s experience is a reminder that wealth creation rarely hinges on a single decision. Instead, it is the result of a series of choices — especially the decision to stay the course when markets feel uncomfortable.
Names may have been changed but all other details provided in this case study are based on actual client results. While every effort has been made to accurately represent the outcomes and results achieved in this case study, it’s important to note that individual results may vary based on a variety of factors including but not limited to the client’s unique circumstances, goals, and actions taken. This case study is not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance.
