Aged Care Advice · Sydney & Brisbane

Aged care decisions, made with clarity.

When a parent or partner needs care, the financial decisions arrive fast — accommodation deposits, means-tested fees, what to do with the family home. We help families make those calls calmly, with every option modelled and on the table.

Book Your Free Discovery Call → Call +61 2 8526 5889
20+
Years Advising
300+
Families Helped
5.0★
Google Reviews
4.88
Adviser Ratings
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5.0 on Google

"Troy made me feel comfortable and explained my options clearly and simply. He saved me money and put a strategy in place I am happy and confident with."

— John, 46–55 · Verified via Adviser Ratings
Self-Licensed AFSL SSA™ Designated Master of Fin. Planning Fee for Service
The Challenge

The hardest financial decisions arrive at the hardest possible time.

“Do we have to sell the home?”

Not always — and the right answer depends on how the home is treated by the aged care means test, the Age Pension, and the family's circumstances. Selling in haste can be an expensive mistake.

“The fee system is a maze”

Refundable deposits, daily payments, means-tested care fees, everyday living fees — each interacts with the others, and with the Age Pension. Small structuring decisions move real money.

“Everything is urgent”

Care placements usually follow a health event, leaving families days — not months — to make six-figure decisions. Specialist advice brings order, fast.

What You Get

Every aged care option, properly modelled.

We put real numbers on each pathway — so your family can decide with confidence instead of guesswork.

Aged Care Cost Analysis

A clear comparison of the total cost of each facility and funding option under consideration — deposits, daily fees, means-tested fees and cashflow, side by side.

RAD vs DAP Strategy

Pay the accommodation cost as a refundable lump sum (RAD), a daily payment (DAP), or a combination — modelled against your assets, cashflow and pension position.

The Family Home Decision

Keep, rent or sell — each choice affects aged care fees, the Age Pension and the estate differently, and the timing matters. We model all three before anything is signed.

Age Pension & Means Testing

Structuring assets and income around the means tests to protect entitlements — for the person entering care and, importantly, for a spouse remaining at home.

Cashflow & Funding Plan

Where the money comes from, sustainably — so care is funded without forced asset sales or unnecessary stress on the family.

Estate & Family Coordination

Refundable deposits, beneficiary nominations and estate documents all interact. We coordinate with your solicitor and keep the whole family informed.

How It Works

Three steps from confusion to a clear family decision.

01

Discovery Call

A free, no-obligation 30-minute conversation about your family's situation — including adult children and attorneys where appropriate. Zoom, phone, or in person at our Sydney or Brisbane office.

Free · No commitment · Completely confidential
02

Your Personal Strategy

We model your numbers, build your retirement plan, and present it in plain language you can actually understand — not jargon-filled documents.

Typically 2–3 weeks · Statement of Advice included
03

Implementation & Ongoing Care

We execute the plan, manage your portfolio, and review it every year as your life changes — so you stay on track without worrying.

Annual reviews · Direct access to Troy always
Your Adviser

Self-licensed by design. Fee-for-service by choice.

Troy Gudgeon established Wealth Designers Advisory under its own Australian Financial Services Licence specifically to remove the conflicts that come with bank or institutionally-owned advisory groups. No dealer group, no product quotas — the only agenda at the table is yours.

  • 20+ years of financial planning experience across every market cycle
  • Master of Financial Planning — Kaplan Professional
  • SMSF Specialist Advisor™ (SSA™) designated
  • Member, Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA)
  • Self-licensed AFSL 562647 — no bank ownership, no third-party ties
  • Offices in Barangaroo (Sydney) and Brisbane CBD — advises nationally via Zoom
Book a Free Call with Troy →
Troy Gudgeon, Founding Director and Principal Adviser
Troy Gudgeon
Founding Director & Principal Adviser
MFinPlan · SSA™ · FAAA Member
Wealth Designers Advisory Pty Ltd
ABN 26 650 483 300 · AFSL 562647
Accredited SMSF Association Specialist
Client Reviews

What our clients say about working with Troy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"It has been our absolute pleasure to have Troy as our financial advisor for approximately 11 years. Troy has consistently demonstrated diligence, professionalism, and a wealth of knowledge. He is not only a true professional but also a gentleman we regard as both adviser and friend."

KJ
Karoly & Ecaterina Josa
Long-term clients · Verified
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Working with Troy has been a game-changer for my financial future. His expertise and personalised approach made me feel confident and secure. He crafted a comprehensive plan that aligns perfectly with my needs."

JC
John & Caroline
Verified via Adviser Ratings
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Troy was able to communicate complex financial information in a way that made it easy for me to understand. He also understood my priority for ethical investments at a level of risk that I am very comfortable with."

V
Verified Client
Adviser Ratings · Gold Status
Common Questions

Answers about aged care advice.

Not finding your question here? The Discovery Call is the right place to ask anything — no obligation.

Book a Free Call →
  • Do we have to sell the family home to pay for aged care?
    Not necessarily. The home is treated in specific ways by both the aged care means test and the Age Pension assets test — particularly where a spouse or protected person still lives there — and there are several ways to fund accommodation costs without selling. It's a decision to model carefully, not a foregone conclusion.
  • What's the difference between a RAD and a DAP?
    A RAD (Refundable Accommodation Deposit) is a lump sum that is refundable when you leave care, while a DAP (Daily Accommodation Payment) is an ongoing daily amount instead. You can also combine the two. Which mix works best depends on your assets, cashflow and pension position — it's one of the most valuable decisions to get right.
  • How are aged care fees means-tested?
    Services Australia assesses income and assets to determine the means-tested contributions payable on top of the basic daily fee. The assessment interacts with the Age Pension, and the way assets are structured before entry can change the outcome materially. That structuring is a core part of the advice.
  • Can you help with care at home, not just residential care?
    Yes. Many families want to compare government-subsidised in-home care with residential care before deciding. We model the costs of both pathways so the choice is made on real numbers as well as care needs.
  • How quickly can you help? We're under time pressure.
    Quickly — we understand placements often follow a hospital stay and deadlines are short. Raise the urgency at the Discovery Call and we prioritise accordingly; initial modelling of the key decision (such as RAD vs DAP or the family home) can usually be turned around fast.
  • Who do you advise — the person entering care, or the family?
    Usually both. In practice we often work with adult children or attorneys acting under an Enduring Power of Attorney, alongside the person entering care and any spouse remaining at home. Everyone sees the same numbers, so the family decides together.
Take the First Step

Facing an aged care decision? You don’t have to face it alone.

Book a complimentary 30-minute Discovery Call. No obligation, no pressure — just clear, calm guidance on the decision in front of your family.

Book Your Free Discovery Call → Call Our Office

Wealth Designers Advisory Pty Ltd · AFSL 562647 · Advice prepared under the Corporations Act 2001