Case Studies
See how we’ve helped clients navigate important financial decisions.
How we've helped our clients
Keeping the farm and the family: a complex succession plan
Challenge: Three adult sons (two farming on-farm, one off-farm) with complex family dynamics and high emotional stakes. The family wanted to preserve the farming assets, provide a fair outcome for an off-farm son, set up two independent farming households, and enable the parents to retire while protecting family relationships.
The brief We worked with this family for over a decade of discussion and informal planning, before commencing the formal process. Their primary (and non-negotiable) objective was to protect the close family bond while delivering a practical and fair succession of the farm business and assets.
Our approach
- Long-term, multidisciplinary planning: We built on ten years of the family’s own planning and worked across tax, superannuation, trust/family law and commercial structuring to create a coordinated solution.
- Human-centred facilitation: Recognising succession is as emotional as it is financial, Myf and Taylor led sensitive conversations and kept communication constructive and respectful.
- Tailored structures: Designed mechanisms that allowed two farming families to operate independently, provided equitable benefit to the off-farm son, and preserved farm ownership where desired.
- Retirement funding: Structured the parents’ exit from day-to-day farming and arranged ongoing income via their superannuation fund so they could retire off-farm with financial security.
Outcome
- Farming assets were retained within the family.
- Two farming families were set up to operate independently and sustainably.
- The off-farm son received a fair and equitable benefit.
- The parents retired off-farm with living expenses funded through their superannuation.
- Crucially, the family’s close bond was preserved, the client’s stated ultimate goal.
“Accession3’s attitude and certainly their delivery of our succession plan went far beyond the numbers… To have retained our farming assets, set two farming families up independently, provided a fair and equitable benefit to our off-farm son, and funded our retirement via super is a credit to the extensive planning, hard work, maturity and ethics of all involved.” — Accession3 Client
Full Client Testimonial
“Accession3 Business Advisers are nothing other than thorough and professional.
Having three sons (all with wives and children) one of which is not ‘on-farm’, our succession plan would not fall into the ‘easy’ category.
Due to ten years of extensive planning, an enormous amount of thought, advice and a huge amount of emotional energy from myself, my wife as well as Accession3, we were able to deliver a succession plan that has resulted in all families involved retaining our close family bond (my ultimate goal).
Accession3’s attitude and certainly their delivery of our succession plan went far beyond the numbers. In my opinion to conduct the sensitive and difficult issue of succession successfully, your guidance needs a much greater appreciation than simply understanding the balance sheet. This is where Myf and Taylor at Accession3 shone.
To have retained our farming assets, set two farming families up independently of each other, provided a fair and equitable benefit to our off-farm son, have everyone in control of their own destinies as well as having my wife and I retired off farm whilst funding our living via our superannuation fund, is a credit to the extensive planning, hard work, maturity and ethics of all involved.”
-Accession3 Client
Why this worked
- We treated the technical work (tax, super, trusts) and the human side (mediation, expectations management) with equal importance.
- Long-term planning and small, deliberate steps allowed the family to move forward without fracturing relationships.
- Clear communication and practical structuring meant everyone retained control of their own destiny.
Transitioning the farm and securing retirement: a succession plan built for the next generation
Client: Family farming business (name withheld)
Challenge: Transitioning one farm to the next generation, consideration of selling the primary farming asset, maximising superannuation for retirement, and creating a structured, tax-effective legacy for children and grandchildren.
The brief
This family approached us with a clear vision: they wanted to hand over the operational farming business to their son, step back from active farming, and ensure their retirement was financially secure. At the same time, they wanted to support their children and grandchildren early in life and create a meaningful legacy for future generations.
Our approach
- Farm transition strategy: We structured the transfer of one farm to their son in a way that supported the business continuity while managing tax and duty considerations.
- Asset realignment: The main family farm was sold as part of a broader succession strategy, freeing up capital to fund retirement and future investments.
- Superannuation optimisation: We maximised contributions into superannuation, ensuring a strong and sustainable income stream for the parents as they moved into retirement.
- Early gifting and legacy planning: Assets were strategically gifted to children early, helping them progress with their own lives and ventures while managing tax outcomes.
- Intergenerational wealth: Investments were also set aside to create education funds for grandchildren — supporting future schooling and easing financial pressures on the next generation.
Outcome
- One farming enterprise was successfully transitioned to the son, allowing the family legacy to continue.
- The other main farm sale funded a robust retirement strategy, with superannuation playing a key role in providing stable income.
- Children received early support through gifting, enabling them to establish their own pathways sooner.
- Dedicated investments were established for grandchildren’s education, creating a lasting, practical legacy.
- The family achieved both financial security and peace of mind, knowing their wealth was structured to benefit generations to come.
Client Testimonial
“Accession3 has been our accountancy and business advisory firm from its inception. Their expertise with tax planning, and strategic business succession planning has been invaluable to our farming and investment businesses”.
– Accession3 Client
Why this worked
- A structured, step-by-step succession and retirement plan avoided rushed decisions and unintended tax outcomes.
- Clear intergenerational planning balanced the needs of parents, children, and grandchildren.
- By combining superannuation, gifting strategies, and investments, we created a sustainable, flexible wealth structure.
- Open and honest communication between all involved.