Cost of living, housing and aged care – top three concerns ahead of the Federal Budget according to latest Viridian Advisory adviser poll

Brett Arnol

Viridian Advisory’s latest adviser poll has revealed that the cost-of-living crisis, the current housing shortage, and aged care policies are dominating client concerns as Australians brace for the upcoming 2025-2026 Federal Budget announcement.

While 82% of the advisers surveyed by the poll highlighted that clients are neither optimistic nor pessimistic towards the upcoming Federal Budget, changes to superannuation, including the anticipated adjustments to the Div. 296 tax threshold, remained a key area of interest.

The survey also revealed an uptick in client enquiries related to the Budget. Aged care and housing pressure were again leading themes, with the remaining queries largely focused on economic areas such as market volatility due to tariffs, interest rates, debt levels, and the impact of the Trump administration on the Australian market.

Among the advisers surveyed, over 96% anticipated minimal shifts in portfolio allocations following the Budget, indicating a firm commitment to stable asset allocation during uncertain times.

Brett Arnol, Co-Founder and General Manager of Advice at Viridian, said: “While we do not expect any significant impact on client portfolios from the upcoming Federal Budget, we hope to see concrete commitments emerging from the Budget that address client concerns which also includes childcare, education and Medicare.”

The 2025-2026 Federal Budget is scheduled to be handed down on Tuesday 25 March 2025.