Q&A - Bitcoin, debt recycling & the 6-year rule: smart structuring for financial independence

Register Here

In this wide-ranging Q&A episode, Stuart tackles advanced strategy questions across crypto, capital gains tax, debt recycling, super structuring, and long-term portfolio design.

First, he unpacks the tax realities of holding Bitcoin via an ETF versus direct ownership, including whether using Bitcoin as a future currency actually avoids CGT (spoiler: the tax system doesn’t work that way). He also explores custody risk and what “safest” really means when holding digital assets directly.

The episode then shifts to a couple crystallising a large capital gain and weighing up debt recycling, super contributions, and leveraging through NAB Equity Builder. Stuart breaks down the maths of deductible versus non-deductible debt, Div 293 considerations, and how to balance tax efficiency with flexibility and early financial independence.

He also revisits the six-year rule for CGT on former principal residences, clarifying eligibility, deductibility during exemption periods, valuation strategies, and whether banks need to be notified when occupancy changes.

Finally, for a defined benefit member building wealth outside super, Stuart explores portfolio diversification beyond property and how defined benefit interests interact with the $2 million transfer balance cap.

A technical but practical episode focused on sequencing, structure, and preserving optionality on the path to financial freedom.

Read Stuart's latest book? He's only got 19 reviews on Amazon so far, if Wealth by Design helped you, leaving one would mean a lot: https://www.amazon.com.au/review/create-review?asin=192318654X

Run your own business? 

Check out Business by Design, Stuart and Mena's show on starting, growing and exiting a business, at https://www.businessbydesignpodcast.com/

Our most popular free guides:

Over the years we've written hundreds of articles. These three bring our best thinking together on the topics that matter most right now: choosing a super fund, debt recycling, and navigating the new tax changes.

Download them here

Got a question for the podcast?

Email us at [email protected]

Subscribe to my weekly blog:

Stay connected here

Important

This podcast provides general information about finance, tax and credit. It doesn't take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs, so you need to assess whether it's relevant to your circumstances before acting on it. If you're not sure, speak to a licensed, trustworthy professional.