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Why Financial Advice Matters
West State and Gold State are not like other super funds. They are constitutionally protected, untaxed in structure, and have complex contribution rules meaning standard financial advice may not be sufficient. If you’re considering changes to your super, such as rolling over to another fund, adjusting contributions, or planning for retirement, it’s essential to speak with a licensed financial adviser who understands the unique features of these funds.
The following are some of the key areas to ask about when seeking financial advice.
What are the contribution caps that apply to my Gold State and Wests State schemes?
- Concessional contributions (e.g. employer and salary sacrifice) are not capped within the scheme, but they do count towards your overall concessional contributions cap if you also contribute to a taxed fund
- The untaxed plan cap is $1.865 million for the 2025/26 financial year. This is the maximum untaxed benefit you can accumulate and still be taxed concessionally when accessing your funds
What happens if I have a service period that commenced before 1 July 1983?
- You may have a larger tax-free component when accessing your super
- The pre-1 July 1983 amount is calculated at the time of withdrawal or rollover and can reduce the taxable portion of your benefit
- This can be a valuable tax planning opportunity, and you should consider seeking specialist financial advice to maximise your benefit
What are the implications to be aware of as a member of these funds?
- You cannot rejoin West State or Gold State if you close your account
- They are closed to new members, so maintaining your membership is valuable
- Contributions can only be made by WA public sector employers
- Rolling over to a taxed fund will trigger immediate taxation on the untaxed portion of your benefit
- You may lose access to unique tax strategies and benefits if you exit the scheme
What would I need to know if I’m thinking about moving from my West State or Gold State funds?
- You’ll lose the untaxed accumulation advantage, meaning up to 15% less of your balance will be invested after rollover
- You may also lose access to concessional tax treatment and the ability to make large salary sacrifice contributions
- Your decision is irreversible—you cannot rejoin once you leave
- It’s strongly recommended to seek licensed financial advice from someone familiar with constitutionally protected funds
If I have both a West State Super and a Gold State Super account, what should I be aware of?
- You are part of two constitutionally protected, untaxed schemes, each with unique rules and benefits
- Gold State Super is a defined benefit scheme, while West State Super is an accumulation scheme
- If you roll over from Gold State to West State, your untaxed plan cap is assessed twice, which may affect your tax treatment
- Decisions about either account are irreversible, so it’s essential to seek specialist financial advice before making changes
Advisors
Ben Coombe
Financial AdvisorAs a financial adviser and Director of Profusion Planning, I am passionate about providing clear, conservative strategies that are easy to understand and enable informed decision making.
Stephen Horsten
Financial AdvisorAs a founding member of Profusion Planning, I am also a Financial Adviser. I started my career in 1998, and since then I have helped many families with their financial planning
Brad Dudumas
Financial AdvisorI am a financial adviser and Director of Profusion Planning. With my qualifications and experience, I can provide advice in all areas of financial planning.
Brendon Read
Financial AdvisorAs your financial adviser I have the qualifications and experienced to provide advice in all aspects of financial planning, including expertise in GESB Gold State and West State Superannuation.
Brodie Martin
Financial AdvisorAs an owner and Director of Profusion Planning, I am very proud of the work that we all do for our clients.
Tynaya Letizia
Financial AdvisorI am a dedicated financial adviser with a passion for helping people make the most of their finances while also achieving their lifestyle goals.
Gavin Smith
Financial AdvisorI’m a financial adviser who believes in the profound impact financial advice can have on individuals and families. I enjoy fostering strong client relationships and ensuring your financial plan is executed promptly to help achieve your goals.
Rex Rozario
Financial AdvisorI’m a financial adviser with over seven years of experience at GESB. With deep technical knowledge of untaxed funds and defined benefit schemes, I help clients understand and make the most of their GESB accounts for a confident retirement.
Financial Adviser and GESB Specialist
Rex Rozario
As one of Profusion Planning’s GESB Specialist, I can help you maximise the unique benefits and opportunities available through your GESB Gold State and West State Superannuation funds.
Benefits of working with an experienced Profusion Planning GESB Specialist:
- Gain peace of mind that your financial future is secure from a qualified and experienced financial advice and support team
- Boost your GESB super balance with tax effective strategies
- Receive a tailor-made financial plan
- Receive unbiased direction, support and decision making
- Gain confidence knowing that you have a team of qualified and experienced financial advisers that have your interest at heart
Frequently Asked Questions
To help make things a little easier, we have compiled a list of Q & A’s, which will provide you with some of the most important differences between your GESB accounts and other funds for your reference.
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TOP QUESTIONS
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GESB GOLD STATE
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GESB WEST STATE
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Why choose Profusion Planning for GESB superannuation advice?
We are one of the few financial advice practices in Perth with multiple former GESB Financial Advisers and Member Support Officers. This gives us unmatched technical knowledge of GESB products and insider understanding of how GESB operates.
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What GESB products do you specialise in?
We provide expert advice on West State Super, Gold State Super, and other GESB schemes, including untaxed funds and defined benefit structures.
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How does your GESB experience benefit me?
Our team’s background means we know the rules, processes, and networks within GESB. This helps us deliver accurate advice and navigate GESB systems efficiently, saving you time and stress.
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Do you only advise on GESB superannuation?
No. While GESB is our specialty, we also provide comprehensive financial planning services, including retirement planning, tax strategies, and wealth management.
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Is Profusion Planning based in Perth?
Yes. We are proudly Perth-based and focused on helping WA government employees and GESB members make the most of their superannuation.
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How can I book an appointment?
You can contact us online, call our office, or book a consultation through our website. We offer both in-person and virtual meetings for your convenience.
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Are Gold State and West State unique funds?
Yes, both Gold State and West State are both untaxed, constitutionally protected funds. These are important facts to know as there aren’t many funds across Australia that offers these benefits.
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Is there additional benefit if I have a pre 1983 service date?
If you have pre 1983 service (eg. you started contributing to superannuation before July 1983), it is imperative that you receive professional financial advice to ensure you optimise your tax position inside your Gold State or West State funds. If the correct strategy is not followed you may pay more tax than you need to.
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What do these benefits mean?
Untaxed funds work differently to convention funds in that tax is not paid on any contributions or earnings that your fund receives while in accumulation phase, rather this tax (15%) is deferred until the time you receive the benefit. As a result, you have 100% of your contributions and investment earnings compounding over your working life rather than 85%.
Constitutionally Protected funds provide you with more favourable concessional cap limits as employer or personal deductible contributions are not counted in your concessional contribution cap.
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I’ve been told my Gold State is a Defined Benefit Scheme – what does this mean?
This simply means that your Gold State benefit is determined by a formula that includes your final average salary, years of service and average contribution rate. This means your final benefit is not impacted by markets or other investment returns.
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What fees do I pay?
There are no separate fees charged to you for the administration, insurance and other running expenses of Gold State Super.
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Are Gold State and West State unique funds?
Yes, both Gold State and West State are both untaxed, constitutionally protected funds. These are important facts to know as there aren’t many funds across Australia that offers these benefits.
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Is there additional benefit if I have a pre 1983 service date?
If you have pre 1983 service (eg. you started contributing to superannuation before July 1983), it is imperative that you receive professional financial advice to ensure you optimise your tax position inside your Gold State or West State funds. If the correct strategy is not followed you may pay more tax than you need to.
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What do these benefits mean?
Untaxed funds work differently to convention funds in that tax is not paid on any contributions or earnings that your fund receives while in accumulation phase, rather this tax (15%) is deferred until the time you receive the benefit. As a result, you have 100% of your contributions and investment earnings compounding over your working life rather than 85%.
Constitutionally Protected funds provide you with more favourable concessional cap limits as employer or personal deductible contributions are not counted in your concessional contribution cap.
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What fees do I pay?
West State Super is competitively priced at under 1% per annum, with total running cost determined by your underlying investment choice.
What We Can Offer
The team at Profusion Planning has a detailed understanding of the unique benefits offered via GESB West State and Gold State and are happy to assist in ensuring you construct the appropriate financial strategy to suit your personal circumstances
GESB West State
West State Super is an untaxed accumulation super scheme for WA public sector employees who joined before 16 April 2007, offering low fees, flexible investment options, and deferred tax benefits.
GESB Gold State
Gold State Super is a defined benefit, government-backed superannuation scheme for WA public sector employees who joined before 29 December 1995, offering guaranteed retirement benefits with no investment risk.
