u/Altruistic_Garden_37

Looking for some thoughts on ETF allocation for a $250k debt recycling strategy.

Background (to avoid the usual questions):

37 years old

Salary: $160k

Super: 390k 70/30 split international shares index, Australian shares index. Concessional contributions maxed, and using all remaining carry-forward this FY

PPOR mortgage fully offset

Comfortable with long-term investing (20+ years) however could start looking to access by age 50

Current setup:

Personally: investing in IOZ (ASX 200) and IVV (S&P 500)

Wife: previously VDHG, now switched to DHHF for all new contributions

The question: For the $250k debt recycle, what allocation makes the most sense?

Options I’m considering:

Lump sum into existing structure (IOZ + IVV split)

Use DHHF for simplicity and diversification

Blend something like DHHF + GHHF (for a bit of gearing)

Hybrid approach (e.g. keep IOZ/IVV but add something for global ex-US or small caps)

Things I’m thinking about:

Tax efficiency (especially with debt recycling)

Simplicity vs control

Overlap with what my wife already holds (DHHF-VDHG heavy)

Whether adding gearing (GHHF) is worth it given existing leverage via mortgage

Questions:

Would you prioritise simplicity (DHHF) or stick with IOZ/IVV for more control?

Any strong case for adding GHHF in this situation?

Am I missing any obvious diversification gaps?

Appreciate any thoughts.

Hi all,

Looking for some thoughts on how best to structure super between spouses (both age 37).

Current situation:

Husband: with

Balance: ~$390k

Investment mix: 70% International Shares Index / 30% Australian Shares Index

Wife: with

Balance: ~$164k

Investment option: Balanced

Questions:

The wife’s Balanced option seems a bit conservative given our age and long time horizon. Would it make sense to shift her to a higher growth allocation?

Is there any real benefit in keeping super across different fund providers (e.g. Hostplus vs AustralianSuper) for diversification purposes?

Or is this largely irrelevant given both invest across similar underlying markets?

Would it make sense to consolidate into one fund (e.g. move wife to Hostplus), or are there advantages in keeping them separate?

Is there any merit in intentionally choosing different investment mixes between spouses to diversify risk (e.g. one more aggressive, one more balanced), or should we just align both to a similar high-growth strategy?

Other context:

Comfortable with market volatility

Long-term focus (25+ years)

No immediate plans to access super

Keen to hear how others approach structuring super across a couple, and whether diversification at the fund level actually matters.

Thanks!