Aussie Invest Calc shows clients, in plain numbers, what money in an offset account is worth after tax, and how that compares with ETFs, term deposits and gold over their own time frame. It runs in the browser on a laptop, iPad or phone, needs no client login, and the core comparison is free to use in meetings.
"Should I put my savings in the offset or invest them?" is one of the most common questions clients ask, and one of the hardest to answer quickly without a spreadsheet. This page explains how brokers and advisers can use the calculator to answer it on screen, and where the line sits between education and advice.
Most clients compare their mortgage rate directly with the return they hope to earn from shares. A 6.5% mortgage looks modest next to an 8% expected share return. What they miss is that the offset saving is tax-free on a home loan used for private purposes, while investment returns are taxed.
Grossed up for tax, a 6.5% offset is the equivalent of about 9.29% a year taxable for a client on the 30% marginal rate, and about 11.82% on the 45% rate (before the Medicare levy). Showing that single conversion on screen can help make the comparison easier to understand. The full method is set out in offset account vs ETF: which wins after tax.
For brokers, the calculator's main value is explaining the loan feature you are already discussing: what an offset account is actually worth to this client, in dollars, over their expected loan term. This helps keep the discussion focused on the loan and offset feature; brokers remain responsible for staying within their licence and authorisations.
For advisers, the calculator is a fast way to illustrate trade-offs during a meeting before formal modelling:
It supports a conversation; it does not replace your fact find, your own modelling or a Statement of Advice.
Try it with a sample client → Core calculator free · No sign-up · Works on iPad, phone and desktopA client has $100,000 in savings, a 6.5% owner-occupied home loan and a 30% marginal tax rate. Using the calculator's default assumptions (8% ETF growth plus 3.8% dividends, current 50% CGT discount):
| What the client sees | Result |
|---|---|
| Tax-equivalent return of the offset | 9.29% p.a. |
| Offset calculated gain after 25 years | $382,770 |
| ETF calculated gain after 25 years | $589,887 |
| Mortgage rate at which the offset matches the ETF (25 years) | about 8.03% |
Illustration under stated assumptions only. Not a recommendation.
The useful part for the client is not which line is higher. It is seeing that the offset is a guaranteed, tax-free return equivalent to over 9%, that the ETF's lead depends on growth assumptions holding for 25 years, and that the answer flips if their mortgage rate averages above roughly 8%.
| Feature | Free | Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Four-way after-tax comparison (offset, ETF, term deposit, gold) | Yes | Yes |
| Risk-adjusted view and CGT modes | Yes | Yes |
| Break-even & What-If analyser | — | Yes |
| Regular contributions (monthly or yearly) | — | Yes |
| Saved scenarios | — | Yes |
| PDF client report and CSV export | — | Yes |
Advanced is A$10 for 3 months, delivered as a licence key.
The PDF report may be particularly useful for practices: a one-document summary of the scenario that clients can take home, with the assumptions and disclaimers printed alongside the numbers.
The calculator is built around general information. A few practical points for using it with clients:
We are considering a version for brokers and advisers with your logo and contact details on the calculator and on the PDF client report, so clients leave the meeting with something that carries your practice's name.
Register interest in a branded version → No commitment · Tell us your practice type and team sizeYes, as a general information and education tool. It is most useful for showing what an offset account is worth after tax. Keep conversations within the scope of your credit licence; any recommendation about investing in ETFs or other financial products is a matter for a licensed financial adviser.
The calculator is designed as a general information and numerical illustration tool. Whether its use amounts to financial product advice depends on how it is used and what is said alongside it. It does not itself assess a client's objectives, financial situation or needs. Brokers and advisers remain responsible for ensuring their use of the calculator is within their licence, authorisations and professional obligations.
Yes. Alongside the current 50% discount, a 2027 rules option applies cost base indexation and the 30% minimum tax, as a simplified scenario in which the entire gain accrues after 1 July 2027.
A branded version is being considered. If you would use one, register your interest.