Self Managed Superannuation Sydney
SMSFs are becoming an increasingly popular choice for investors
Do-it-yourself super via self managed super funds (SMSFs) is becoming an increasingly popular choice for investors who want to have control over how their super is invested. An SMSF is a trust where money or assets are held and managed on behalf of up to four members to provide benefits for their retirement. Subject to certain exceptions, all members of an SMSF must be trustees of the fund or directors of the fund’s corporate trustee.
At EFS we offer a specialised DIY superannuation administration and investment service. The DIY approach of self managed superannuation in Sydney and nationwide offers the sophisticated investor direct control of investment decisions and specific estate planning opportunities. Talk to one of our advisers about the benefits of DIY superannuation.
• Feasibility of DIY Superannuation
• Establishment
• Investment Strategy
• Ongoing Administration
Why Establish an SMSF?
Three key reasons for establishing your own SMSF are control, flexibility and investment choice. As trustee of your fund, you decide on your fund’s investment strategy and choose what your fund’s assets are invested in. This means you can tailor your fund’s investments to suit members’ specific needs. Your fund can invest in almost anything, although investments are subject to some limitations and legal restrictions.
Like all super funds, an SMSF receives concessional tax treatment. The top tax rate for the investment earnings of your SMSF is 15%. It’s important to note that this tax concession is only available if your fund complies with all the rules and regulations that apply to SMSFs (a ‘complying fund’).
Rules and Regulations for Setting up an SMSF
As a trustee, how will your spread your money to manage risk? How long will you give an investment to prove itself? What’s an acceptable rate of return? How much risk are you willing to take with members’ retirement savings? How is your fund performing relative to other funds after expenses?
Rules and obligations applying to SMSFs are complex. And even if you employ specialists to help you with the investment strategy, compliance and administration (particularly with ATO requirements), you are still legally responsible for making sure your fund complies with all the rules under superannuation law. Below are some of the rules and regulations.
1. Sole Purpose Test
The sole purpose of your fund must be to provide retirement benefits to your fund’s members. If you use your fund for other purposes (such as running a business) your fund may be considered non-compliant and you risk losing the 15% maximum tax concession.
2. Compliance
Some key areas of compliance relate to:
- in-house asset rules
- conducting all transactions at arm’s length
- borrowing (or gearing) in super
- acquiring assets from related parties
- separation of assets.
3. In-House Asset Rules
You cannot lend to (or invest in) a related party or related trust of the fund, or lease an asset of the fund to a related party of the fund, if the total of the related party investments or assets being leased is worth more than 5% of the market value of the fund’s total assets.
4. Arm’s Length Requirement
The arm’s length requirement means that if you lease any asset that belongs to the fund to a related party, it must be at commercial rates. Any asset purchased must be for market value.
5. Gearing in Super
There is a general prohibition of borrowing in super, although certain exceptions apply. You can, however, borrow funds (use gearing) to invest within an SMSF in certain limited circumstances. Gearing, where appropriate, may help you to accelerate the level of savings you have in super for your retirement. But you still need to consider the risks associated with gearing and the loan must be established on a ‘limited recourse’ basis.
6. Separation of Assets
Your fund must maintain its assets separately from those of a business involving one or more of your trustees. If a trustee were to hold assets in their own name instead of the fund, the fund risks losing the asset if that trustee is declared bankrupt or if their business goes into receivership.
7. Acquiring Assets from Related Parties
The trustees of SMSFs in general are prohibited from acquiring assets from related parties of the SMSF. This rule generally prohibits such parties from selling most assets to their SMSF, or from contributing assets in-specie. Some assets such as listed securities (shares, units or bonds listed on an approved stock exchange) or business real property are exempt from this rule.
8. Investments
To help ensure that the assets of an SMSF will be available to provide retirement income, SMSFs are restricted in the investments they can make. However, one concession that SMSFs enjoy is their ability to invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in business real property – though an issue for trustees to consider is whether this lack of investment diversification is an appropriate investment strategy.
While there are no restrictions on SMSFs investing in collectibles such as art, members can’t benefit from the investment prior to reaching their preservation age (so, for example, a trustee shouldn’t display a piece of art belonging to the fund in their home or office).
9. Fiduciary Responsibilities
Meeting fiduciary responsibilities is also important, particularly in relation to your SMSF having its own bank account (rather than banking being done through personal accounts of one or more of the trustees) and not overdrawing that account.
Aside from the initial set-up costs, the cost of sound administration of an SMSF, including compliance with all the regulations, generally means that fund members collectively need a minimum amount of between $200,000 and $250,000 to invest for an SMSF to be worthwhile.
Contact us at Econ Financial Services to discuss what super options are available to you and what solution may best suit your circumstances and investment needs. The rules associated with the super regime are complex and subject to change and the opportunities and effects will differ based on your own personal circumstances.
Call us today on (02) 9266 2269, Ask a Question or Make an Appointment with one of our experienced financial advisers. Our First Meeting is Cost and Obligation Free.
