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December 2025 SMSF newsletter

Your SMSF calendar for 2026
Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so why not download our 2026 SMSF calendar to ensure you don’t miss any crucial dates, deadlines or opportunities in the year ahead. Read more.
Your SMSF calendar for 2026
Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so why not download our 2026 SMSF calendar to ensure you don’t miss any crucial dates, deadlines or opportunities in the year ahead. Read more.
How the rich invest
Have you ever wondered how the rich invest? Very cautiously is the answer. Read more.
How the rich invest
Have you ever wondered how the rich invest? Very cautiously is the answer. Read more.
SMSF investment strategy health checklist
If you haven’t looked at your investment strategy in a while it’s probably time for a check-up because slip-ups can be costly. Read more.
SMSF investment strategy health checklist
If you haven’t looked at your investment strategy in a while it’s probably time for a check-up because slip-ups can be costly. Read more.
Diversification and your SMSF: Why and how to do it
Diversifying your portfolio is a golden rule of investing and a vital task for your SMSF as it can help reduce risk and smooth investment returns. Read more.
Diversification and your SMSF: Why and how to do it
Diversifying your portfolio is a golden rule of investing and a vital task for your SMSF as it can help reduce risk and smooth investment returns. Read more.
Where is technology for SMSFs headed?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a tool in many people’s lives and is already making inroads in SMSF investing and administration. Read more.
Where is technology for SMSFs headed?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a tool in many people’s lives and is already making inroads in SMSF investing and administration. Read more.

SuperGuide members Q&A: December 2025

Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 11:00 am AEST

In this webinar super expert Garth McNally answers recent questions from SuperGuide members.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Watch our previous webinar, The Epic Retirement Tick: Why it matters and which funds earned it.

Q: I have a SMSF which is in pension mode which has a carry forward loss of $16,000. This year I have around $9,000 in capital loss.

If I select segregated method then I cannot claim the loss as carry forward loss. If the fund is selected as proportionate method then I can claim the loss as carry forward loss but require an actuarial certificate.

Every year one can select segregated or not segregated depending on the situation. If I select segregated method and have a capital gain it is ignored.(This will be applicable in 2026)? Are there any other items that affect these two methods?

A: In regards to the points you have raised:

  • When SMSF trustees adopt the unsegregated or proportionate approach, realised capital losses are first used to offset realised capital gains. Unused capital losses are usually carried forward to a future income year. SMSF trustees using the proportionate method must obtain an actuarial certificate for each year that their SMSF claims exempt current pension income (ECPI). The actuarial certificate will show what % of the funds income should be treated as being exempt from tax. 
  • Where an SMSF has segregated pension assets, then any resulting capital gain or loss from the sale of those (pension) assets is ignored. You can not carry forward any realised capital losses. You do not need to obtain an actuarial certificate.

You should consider contacting your SMSF accountant or administration provider as they may be able to run both scenarios (or any scenario) through their systems and see what outcome is best for you, based on both the SMSFs tax position and the members’ circumstances. 

Please also see these relevant guides:

Important: All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Superguide Pty Ltd ATF Superguide Unit Trust as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Independent Financial Advisers Australia, AFSL 464629.