In this article you can discover the investment performance for 12 different asset classes over various timeframes. For all asset classes there is data for 1, 3 and 5 financial years, and for most asset classes there is also data over 7, 10 and 15 financial years. Note: A financial year covers 1 July to 30 June the ... Read more
Asset Sector Performance Reckoner
SuperGuide’s Asset Sector Performance reckoner allows you to compare the investment performance of various asset classes over the short, medium and long term. The reckoner covers 12 asset classes over 1, 3 and 5 years and, where available, also over 7, 10 and 15 years. The asset classes and maximum performance ... Read more
How to make your super more socially aware
Gone are the days when ethical investing existed on the periphery of investment management and the debate centred around whether or not environmental, social and governance (ESG) focussed funds could actually perform as well as mainstream funds. Now, assisted by the (almost) universal acceptance that some form of ... Read more
Legal case a lesson in proper SMSF admin and record keeping
A recent court case, known as the Narumon case, demonstrates how important it is for self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees to ensure their documentation is up-to-date, and that binding death benefit nominations are valid. Power of attorney The case involved the SMSF of one Mr Giles, deceased, and a company of which ... Read more
What happens to your SMSF when you go overseas?
Self-managed super fund (SMSF) members have a number of options in terms of how to treat their fund when they head overseas. The time they intend to be away is a key factor to consider, as is how many of the SMSF’s members are moving overseas and their percentage of the beneficial interests. It’s important for ... Read more
Australian personal income tax cuts from 2018/2019 year
In the 2018 Federal Budget the coalition government announced the Personal Income Tax Plan, a seven-year plan of income tax cuts. The plan became law on 21 June 2018. In the 2019 Federal Budget the coalition government proposed further cuts, which passed through parliament on 4 July 2019, and will soon become ... Read more
How does SAPTO work? (Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset)
About SAPTO SAPTO is a tax offset for eligible seniors and pensioners in Australia. A tax offset can lower or remove your need to pay income tax, but it doesn’t mean you can get a refund. You’ll also still need to pay the Medicare Levy if you’re not eligible for an exemption or reduction. The Australian Taxation ... Read more
How superannuation affects the Age Pension
Superannuation can affect the Age Pension in different ways, depending on whether you or your partner have reached Age Pension age, and what you do with any super payments you access. How the Age Pension is assessed For a detailed explanation of how the Age Pension is assessed, see SuperGuide article Case studies: How ... Read more
SMSF housekeeping: Trustee checklist for 2019/2020
The past few years have seen SMSF trustees kept busy implementing numerous legislative modifications to the super system, plus the major reform package commencing on 1 July 2017. Unfortunately, this financial year seems unlikely to be any different. With the new Morrison Government announcing plans for yet another ... Read more
ETFs: How do I use them and what do they cost?
Building a well-diversified investment portfolio from the ground up takes time and effort. But the task has become much easier thanks to the rapidly expanding universe of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are a type of low-cost managed fund that can be bought and sold on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) just ... Read more
SMSF investors still subdued about outlook for ASX in 2019
Sentiment among SMSF investors remains subdued, despite the strong rebound in the sharemarket in the first few months of 2019. According to a study by research firm Investment Trends*, as at May 2019, SMSFs only expected the All Ordinaries to deliver capital gains of 1.4% over the next 12 months. This is an increase ... Read more
SMSF statistics: 1.1 million members with $747bn in super
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) in Australia are privately run super funds that can currently have between one and four members (who must also be trustees of their fund). The government has proposed to allow SMSFs to have up to six members from 1 July 2019, but this is not yet legislated. According to the ATO, the ... Read more
How much super do you need to set up an SMSF?
How much super you need to set up an SMSF is very contentious issue. It has been the subject of considerable analysis from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Productivity Commission. However, there are still no clear answers. In this article, we’ll ... Read more
SMSF compliance: A guide to trustee responsibilities
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are privately run superannuation trust structures that are managed by trustees. All of the members of an SMSF must be either an individual trustee of their fund, or a director of the corporate trustee of the fund (if the SMSF has been set up with a corporate trustee structure). All ... Read more
Guide to SMSF audits
Self-managed super fund (SMSF) audits are mandatory in Australia and must be conducted by an auditor who is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This auditor must be independent (i.e. not have any financial interest in the SMSF, nor have any personal or business relationships ... Read more