This article includes the 20 most popular managed funds invested in by SMSFs as at 30 September 2018. This article uses data supplied by Class, an SMSF administration software company, and is based on a statistical analysis of the 160,000+ SMSFs administered using Class software. We thank Class for providing SuperGuide ... Read more
How to wind up a self-managed super fund (SMSF)
There are legal compliance requirements when winding up an SMSF and it’s important to understand all your obligations before you start the winding-up process. It’s also important to understand that once you wind up your SMSF, you can’t reactivate it. So you need to be sure of your reasons for winding up before you ... Read more
Turning 65 and super: A Super Guide
Anyone aged 65 or over can access super benefits without retiring or satisfying any other special condition of release. Turning 65 is a condition of release. Unless you’re in a public sector fund, such super benefits will be tax-free when paid on or after the age of 60. For a general summary of the super and ... Read more
SMSFs: Is DIY super right for you?
Running your own super fund is not necessarily a difficult task (although recent changes to the super laws have made it more challenging), but you need to keep your wits about you. You may hear a lot a noise about DIY super, and sometimes from people who know nothing about super. Your best defence against bad advice is ... Read more
Superannuation Guarantee: Step-by-step guide for employers
An employer has key responsibilities in terms of paying superannuation contributions on behalf of employees. An employer must pay Superannuation Guarantee contributions on behalf of eligible employees. If an employer fails to pay these compulsory super contributions, or pays the super contributions late, penalties ... Read more
SMSF investment: 20 most popular ETFs
This article includes the 20 most popular ETFs invested in by SMSFs as at 30 September 2018. This article uses data supplied by Class, an SMSF administration software company, and is based on a statistical analysis of the 160,000+ SMSFs administered using Class software. We thanks Class for giving SuperGuide access to ... Read more
Super loophole still benefits politicians and senior public servants
Amid the confusion surrounding the $1.6 million transfer balance cap on super pensions, and the short timeframes available to comply with this change (which took effect from July 2017), a small but important loophole was missed by the super experts, and continues to be ignored by the superannuation lobby groups, and ... Read more
Superannuation and employees: 10 facts about your super entitlements
If you work as an employee, and you satisfy certain minimum requirements, your employer must pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions on your behalf, to a super fund. Set out below are 10 of the most important SG facts that you need to know. Note: If you’re an employer, you can also refer to SuperGuide ... Read more
New authority (AFCA) for super complaints now open for business
Disputes about your superannuation and other finances are often stressful, but until recently, the complexity of the system has made the process even tougher. Working out which of the multiple external dispute resolution bodies was the right one to approach has long been a source of frustration for super fund members ... Read more
Monthly Superannuation Returns Performance Reckoner (for 5 investment options)
You can find out the median monthly investment return of the 5 main investment options available in Australian super funds for at least the past 4 calendar years (from January 2014 through to the latest monthly results). You can also check out our SuperGuide article Investment performance: Latest super returns (to ... Read more
Tax-deductible super contributions: Claim no more than your income
Q: If I make a personal concessional payment of $25,000 (tax-deductible) into my super fund and my personal taxable income for 2018/2019 is $20,000, are there possible tax penalties because I’m claiming $5,000 more than my taxable income? I suggest you chat to a registered tax agent, typically an accountant to ... Read more
Tax-deductible super contributions: Timing start of pension is essential
Q: I put money into my SMSF in June 2018 from a capital gain. I wasn’t able to tell the fund at that time what it was because my accountant hadn’t completed the figures so that notice was sent to them in August 2018. As I understood the rules, so long as the money was in the fund at June 2018, I could then withdraw any ... Read more
