If you’ve ever invested through an adviser, chances are they mentioned platforms or wraps. If you dozed off at that point, who could blame you. But if a small part of you would like to know what they were talking about, read on. After all, it’s your money that’s about to leave the station. What’s a platform? ... Read more
Member direct vs SMSFs
The self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) sector has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the superannuation industry over recent decades. So much so that some parts of the industry and retail superannuation fund segments have looked to it for ideas and have been offering members a growing capacity to choose ... Read more
How do the ipso facto rules apply to SMSFs?
Australia’s ipso facto laws have changed. This has relevance for self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees. In simple terms, the ipso facto provisions relate to what happens when one of the parties that are signatory to a contract goes into administration or similar. DBA Lawyer Joseph Cheung explains changes to the law ... Read more
Single touch payroll (STP): What are the implications for SMSF trustees?
Single touch payroll (STP) reporting is a streamlined way for employers to provide the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) with payroll information, that is, pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and superannuation guarantee information.The STP reporting regime was introduced as an integrity measure to hold employers ... Read more
What to do if a member wants to leave an SMSF
Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) offer members lots of benefits, including a great degree of control over investments and some tax advantages. Many members love them, however some also realise after a number of years that maybe an SMSF isn’t the right superannuation solution for them. Getting closure There’s a ... Read more
Asset sector performance: Returns over 1 to 15 financial years (to June 2019)
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