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Superannuation and retirement planning information

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Home / SMSFs / SMSF investing

SMSF investing

People who run their own self-managed super fund (SMSF) often do so because of the control it gives them over their investments and investment strategy.

With that control comes lot of responsibility. You need to understand the nature of the investments on offer, and how they fit into your overall investment strategy.

It can also be instructive to see what other SMSFs are investing in.

Then there is the legal requirement for SMSFs to have a documented investment strategy. This should satisfy the sole purpose test and be used to guide trustee decision-making.

This section also includes sub-sections on SMSFs and property and other popular investments for SMSFs.

See also Superannuation investment strategies and our section on Risk.

Learn more about SMSF investment in the following key articles:

SMSF investment rules: Collectables and personal use assets

October 15, 2020

What are the SMSF borrowing rules?

August 6, 2020

How to create an SMSF investment strategy (including example documents)

August 6, 2020

How to achieve genuine diversification in an SMSF

August 3, 2020

How do SMSF retirees invest?

March 14, 2020

10 steps to buying a commercial property and leasing it to your SMSF

February 12, 2020

What on earth is an in-specie transfer?

January 15, 2020

How to invest in infrastructure through an SMSF

October 1, 2019

ETFs: How do I use them and what do they cost?

June 19, 2019

SMSF guide to hedging

May 1, 2019

SMSFs and property: A Super Guide

April 5, 2019

The definitive SMSF guide to franked dividends

April 2, 2019

SMSF investment rules: What every trustee should know

February 15, 2019

Learn more about what assets are popular investments for SMSFs in the following key articles:

SMSF investment: 20 most popular ETFs

November 16, 2020

SMSF investment: 20 most popular managed funds

November 16, 2020

SMSF investment: 20 most popular Australian shares

November 16, 2020

SMSF investment: 20 most popular international shares

November 16, 2020

Which asset classes are popular with SMSFs?

April 4, 2019

SMSFs: Top 10 alternative investments

January 22, 2019

Learn more about investing concepts in the following key articles:

Time in the market not timing the market

May 2, 2020

How the 10/30/60 Rule can help achieve your retirement plans

December 8, 2019

What is the Sharpe ratio and why is it important for your super?

August 4, 2019

The magic of compounding interest

April 8, 2019

The Rule of 72, and how it can help you choose an investment

April 8, 2019

‘Today’s Dollars’: The impact of inflation on retirement income

April 8, 2019

Set out below are all SuperGuide articles that relate to SMSF investing.

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2020 Year in Review, 2021 Preview

January 14, 2021 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

After a tumultuous year that rocked lives and livelihoods, investors have cause for cautious optimism in the year ahead.

Guide to SMSFs and insurance

January 14, 2021 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

SMSF trustees regularly need to assess whether each member of their fund has an appropriate level of insurance. In this article we look at whether there are benefits having insurance inside your SMSF rather outside your super fund.

A step-by-step guide to valuing tricky assets

January 4, 2021 by Penny Pryor Leave a Comment

SMSFs are required to value their assets at market value every financial year, this is easy enough for listed assets, such as equities, but it’s not so straightforward for unlisted assets like commercial property or collectibles.

US election plays second fiddle to COVID

December 1, 2020 by Alexandra Cain Leave a Comment

Despite the derision US president Donald Trump attracts, there are pluses and minuses to his departure from the White House next January for local superannuation investors.

What are the most popular listed investments for SMSFs?

November 16, 2020 by Tracey Spicer Leave a Comment

Tracey Spicer talks to Ron Lesh, Managing Director of BGL about what are the most popular shares, managed funds and ETFs that SMSFs invest in.

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SMSF investment: 20 most popular ETFs

November 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury 1 Comment

ETFs provide SMSFs with an easy and cost-effective means of gaining exposure to international assets, and other harder-to-access asset classes such as emerging markets. This article lists the 20 most popular ETFs invested in by SMSFs.

SMSF investment: 20 most popular managed funds

November 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

Managed funds are an investment scheme where investors opt to have a licensed professional – typically, a fund manager – manage investments on their behalf. This article lists the 20 most popular managed funds invested in by SMSFs.

SMSF investment: 20 most popular Australian shares

November 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

This article lists the 20 most popular Australian domestic listed securities invested in by SMSFs as of 30 June 2020.

SMSF investment: 20 most popular international shares

November 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

This article lists the 20 most popular international shares invested in by SMSFs as of 30 June 2020.

SMSFs reserves: What are the rules?

October 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

There are legitimate reasons for maintaining reserves in your SMSF, but the ATO is keen to point out that avoiding tax is not one of them.

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SMSFs: Investment property tax deduction mistakes to avoid

October 16, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

Property investment is popular with SMSFs, so it’s important to understand what your fund can and can’t claim as investment property tax deductions.

SMSF investment rules: Collectables and personal use assets

October 15, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

If you are a passionate collector or connoisseur, then you may be able to use that knowledge to boost your retirement savings.

SMSFs: Sustainable investing just got personal

October 14, 2020 by Alexandra Cain Leave a Comment

The year 2020 has been a turning point for sustainable investing on so many levels. COVID has brought to the forefront of investors’ minds considerations such as how companies treat their staff, as well as numerous other environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

SMSFs and cryptocurrency investments

October 14, 2020 by Barbara Drury Leave a Comment

Now that some of the initial hype has gone out of cryptocurrencies, it’s a good time to take a clear-eyed view of their investment potential.

SMSFs switch to managed accounts

September 1, 2020 by Alexandra Cain Leave a Comment

Managed accounts are increasingly taking the place of managed funds in self-managed super fund (SMSF) portfolios because they give advisers the ability to act swiftly when markets move, as well as offering tax advantages and improved transparency.

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Super fund average returns
Super investing strategies
Comparing super funds
Choosing a super fund
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Super fund fees
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SMSFs for beginners
SMSF administration
SMSF checklists
SMSF compliance
SMSF investing
SMSF pensions
SMSF strategies
SMSF Q&As
Plan your retirement
Retirement planning for beginners
When should I retire?
How long will I live?
How much super do I need?
Will I get the Age Pension?
How much will I spend in retirement?
Financial advice
Retiring overseas
Preparing for retirement
Retirement planning strategies
Retirement calculators and reckoners
In retirement
Income in retirement
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Working in retirement
Life in retirement
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All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.

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