SMSF Mate

Welcome to another episode of the SMSF Mate Podcast, where Gareth and Ashwin, our resident accountant, guide you through the essential End of Financial Year Checklist for Self-managed Super Funds (SMSFs). As tax time approaches, ensuring your SMSF is compliant can be a daunting task, but with our expert advice, you'll be well-equipped to navigate this critical period with confidence. In this e...

As the Australian population continues to age, the demand for aged care services has increased dramatically. For individuals who have a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), understanding the aged care options available and the eligibility requirements can be crucial. Navigating the aged care system can be complex and overwhelming, especially when considering the financial implications for your...

Are you considering investing in cryptocurrency through your Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF)? If so, you're not alone. With the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, many people are looking to diversify their investments and explore this new arena. However, before you jump in and start buying crypto assets for your SMSF, it's essential to understand the...

In uncertain times, many investors are looking for alternative ways to secure their wealth, and one avenue that has gained popularity is owning gold in a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). With the value of traditional assets fluctuating, gold is considered by many to be a safe haven asset. If you're considering diversifying your SMSF portfolio and adding gold bullion to it, have a liste...

As the end of the financial year approaches, it's time for self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees to start preparing to ensure everything runs smoothly. This can be an overwhelming task, but it's essential for ensuring that the SMSF stays compliant to maximise its returns. With 2022/23 being a particularly turbulent year, trustees need to ensure that they have their finances in order. Thi...

Sustainable investing, also known as ESG investing (environmental, social and governance), is an investment style that focuses on companies that adhere to specific values related to environmental protection, social justice, and corporate responsibility. It is a way of aligning your financial investments with your core beliefs and values. This week on the SMSF Mate Podcast, we talk to Mark Andrich...

Should you pay for a financial advisor within an SMSF? This week on the SMSF Mate podcast, we follow up on the important question of understanding the pros and cons of engaging a financial advisor or wealth manager to assist with your self-managed super fund.⁣ ⁣ Read more: https://www.smsfmate.com.au/financial-advisor/⁣ ⁣ —⁣ ⁣ SMSF Mate was created by four mates sick of the BS surrounding superann...

Much like a regular superannuation fund, an SMSF is an excellent way for you to save for your retirement.    The key difference of an SMSF is that the members of the fund have much more flexibility with how they manage the investments in the fund.    Running an SMSF includes things like managing the investments, preparation of financial statements, compliance with the fund and...

This week on the podcast, the SMSF Mate team are having a discussion with one of the resident 'Mates' Ashwin, the accountant, about how he purchased a commercial property in his SMSF.  Covering the good, the bad and the ugly and everything in between, Ashwin shares his personal experiences about owning a commercial office premise in his SMSF which he leases back to his own accounting business...

This week, the SMSF Mate team have another general Q&A session with the resident accountant Ashwin and financial advisor Sonny about the common question: what is a self-managed super fund? Gareth runs through the top questions he has about how a self-managed super fund work and everything to consider when operating one as a trustee. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section, and be sur...

Follow up from last week's episode, the SMSF Mate team have a general Q&A session with the resident accountant Ashwin about everything property investment within an SMSF.  Gareth, David and Tim chat to Ashwin from Eventum Accounting about all the do's and don't when it comes to investing in property from an SMSF. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section, and be sure to subscribe...

This week on the podcast, the SMSF Mate team are talking to Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit about everything you need to know when it comes to property investment within an SMSF. Everything from what is driving the property market, interest rates, inflation and property hot spots.  Gareth, Sonny, David and Tim discuss with Arjun the way InvestorKit approaches the property investment market. Le...

Back by popular demand, the SMSF Mate team are talking about how much for retirement and the important considerations to make when planning for retirement. It's not so much what you need but what you are going to spend, according to Ashwin, which is an interesting way of looking at it. Gareth, Ashwin, Sonny and Tim discuss ways that they are planning for retirement and what they feel are the most...

Buying crypto in an SMSF can be daunting, and many SMSF trustees are probably wondering how they can go about it safely and within the bounds of superannuation laws and legislation. There are many ways to gain exposure to digital assets within an SMSF, whether it be holding the asset directly in your own crypto wallet or investing in a crypto fund or listed asset.  In this episode of SMSF Mat...

Direct indexing is the next generation of Exchange Traded Funds – ETFs 2.0, according to Damien Klassen from Nucleus Wealth. Direct indexing is when the investor owns the shares that make up an index in a separately managed account, and because of the direct ownership, it allows them to customise their investments. SMSF investors can then adjust the assets held within the index investment based on...

Self-managed super funds are becoming an increasingly popular way to manage retirement savings because of the many benefits they offer, including more control over investment decisions and tax savings. However, SMSFs are not suitable for everyone. Before jumping into an SMSF, it is essential to consider a range of factors and compare them to a traditional or APRA regulated super fund.   ...

Paying for insurance inside your SMSF or super fund could mean the expense is tax-deductible, which may not be possible when paying for insurance outside of super. This tax concession is available to any super fund but the ability to deduct the expense is only available to the fund itself. Most conventional super funds (non-SMSF) will offer some form of insurance by default. Whether it be life, in...

SMSFs must be audited each year by an independent auditor of the accountant and administrator who is preparing the financial statements. Online SMSF audits refer to the process that involves submitting details with the SMSF audit provider via an online portal instead of conventional processes. Online SMSF audits can be more cost-effective and typically would attract a lower fee.  In this epis...

Is there a difference between an SMSF accountant and a regular accountant? How much does it cost to set up an SMSF in 2022? If you are looking for the answers to these questions, we have the SMSF Mate Podcast episode for you. We cover off important things to consider when setting up an SMSF, what you could reasonably expect to pay for the setup and ongoing compliance, and how to find an accountant...

What exactly are SMSF trust deed templates and declaration templates, and where can you find them? These are the questions that are discussed on this SMSF Mate podcast. There are a number of online providers which offer trust deed templates online, but they could be more trouble than they are worth.  In this episode of SMSF Mate's podcast, Ashwin, Sonny, and Tim discuss the key risks and cons...

The end of the financial year is a great time to take stock of your superannuation and tax affairs. How you can best take advantage of any available tax concessions on contributions to super is a frequently asked question. By understanding what's available to you in tax concessions with your super, you can put a plan in place to maximise the contributions.  In this episode of SMSF Mate's podc...

A wrap account investment product is an unlisted investment fund that is accessible via a wrap account. Typically, the investment products will be professionally managed by a funds management firm for a fee. A wrap account gives SMSF investors access to unlisted investment funds, which would usually be inaccessible on a small scale.  In this episode of SMSF Mate's podcast, Gareth, Ashwin, Son...

What's the difference between a retail investor and a wholesale client? The key difference between the retail and wholesale investor classifications is in the level of compliance required with each type of investment. Regulations are much higher for retail investments and this is intended to provide investors with a greater level of protection.  In this episode of SMSF Mate's podcast, Gareth,...

What are the main considerations when looking for a broker for SMSF investing and trading – minimum balances, fees, commissions and trading platform tech? Competition has never been higher and fees or costs to trade are in a race to the bottom giving SMSF investors a number of options to choose from.  In this episode, the SMSF Mate team talk about the main things to consider when shopping for...

Capital gains tax (CGT) on earnings within your self-managed super fund has a number of benefits when compared to CGT outside of super, but there are a number of important factors to consider. For example, self-managed super funds generally have a flat 15% tax rate and complying super funds are entitled to a CGT discount if the asset had been owned for at least one year. In this episode, the SMSF...