A Self Managed Super Fund is a small super fund that must have less than five members. The fund is controlled by the members of the fund who are also required to trustees of the fund. They are responsible for the operations of the fund including the fund’s investments. The benefits of having a Self Managed Super Fund include:
* Control - Investment of the funds assets are controlled by the members/trustees. This can be outsourced to a financial adviser or investment adviser but the ultimate responsibility lies with the members.
* Investment Choice - SMSFs have a much wider range of investment possibilities than retail or industry funds such as investing in artwork or residential property.
* Tax Breaks - SMSFs pay concessional rates of tax. Any capital gains are taxed at a maximum of 15%. This is reduced to 10% on assets held for over 12 months. Fund income is taxed at 15% but this rate may be lower if investments have franking credits attached.
An SMSF is most effective to those people interested in the highest level of control over their superannuation assets, however they are also prepared to accept specific regulatory duties placed on trustees of SMSFs and to work at controlling their investments. Self managed superannuation funds offer many advantages to small business owners and high net worth individuals.
You will need around $200,000 to make a SMSF cost effective. This is the total balance of the fund so could include both your partners super balance as well as your own. The reason there is a minimum balance is because the majority of a SMSF fees are fixed meaning the administration of the fund gets comparatively cheaper as he balance increases. As SMSFs can now borrow to invest, this amount may be even lower than $200,000.
Self managed superannuation funds must be maintained for the purpose of providing benefits to members upon retirement, or their dependants in the matter of a member’s dying before retirement. Your SMSF can take employer and private contributions, including member non-concessional contributions, subject to contribution limits and rules.
Self Managed Super Funds have the ability to invest in a broad range of investments. Any assets acquired by the SMSF must be purchased with the sole intention of providing an income stream to the members of the fund upon their retirement. Members can only purchase assets that meet the guidelines under the fund’s own investment strategy. There are some other legal restrictions such as loans to members and purchasing assets of other members.