The Budget has introduced a series of changes to superannuation tax arrangements that are intended to align superannuation with the purpose of providing income in retirement. The key elements of the superannuation changes include: Introducing a transfer balance cap There will be a $1.6 million superannuation transfer balance cap on the total amount of super…
Most self-managed super fund trustees don’t give much thought as to how much professional indemnity (PI) insurance their advisor has. But since PI insurance is the only course of action to recover lost funds for trustees who become victims of fraud or negligence, it is an essential prerequisite trustees should be aware of. PI insurance…
Members of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) looking to acquire property through the fund need to be aware of the risks involved in the strategy or risk substantial penalties. One of the considerations investors should be making if they are deciding to put a property in their SMSF is whether the strategy will improve retirement…
Australian taxpayers should be aware that some promoters claim to offer early access to super savings by transferring a person’s super into a self-managed super fund. These schemes are illegal and heavy penalties will apply to those who participate in such schemes. Generally, individuals cannot access their super until they retire or meet a condition…
Many small business owners who run a family business and are nearing retirement face the significant decision of whether to include their adult children in their self-managed super fund (SMSF) as part of their personal and business succession planning. Including children in a family SMSF can have a critical impact on family relationships and finances,…
A responsibility that does not immediately spring to mind when managing a self-managed super fund is working out what will happen if a member becomes incapacitated and unable to perform their trustee duties. Succession planning for an SMSF can become quite complicated if not managed on an ongoing basis. It not only requires having a…
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are an attractive option for those who want more control over their retirement savings. However, trustees who have run a fund for as long as SMSFs have been in existence (around 20 years) are likely to have accumulated a lot of paperwork, especially if they engaged in various super strategies throughout…
Australians can make two types of contributions each year; concessional contributions, which are taxed at 15 per cent, and non-concessional contributions, which are not taxed. There is a limit of $35,000 for concessional contributions and $180,000 for non-concessional contributions. However, individuals do have the option of using the three-year bring forward rule that allows taxpayers…
There are many advantages to having a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). Increased flexibility and control over your savings are the most obvious benefits, with many SMSF trustees and members appreciating the ability to make their own investment decisions. Here are five tips that can help set your SMSF up for success in 2016: Have a…
There are a lot of advantages to having a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). Increased flexibility and control over your savings are the most obvious benefits, with many SMSF trustees and members appreciating the ability to make their own investment decisions. Other advantages include the possibility of investing in a property, the ability to manage administrative…