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Ascend
self managed super
The
big
picture
SMSFs can be quite simple or complex depending on the needs of the members. The following diagram illustrates the sorts of services and products that SMSFs typically employ.
As you can see, there are a number of aspects to consider when managing an SMSF. Trustees can choose to do a lot of this management themselves or, alternatively, they can engage professional service and product providers to minimise both the burden and the risk.
The first approach has the apparent advantage of minimising costs. However it can be time consuming and potentially risky if the trustees don’t have a strong knowledge of superannuation laws and requirements. It is worth bearing in mind that the
What is the
structure
of an SMSF?
Components of an
SMSF
Some of these decisions include the fund’s investment strategy, the type of retirement planning strategies to undertake, the type of retirement income (pension) to use, the details of the trust deed for the fund, and so on.
In order for any fund to operate efficiently and in accordance with superannuation and tax laws, the sourcing and coordination of various professional services is typically required. These services include accounting, auditing, financial planning, investment advice, legal advice and general administration.
What
is a self managed super fund?
penalties for breaching the law can be quite severe.
Engaging specialist service providers can remove a significant component of the management burden as well as greatly reducing the risk of breaching the law.
Typically a specialist SMSF Administrator will provide the transaction processing and accounting services and will source on behalf of the trustees the providers of legal, actuarial, and audit services as required.
Importantly, this allows the trustees to focus on the areas where they really want to have control, for example the investment strategy of the fund.
As the name suggests, a self managed
superannuation fund (SMSF) is one
where the members are also the trustees
and therefore have the freedom – and
the responsibility – to make all of the
decisions relating to the fund.
Advice
This structure is supported by advice on:
– Suitability of SMSF
– Set up of the SMSF
– Setting/adjusting the investment strategy
– Selecting and placing investments
– Estate planning
Reporting
The SMSF Administrator can be the prime source for all reports, including investment reports that require the inclusion of non standard investments.
Investment platforms and the cash hub can also provide components of reporting.
These services can be efficiently sourced through a professional SMSF Administrator. – Pensions – Lump sums – Insurance premiums
– Fees and charges
– Taxes
Structure for adding gearing to the Fund
– Rollovers
– Contributions
– Different from SMSF trustees
– Can be a Corporate trustee
– Required for limited recourse borrowing
– Holder of asset as security for the borrowing Disbursements Provider of SMSF administration Services Cash Asset transfers
Self Managed
Superannuation Fund
(1 to 4 Members) – Trust deed – Investment strategy – Trustee responsibilities – Pensions– Reports and returns
– Compliance
Cash Hub
Usually Cash Management Account/Trust Provider of actuarial services Debt Instrument trust Provider of legal advice Provider of audit services – Separately Managed Account – WRAP – Other
Fund
Investments
Investment platform (optional) Standard investments Non-standard Investments Provider of investment advice Provider of accounting servicesIf one member only If 2 to 4 members
Cash hub
All SMSFs need a cash hub to enable them to manage their cashflow requirements such as the receipt of investment income and payment of fees and taxes.
SMSFs will typically use either a cash management account from a bank or a cash management trust from a financial institution. These offer:
– Online access to facilitate easy reporting and transaction initiation
– The ability to give third parties such as the
administrator or financial planner access to the account to initiate transactions such as fee or tax payments
– The ability to provide the trustee or administrator with data that enables them to meet the administrative and reporting requirements of the fund
– The ability to receive direct payment of investment income and facilitate the purchase of assets or the crediting of the proceeds from the sale of assets
– A high degree of security
Accounting
SMSFs can engage accountants to provide some aspects of the administration requirements including the preparation of financial statements, the preparation of the fund’s tax return, the payment of taxes and GST, and other general administrative duties. Alternatively, a specialist SMSF Administrator can supply these services.
Auditing
In addition, the fund must arrange an independent audit each year and must engage an auditor for this purpose.
Administration service
SMSF administrators can support trustees by taking care of most of the administration requirements. Broadly, these include:
– Fund establishment including the provision of a trust deed, notice of election to become a regulated fund and registration for an Australian Business Number (ABN), Tax File Number (TFN) and Goods and Services Tax (GST)
– Compliance administration including providing annual financial and member statements, tax returns and all other necessary reporting to the ATO
– Independent audit facilitation
– Supplementary services including actuarial certification, calculation of lump sum and pension payments, and trust deed amendments
Specialist
service requirements
Investments
There is a wide choice of investment options available for trustees to select from in order to meet the investment objective and strategy of their fund.
The most common types of investments are: – Shares and other listed securities
– Separately managed accounts – where a share portfolio is constructed and managed for an investor in accordance with instructions from a professional investment manager
– Managed funds – covering most asset classes
including Australian and international shares, property, alternative assets, fixed interest and cash
– Term deposits
– Direct property – including business real property, residential, commercial and retail property
– Collectables – for example artworks
All of these investments can be owned directly by the fund on behalf of the members. However, it is also possible to simplify the management and administration of shares, managed funds, separately managed accounts and even term deposits through an investment platform such as a ‘wrap’ platform.
Holding investments through such a platform simplifies the management and administration of these assets while providing continuous online reporting plus consolidated annual tax statements.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the
services and products that SMSF
How AMP can help
The number of SMSFs registered in Australia has grown rapidly in recent years as more and more people are attracted to the benefits of managing their own fund.
If you are the trustee of an SMSF or are interested in setting up a SMSF, AMP is able to offer a number of products and services that can help.
These include: – Financial planning
– SMSF administration services
– Separately managed accounts
– Managed funds
– Investment platform
– Cash management account
– Term deposits
– Life insurance
– Facilitating the provision of other specialist services
Share brokerage
Some trustees prefer to manage their own share portfolio and will use a share broker to facilitate their share trading. This could be a full service broker or online share trading service.
Borrowing
An SMSF is able to borrow to invest by using a borrowing arrangement that meets the strict conditions under superannuation law. The actual investment can be anything that the fund can normally invest in, such as shares or property but the trustee must hold the investment through a separate, specialised trust commonly known as a Debt Instrument Trust (or bare trust) and the lender only has recourse to the assets that the trustee borrows against. There is no general recourse available to the lender against the fund itself.
The lender can be a bank, a margin lender, the SMSF trustee or a related party on commercial terms. It is important to set up this structure correctly to ensure that the arrangement is fully compliant with the law.
Legal and estate planning
Trustees may need legal services for various reasons, including the drafting of the trust deed of the fund.
Estate planning is also a very important area of retirement planning and is best done with specialist legal advice to ensure that the beneficiaries receive the desired level of benefits with the least amount of cost, tax and legal challenge.
Financial planning
Financial planners can provide important advice to trustees, particularly in relation to:
– Retirement planning strategies that make the most of the tax and other advantages of the superannuation system and help fund members maximise their benefits
– Development, implementation and monitoring of the investment strategy of the fund
– Calculating the appropriate type and level of risk insurance
– Other matters such as a general compliance
overview, advising the trustees of the implications of superannuation and tax rule changes and working with other service providers in the interests of the trustees
Insurance
SMSFs are able to own insurance plans on behalf of their members to protect them from the worst kind
of unexpected events, such as serious injury, illness or death.
The insurance types most applicable to SMSFs are: – Death – pays a lump sum if a member dies or is
diagnosed with a terminal illness and has less than 12 months to live
– Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) - pays a lump sum if a member can no longer work because they become totally and permanently disabled
What you need to know
General Information Only
The information in this flyer has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Accordingly, before acting on this information, you should consider whether it is appropriate having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. You should obtain a brochure for any of the products and services mentioned in this flyer by contacting your AMP Financial Planner and consider the brochure before making any decision about whether to acquire any of these products and services.
