SMSF Guides
A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) gives you direct control over your retirement savings, including the ability to invest in assets not available through industry or retail funds. With that control comes significant trustee responsibility — SMSFs are regulated by the ATO and require ongoing compliance, annual audits, and active management.
These guides cover everything you need to know before setting up an SMSF, and what’s required to run one properly.
SMSF Fundamentals
- Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) — Complete Guide — What an SMSF is, trustee responsibilities, costs, ATO compliance, and who it suits
- SMSF vs Industry Fund — Detailed Cost Comparison — Break-even balance, running costs, and the control trade-off
Trustee Obligations
- SMSF Trustee Duties and Responsibilities Australia — The legal duties every trustee must meet
- SMSF Investment Strategy — Trustee Requirements — What the written investment strategy must cover and how to document it
- SMSF Audit — What It Is and How Much It Costs — Annual audit obligations, what auditors check, and typical cost range
SMSF Investments
- SMSF Borrowing — Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBA) — How SMSFs can borrow to buy assets, the rules, risks, and costs
- SMSF and Cryptocurrency — What the ATO Says (2026) — ATO rules on crypto in SMSFs, record-keeping, and CGT treatment
- SMSF In-House Assets Rule — What Counts and What Doesn’t — The 5% limit, what counts as in-house, and common trustee mistakes
- SMSF Related-Party Transactions — Rules and Restrictions — Arm’s length requirement, what’s allowed and what’s prohibited
SMSFs involve significant legal and financial complexity. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser or SMSF specialist. You can find one through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.