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Superannuation
Self Managed Superannuation Funds - (SMSF)
A SMSF generally delivers increased investment choice and control while allowing members greater access to generous tax concessions. Unfortunately due the complexity of the Superannuation Industry Supervision Act and the ever changing rules and regulations many self managed funds do not achieve full potential, leaving members with reduced retirement savings.
At Cleary Hoare our goal is to provide you with the flexibility to allow your fund to participate in the widest range of complying investment opportunities available. We do not offer investment advice, our role is to ensure that the investments you desire are structured to comply with the regulations of the (SIS) Act. We also focus on using SMSFs as a vehicle to realise capital gains, which has the potential to deliver massive tax saving to members, in many circumstances reducting the tax to nil.
Strategies include:
- Moderate indirect gearing
- Effectively using Unit Trusts with SMSFs
- Movement of currently owned external assets into the SMSF
- Accessing CGT discounts within the SMSF environment
Tax Concessions
Your fund will either be in accumulation or pension phase. During accumulation phase your fund is typically taxed at a maximum rate of 15 percent, but for many funds the benefits of imputation credits reduces this tax to a single figure. If your fund is in pension phase no tax is payable on the income and capital gains on assets used to fund pension payments.
We see many clients who have missed the opportunity to use the superannuation tax concessions due to poor structuring decisions. Never has it been more attractive to use super as an effective tax planning tool.
Legislative Compliance
Another important consideration when using a SMSF is ensuring your deed is regularly updated to comply with any changes in legislation. Without a newly updated deed you have the real possibility of not being able to access recent changes such as:
- Splitting of contributions
- Payment of pensions complying with SIS standards
- Transition to retirement income pensions
- Reversionary Pensions
By implementing a Cleary Hoare deed you are assured your fund is compliant with the SIS Act.
Investment Control and Choice
As members you set and manage the investment strategy of your fund. This control allows you to tailor the investment portfolio to your specific needs. Your investment decisions can take into account each member’s age, existing assets, likely retirement needs, risk profile and contribution pattern in a way that is often not possible in a larger fund. Your fund has the ability to invest in shares, property, bonds, or acquire any other asset that you feel meets the investment objectives.
Our objective is to allow you access to the benefits that a SMSF offers. Cleary Hoare provides you with structural solutions that allow you to achieve your ideal investment strategy.