Setup and manage a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF)

We will help you set up and manage a Self-Managed Super Fund that gives you control over your retirement savings and investment strategy.

An SMSF is the most powerful retirement structure available to Australian investors, but only if it is set up correctly and managed within the rules. The flexibility that makes an SMSF attractive comes with compliance obligations that cannot be ignored. We establish your SMSF on solid legal foundations, advise on your investment and contribution strategy, and keep your fund compliant as the law and your circumstances evolve.

What is a Self-Managed Super Fund and why does it matter?

A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a private superannuation trust you control as both trustee and member, giving you the ability to tailor your investment strategy, hold a wide range of assets including business real property, and consolidate your retirement savings under a structure you manage. With up to six members allowed, SMSFs are a popular choice for business owners, families, and investors who want greater control and flexibility over their retirement savings.

How much does it cost to set up an SMSF?

Setup costs typically include professional fees for legal documentation, accounting registration, and ATO registration. Ongoing costs include annual audit, accounting, and compliance fees. We advise on the full cost picture upfront so you can assess whether an SMSF is the right structure for your situation.

How many members can an SMSF have?

An SMSF can have up to six members, all of whom must be individual trustees or directors of a corporate trustee. Couples, families, and business partners commonly use SMSFs to pool their superannuation savings under a single fund.

What assets can an SMSF hold?

SMSFs can hold a wide range of assets including Australian and international shares, term deposits, managed funds, residential and commercial property, collectables, and business real property. Investment decisions must comply with the fund’s investment strategy and the superannuation rules, including the sole purpose test.

Do I need a corporate trustee for my SMSF?

You can have individual trustees or a corporate trustee. A corporate trustee is generally preferred because it provides administrative continuity when members join or leave the fund, clearer separation between personal and super assets, and is required for certain transactions like borrowing arrangements. We advise on the right structure for your situation.
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Your SMSF is established correctly with compliant documentation from day one.

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You have direct control over your investment strategy and the assets your fund holds.

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Your fund is structured to stay compliant as your circumstances and the law evolve.

Is an SMSF right for you?

Before setting up an SMSF, it is important to understand the compliance obligations and whether the structure suits your situation. Let us help you make the right decision.

An SMSF built on shaky foundations creates expensive problems.

You want to take control of your retirement savings through your own superannuation fund, but the compliance obligations are more complex than they appear, and the consequences of getting the structure wrong, from the trust deed to the trustee structure to the ATO registration, can be expensive to fix and hard to undo.

Set up and manage SMSF

Taking control of your retirement savings.

You have accumulated meaningful superannuation savings and you are frustrated with the limited control you have over how they are invested. You want to hold property or other specific assets in super, pool savings with a family member or business partner, or simply have the flexibility to manage your retirement strategy according to your own goals rather than a retail fund’s default options. You know SMSFs are widely used by people in your position, but you also know the compliance obligations are real, and you want to get it right from day one.

What's included in your SMSF setup and management service

What goes wrong when an SMSF is set up incorrectly?

The ATO’s compliance data consistently shows that most SMSF contraventions originate in errors made at establishment, such as a trust deed that does not give the trustees the powers they need, a trustee structure chosen for convenience rather than compliance, or an ATO registration that was not completed correctly. A fund that fails to meet the SMSF definition from the outset may never have been complying, which means it was never entitled to concessional tax treatment. The cost of rectifying establishment errors is disproportionate, far greater than the cost of getting it right in the first place.

Here is how we get your SMSF right from the start.

We set up your SMSF the way it needs to be set up. We prepare a deed that gives your trustees the full range of powers required under current law, a trustee structure matched to your circumstances, and ATO and ABN registrations that are properly completed from the start. For funds already in operation, we conduct a compliance review and tell you clearly what is working and what needs to change.

Our SMSF setup process

Three steps to your SMSF up and running.

1

Advise and structure

We assess your situation, advise on the right trustee structure, and confirm the fund design that works for your goals and compliance obligations.

2

Establish and register

We prepare the trust deed, set up the corporate trustee if required, and register the fund with the ATO, including ABN and TFN applications.

3

Document and operate

We prepare your member documentation, and rollover paperwork so the fund is ready to receive contributions and begin investing.

Experienced SMSF lawyers ready to guide you.

We understand the appeal of an SMSF; the control, the flexibility, and the ability to build a retirement strategy that actually reflects your goals. We also understand that the compliance obligations can feel more complex than they need to be. We have established hundreds of SMSFs for business owners, families, and investors, and we know how to make the process straightforward without cutting the corners that will cause problems later.

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We understand you want to know the cost, before we get started.

We will map out our process, from beginning to end, so you know what the journey will look like before you get started.

We will provide you with a clear and detailed Work Proposal covering each step along the way.

Our fair fees are all-inclusive. No hidden costs for telephone calls, emails, photocopying, couriers, or coffee.

Our great lawyer guarantee

We want to be part of your team over the long term. We achieve this by adhering to these core principles:

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Take the time

We listen carefully to understand what you want to achieve. Then we thoroughly explain our advice and step you through the documents. You can be sure you know the full consequences.

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Share our knowledge

We will pass on as much knowledge as we can, so you can make your own informed decisions. We want to make you truly independent.

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Stick to our knitting

We only do what we're good at. You can be confident that we know what we're doing and don't pass on the cost of our learning.

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Work as one team

Someone will always be available to answer your questions, or point you in the right direction. You will also benefit from a range of perspectives and experience.

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Fair pricing

For advice and documents, we provide a fixed or capped quote so you don't take price risk. If you're in a dispute, we map out the process and costs so you know what to expect.

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It's your show

We're not in this for our egos. We're in it for a front row seat to witness your success.

Ready to set up your SMSF?

Book a call today and we will assess whether an SMSF is right for your situation and take you through exactly what is involved in getting it established.

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