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Have you checked your superannuation fund lately? Is it working hard enough for you? Ideally, everyone in Perth would answer those questions “yes.” However, the reality is that some people pay a lot of attention to their supers and some just stick with the fund their employer uses and hope it increases on “auto-pilot.”

If you are someone who keeps track and is happy with how your employer’s retail or corporate fund is performing, great.

Superfund Basics

Currently, your employer is required to pay 9.5% of your income, not including overtime, to your superannuation fund. You are allowed to make contributions to the fund as well. Depending on the conditions of your employment, the money may go into a corporate fund chosen by your employer or a fund that you choose between a retail fund and an industry fund or a self managed super fund.

The super fund invests your money for you. All increases are reinvested for you and you make money off of the money the fund has already made. This is similar to “compounding interest.”

The self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) is a way that people in Perth and beyond can save for retirement. When employers make contributions into your super, you can choose to have them put it in their corporate fund, an industry fund, a retail fund or an SMSF. There are many factors to consider, such as risk, reward, fees and insurance.

Remember that this information is general in nature. We can’t really make any specific recommendations without an individual consult to fully understand your financial situation first. We would like to give you an overview of SMSFs to help you decide if you would like to know more about them.

Factors to Consider

An SMSF isn’t for everyone. There are some factors you need to consider. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), you may need as much as $200,000 to set up a viable SMSF. In addition, you will need to be a trustee. That involves a lot of time and responsibility.

You will need to submit reports on deadline, constantly monitor your investment strategy, keep abreast of all changes in SMSF regulations and keep a keen eye on the market for investment opportunities. You will also need to choose someone such as Approved Financial Planners to set up your SMSF.