If your SMSF owns a beach house, country cottage or apartment that feels like the perfect Christmas getaway, this is your friendly end-of-year reminder: you and your family can’t use it over the Christmas and New Year period, not even “just for a week,” and not even if it’s sitting vacant. It’s one of the...

Thinking about using your SMSF to invest in property? With the right structure, your SMSF can borrow to invest. The key is using what’s called a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA). An LRBA can help grow your retirement savings, but it also comes with some important rules and risks. What is an LRBA? An LRBA...

Australia’s love affair with SMSFs shows no sign of slowing down. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has just released its June 2025 quarterly statistical report, and the numbers highlight how significant SMSFs are in shaping retirement wealth. If you’ve ever wondered how SMSFs fit into the bigger picture, here’s a simple breakdown. SMSFs by the...

If you want to give your children a head start on saving for their first home, the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) is worth considering. It offers a tax-effective way for young people to grow a deposit more quickly and is open to anyone who meets the eligibility rules and has never owned property....

With more than $4 trillion in superannuation, it’s no surprise scammers see it as a goldmine. ASIC has warned Australians to be on high alert after a rise in pushy sales tactics and false promises designed to lure people into risky super switches. Since your super is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make,...

If you’re aged between 67–75 and want to claim a tax deduction for a personal super contribution, you must meet the work test (or a one-off work test exemption). The work test requires that, at some time in the financial year, you were gainfully employed for at least 40 hours in any 30 consecutive days...

Many people have life and disability insurance as part of their superannuation fund. This can be a convenient way to get cover, but there comes a time, especially as you approach retirement, when you might wonder if it’s worth keeping. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right decision will depend on your personal circumstances, your finances,...

Superannuation is a great way to save for retirement, but the government sets strict limits on how much you can contribute each year. These limits are called contribution caps. If you go over them, you could face extra tax. But don’t panic – here’s what you need to know and the steps to take if...

Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are a key part of Australia’s superannuation system, offering control over retirement savings. As of March 2025, about 650,000 SMSFs manage $1 trillion in assets – a quarter of the $4.1 trillion superannuation pool. Let’s take a quick look at who uses SMSFs, why they’re chosen, costs and setup essentials for...

If you’ve been keeping an eye on your super, you might be wondering whether the contribution limits are increasing this year. The answer is – not yet. Two key caps that determine how much you can put into super each year will stay the same from 1 July 2025. Concessional contributions These are contributions made...