As a self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustee, it's crucial to have a well-thought-out estate plan to ensure your wealth is passed on effectively and tax-efficiently to your loved ones.
Working with experienced SMSF advisors can help you navigate the complexities and develop strategies to minimise tax and maximise the benefits for your beneficiaries.
SMSFs offer greater control and flexibility over your retirement savings compared to APRA-regulated funds.
However, this also means you are responsible for ensuring your SMSF assets are distributed according to your wishes when you pass away. Without proper estate planning, your SMSF wealth could end up in the wrong hands, be eroded by unnecessary taxes, or face legal challenges from family members.
Over 1.1 million Australians held $885 billion in SMSF assets as of September 2023, highlighting the importance of careful SMSF estate planning for a significant portion of the population.
By taking the time to review and document your plans with the help of an SMSF financial advisor, you can ensure greater certainty and security for your beneficiaries.
While Australia no longer has an inheritance tax, your SMSF may still be subject to a "death benefit" of up to 32% when you pass away, depending on factors like the tax components of your balance, whether proceeds are from an insurance payout, if benefits are paid as a lump sum or income stream, and who the recipient is.
However, with prior planning and the guidance of SMSF strategic advisors, much of this tax can be legally reduced or eliminated using strategies such as:
An independent financial advisor, like Allied WealthWeath, can assess your situation and recommend the most suitable strategies for your estate planning needs.
For your SMSF estate plans to be carried out efficiently, it's vital to have all the necessary documents in place, up-to-date, and stored securely. This includes your:
SMSF trust deed: The rules governing how your fund operates and distributes benefits. It should be reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects current super laws and your wishes.
Will: Specifies how you want your personal assets and SMSF death benefits paid via your estate to be distributed. It should align with your SMSF estate plans.
Enduring power of attorney: Gives someone you trust the authority to manage your SMSF if you lose capacity. They must be appointed as a trustee.
Death benefit nominations: Binds or guides your SMSF trustees on how to pay your death benefits. They should be renewed every 3 years or made non-lapsing.
Wealth management firms can assist with drafting and reviewing these documents to ensure they are valid and effective.
Even the best-laid plans can go awry if unexpected events occur. That's why it's crucial to have contingencies and exit strategies in place for scenarios such as:
Overseas relocation: Understand the residency rules and tax implications for your SMSF if you move abroad permanently or temporarily.
Retirement financial planning specialists can help you prepare for these eventualities and make any necessary adjustments to your SMSF estate plans.
Passing on your SMSF wealth effectively requires careful planning, expert advice, and regular reviews to ensure your estate plans remain relevant and compliant. By working with a qualified SMSF advisor, you can have peace of mind knowing your hard-earned super savings will be distributed according to your wishes with minimal tax and complications.
To discuss your SMSF estate planning needs and explore tailored solutions, contact the team at Allied Wealth, your trusted ally in wealth management and retirement planning. With their expertise and personalised approach, you can secure your financial legacy for generations to come.
Financial advisors play a critical role when it comes to helping individuals to navigate their finances. Whether it’s personal finances, investments, retirement planning or anything in between seeking out the help of an experienced professional can be very beneficial.
Whilst you’ve probably heard the term financial advisor before, there is often confusion about what a financial advisor actually is and what they actually do.
This is our comprehensive guide to what a financial advisor is, what it is they actually do and how they can help you get a better understanding your finances.
In short, a financial advisor is a person who provides guidance and expertise on a range of different aspects of your finances. A financial advisor's main goal is to help their clients to make informed decisions about managing their money, investing for the future and planning for significant life events like retirement.
Financial advisors work closely with their clients to understand their financial goals, risk tolerance and their current financial situation to help develop personalised strategies to help their clients hit their financial objectives.
There are a number of different financial services available when you work with a financial advisor, these are some of the most common services you can expect to see financial advisors offering to their clients.
One of the main things a financial advisor can help you with is to help you build and manage your investment portfolios tailored to your financial goals. This means helping with advice in regards to types of investments, asset allocation and ongoing monitoring to help optimise your returns and manage your risk.
Financial advisors can help clients in creating financial plans that address their financial situation as well as their goals for the future. This can include budgeting, saving, retirement planning, risk management and more. These financial plans can help be the roadmap to help clients achieve their short-term and long-term goals.
Planning for retirement is an exciting and daunting time in everyone's life and it’s a significant part of financial advisory services. Advisors can help clients assess their needs for retirement and help them build wealth and manage their super funds to maximise their income for retirement.
Our team of financial advisors can help you manage your self managed super fund. They provide expert guidance on the creation, administration, and investment strategies for self-managed super funds. If you need some guidance on your SMSF, a financial advisor is a great place to start!
At Allied Wealth, we know how important it is to have personalised financial guidance that is tailored to your needs and goals. Our team of expert financial advisors can help you navigate the financial landscape and reach all your short and long-term financial goals.
If you want to find out exactly how our financial advisors can help you, you can contact a member of our team today to learn more about our comprehensive services and our transparent subscription plans.
If you’ve been thinking about setting up a self-managed super fund AKA an SMSF but you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything that is involved – you aren’t alone. Whether you’re looking for expert advice to guide you through opening an SMSF or to help you optimise the performance and ensure compliance of your existing SMSF, an SMSF advisor is the way to go!
There are a number of reasons why you should work alongside an SMSF advisor. With regulations and investment opportunities constantly changing and shifting, having an expert by your side can help you get the most from your SMSF.
If you’re looking for an SMSF advisor, this is our guide to finding the perfect fit for you.
The number one thing you need to do before you start on your hunt for an SMSF advisor is to take the time to really set out exactly what you’re looking for. Do you need help with set-up? Are you looking to help with compliance management or investment strategies? Maybe you need help with all of the above?
The first step to finding the right SMSF advisor is to really understand exactly what you need so you can find someone with the right expertise.
When it comes to checking out potential advisors, make sure their expertise aligns with your goals and your needs. Look for qualified SMSF specialist advisor that has experience in SMSF set-up and management to make sure you’re getting advice from some of the best in the industry.
You’ll want to research the reputation of the SMSF advisors you end up working with. Check out case studies and online reviews from clients to make sure your chosen advisor has a good reputation in the industry and a history of happy clients. If you can’t find anything online, don’t hesitate to try to seek out personal experiences from family members or friends to make sure you’re working with an SMSF advisor you can trust.
One of the most important steps you need to take is to ensure the advisor you choose is licensed and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Compliance with regulatory requirements is crucial for protecting your interest and making sure there’s ethical conduct.
Check out the kinds of services that are offered by your team of chosen SMSF advisors. These services might be SMSF advice like SMSF set up, or something else entirely like investment advice, wealth creation advice or retirement planning. Choose an advisor who can provide you the services and support you need tailored to your circumstances.
The number one thing you need to ensure when locking down an SMSF financial advisor is effective communication! You need to ensure your advisor is responsive to your inquiries and concerns and vice versa. Clear lines of communication and regular updates is key to ensuring a successful advisor/client relationship built on transparency and trust.
It doesn’t matter how qualified your SMSF advisor is if you just don’t click! Make sure you choose an SMSF advisor that you’re comfortable with and that you trust. Make sure you’re compatible with your advisor and that you’re comfortable enough to discuss your financial situation as well as your goals and concerns.
When it comes to a financial advisor that really does have your best interest in mind, our team at Allied Wealth is the way to go. By using our helpful guide you have all the right resources you need to find the SMSF financial advisor that will best suit you!
Contact our team today to find out more about what our team of independent financial advisors can do for you in regards to your SMSF.