Some of the things to consider when you’re establishing an SMSF are:
- Pre-existing sum of money in the fund to reconcile the set up and yearly running costs
- Budgeting for ongoing expenses such as professional accounting, tax compliance, auditing, legal and financial advice
- Factoring in considerable time to manage the fund and research investments
- Staying up to date with changes in the law that need to be reflected within your super fund
Many SMSFs can be managed by advisors for a fee, which may be equivalent to the time, and money spent managing the fund yourself. The benefit of the SMSFs is the freedom and flexibility to invest in what you choose as opposed to being confined by limited gain from larger providers.
If you’re thinking about taking the leap into a SMSF, take a look at this video created by the Australian Tax Office explaining what’s involved with managing an SMSF.