Important Information
RISKS OF SMSF & REDWOOD
These disclosures are extremely important to read prior to contacting “Redwood” (refer below for details of the Redwood Group). We operate in a regulated environment, we must adhere to the laws and regulations and also present you with the necessary information to assist you with the benefits and risks of Self Managed Superannuation Funds (“SMSF”).
There is a lot be gained when setting up a SMSF! But with great power comes great responsibility. Before setting up a SMSF you must have done your own research and due diligence. The laws pertaining to SMSF’s establishment and accountants changed as of 1 July 2017. As a financial product, SMSF’s have their inherent RISKS that you must be aware of, as Redwood accepts no responsibility in regards to the risks below:
REDWOOD ADVISORY PTY LTD (“Redwood Advisory”) – NO FINANCIAL ADVICE – NO RECCOMENDATION – we are Accountants only!
ABN 291 6155 3591
ACN 291 61553 591
Address: 304 Middleborough Rd Blackburn VIC 3130
No financial advice is provided by Redwood Advisory.
Redwood Advisory is a streamline accounting and taxation service that offers NO financial advice and does not recommend whether an SMSF is best for your financial situation or your future goals. Redwood Advisory was established in 2012. Without sufficient knowledge regarding the SMSF space, any financial decisions you make may put you at RISK. We strongly advise that you pursue professional advice from a licensed financial adviser to determine the suitability of an SMSF prior to establishing a SMSF.
As it is the responsibility of the Trustee (you) for all aspects of the SMSF, you will be legally responsible for any financials decisions made. As such, Redwood Advisory operates on execution only basis or no advice, meaning that Redwood assumes that you have undergone sufficient research and/or has sought out professional advice. The decision to set up a SMSF is on you!
ESSIENTIAL MANAGEMENT – YOUR SKILLS – YOUR TIME
Compliance is the key in managing your SMSF. You as Trustee, will be ultimately to be responsible for making investment decisions and ensuring you comply with all legal obligations such as timely and accurate preparation and lodgement of annual tax returns. Documents and records of the SMSF should be kept safe at all times and any transactions within the SMSF is for the sole purpose of providing for your retirement. Compliance with this level of scrutiny, does not come naturally to most people, so it imperative that you have an appropriate level of SKILL and that you allocate yourself enough TIME to manage your SMSF. If you are uncertain with any aspect of administering a SMSF, Redwood Advisory can help guide you. However compliance is your responsibility.
SETTING UP MINIMUM BALANCES AND SMSF OVERHEADS
When establishing your SMSF, you must ensure that you have sufficient balance to not only cover your SMSF OVERHEADS but enough so that your SMSF is functional and worthwhile. “They say, $200,000” is the SMSF balance benchmark to run an SMSF, however, this should be considered case by case and should be tailored to your financial objectives, as such, there is no legislation as to what your minimum balance should be. However, we must emphasise that you consider your OVERHEADS which may consist of accounting fees, ATO Supervisory Levy, Actuarial Fees, Lawyer Fees, Company Fees and so on.
Whether an SMSF is right for you, boils down to your decisions -Always contemplate your Costs VS. Benefits in establishing your SMSF.
Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) and Australian Securities Investments Commission (“ASIC”) guidance on SMSFs
Refer to the following link for information from ASIC on SMSF https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/superannuation-and-retirement/self-managed-super-fund-smsf
Guidance for advisers is included here http://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/giving-financial-product-advice/advice-on-self-managed-superannuation-funds-disclosure-of-risks/#access-to-complaints-mechanisms
Refer to the following link for information from the ATO on SMSF
https://www.ato.gov.au/uploadedfiles/content/spr/downloads/spr46427n11032.pdf
Here a number of links on the ATO website with a variety of important and useful pieces of info to assist you in establishing and running your SMSF
https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/Self-managed-super-funds/
Individual links are included below:
How a SMSF is regulated smsf-regulations
Winding up a SMSF – winding-up-a-smsf
Running a SMSF – running-a-smsf
Setting up a SMSF – setting-up-a-smsf
Thinking about self-managed super – thinking-about-smsf
INVESTMENT RISK
The Trustees hold the power in regards to investment decisions in the SMSF and along with it the RISKS. Thus, careful consideration and due diligence must be applied when making any financial decisions. We at Redwood Advisory do not recommend any particular strategy, however, it is best you consider your age and risk profile so that you may invest in line with your retirement goals. Also consider diversification of investments which means spreading your SMSF portfolio risk over different sectors of the market for better control and stability given market changes. The investment choices you make must comply with the rules of your SMSF Trust Deed and relevant legislation. Visit the ASIC consumer website for more investment tips www.moneysmart.gov.au.
We have attached for your reference a ASIC publication on the importance of advice within an SMSF, this includes the considerations of a adviser and importantly the considerations of the Trustee – http://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/giving-financial-product-advice/advice-on-self-managed-superannuation-funds-disclosure-of-risks/
Life Insurance – Optional
Given that SMSF’s are created for our retirement future, why not consider “life after death.” Life Insurance can help our family in need, In the case of serious illness or accidents. Usually, industry/retail super fund will offer life insurance at a low cost and on a basic level. The issue with this, is that often these insurance policies will not be catered for your personal needs. It is worthwhile comparing the differences of the COSTS and BENEFITS of these standard insurance policies opposed to a tailored insurance policy. Redwood Advisory does not provide insurance advice and please consider insurance advice from a qualified financial planner.
Government Compensation
ARPA Regulated funds usually covered in the case of fraud and theft, however, SMSF do not have as many options when it comes to these matters. Given this, no government or industry compensations is currently available for SMSFs leaving the trustees/members of the SMSF to self-protect their own retirement interests.
Trustees/Members ultimately have control and bear the responsibility of all investment decisions and management of the SMSF. SMSFs are not prudentially regulated but rather they are subject to compliance regulation of the ATO. Refer to the ATO’s website for more details: https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/Self-managed-super-funds/In-detail/News/
Access to complaint mechanisms
Retail clients should understand that certain dispute resolution mechanisms, such as the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT), may not be available to SMSFs.
However, the types of disputes and complaints that may arise for SMSF investors may be different from those in an APRA-regulated superannuation fund, and access to other complaints mechanisms may be available to SMSF investors (e.g. the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited or the Credit and Investments Ombudsman).
Appropriateness of different structures
Trustees should consider the most appropriate SMSF structure when establishing an SMSF. Selecting the most appropriate structure (i.e. a corporate or individual trustee structure) can have important tax and succession planning implications for clients. It can also be costly to change structures, ownership of assets and trustees after the SMSF has been established.
REDWOOD ADVISORY
Redwood ADVISORY wants your SMSF journey as stress-free and seamless as possible. Redwood Advisory offers no personal advice in regards to your financial situation – we are now specialist administrators of SMSFs. Let us makes this crystal clear, Redwood Advisory is “no advice” – we will not consider your personal situation or needs in our discussions and correspondence with you – we will not issue any financial product advice relating to your SMSF – this includes pensions, contributions or SMSF Strategy.
Before setting up an SMSF, it is recommended that you obtain specific financial product advice before making any financial product decisions. If you require financial advice in regards to setting up an SMSF, please seek financial advice from a qualified financial planner.
A summary – The Redwood Group includes:
Redwood Advisory Pty Ltd T/A Redwood Advisory ABN 291 6155 3591
Redwood Home Loans Pty Ltd ABN 52 604 086 286
Redwood Real Estate Pty Ltd T/A Redwood Property Group ABN 59 604 940 436
Fees and costs of an SMSF
Refer to https://redwoodadvisory.com.au/smsf/fees/ for our fee disclosures. This is to be read in line with our SMSF Risks, Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
SMSF and flat fees can make a huge difference to your ultimate retirement balance. When you first set up a fund there are a number of fees that your fund will need to incur. Often SMSF administrators will require you to pay some of these fees by EFT or credit card when you first establish your fund. At Redwood, we will generally pay these fees on your behalf so you’re not out of pocket – or need to reimburse yourself from the SMSF. Once your new SMSF is established and funds from previous superannuation accounts are transferred in, we will debit the SMSF to cover these costs (generally when the SMSF rollover is completed.
Here is a summary of the standard fees associated with establishing an SMSF (https://redwoodadvisory.com.au/smsf/fees/):
Further information on the annual SMSF Supervisory Levy is available on the ATO website at https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/SMSF-supervisory-levy—2013-to-2017-financial-years/
Further information on the annual ASIC Company fees is available on the ASIC website at http://asic.gov.au/for-business/running-a-company/annual-statements/advance-payment-of-annual-review-fees/
Note – Special purpose company only applies to a corporate trustee of a self-managed superannuation fund.
Redwood has been around for a while, and we hope to be profitable and try to charge a fixed fee to cover our costs and fingers crossed we can feed the family at night! Our fees are disclosed here – https://redwoodadvisory.com.au/smsf/fees/
You can compare us to our competitors but we differentiate based on our core values – we are known to assist our clients with a “client first” approach – we serve our clients with ultimate service….a personal touch on all our interactions.
Redwood Group of Companies
Redwood Wealth Pty Ltd T/A Redwood Wealth ABN 17 612 758 826
Redwood Advisory Pty Ltd T/A Redwood Advisory ABN 291 6155 3591
Redwood Home Loans Pty Ltd ABN 52 604 086 286
Redwood Real Estate Pty Ltd T/A Redwood Property Group ABN 59 604 940 436