22 Jul 2026By Ciara Conway2 min read

How to set up an SMSF

22 Jul 2026By Ciara Conway2 min read

Setting up an SMSF can seem like an unappealingly involved and complicated process. However, it doesn’t have to be.

Establishing an SMSF comes with important legal and trustee responsibilities, but specialist support can help make the process more manageable.

Stake Super supports you through the setup and ongoing administration, so you can spend more time focusing on your investment strategy.

What does an SMSF need?

Every SMSF needs to:

Choose a trustee structure
Create a trust deed
Register with the ATO for an ABN and TFN
Open a bank account
Obtain an electronic service address (ESA)
Prepare an investment strategy

These steps are legal requirements for every SMSF.

How Stake Super makes it easier

When you set up your SMSF with Stake Super, we handle almost all of the paperwork and administration for you.

1. Complete your application

Get started online by telling us about yourself and any other fund members.

2. We set up your SMSF

We'll prepare your trust deed, register your fund with the ATO, arrange your ABN and TFN and take care of the key requirements.

3. Roll over your super

Once it’s ready, you can move your existing super into the fund.

4. Start investing

When your rollover is complete, you're ready to start investing through your SMSF.

Some funds may require additional information, depending on their circumstances or requests from the ATO or ASIC.

What happens after setup?

Running an SMSF comes with responsibilities, including annual accounting, audits and regulatory reporting.

Stake Super helps manage these ongoing admin requirements too, helping you stay on top of your SMSF.

Ready to get started?

Setting up an SMSF doesn't have to be complicated.

Get started online in minutes or speak to a Stake Super specialist to learn more.

This is not financial product advice, nor a recommendation that a self-managed super fund (‘SMSF’) may be suitable for you. Your personal circumstances have not been taken into account. SMSFs have different risks and features compared to traditional superannuation funds regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (‘APRA’). Stake SMSF Pty Ltd, trading as Stake Super, is not licensed to provide financial product advice under the Corporations Act. This specifically applies to any financial products which are established if you instruct Stake Super to set up an SMSF. When you sign up to Stake Super, you are contracting with Stake SMSF Pty Ltd who will assist in the establishment and administration of an SMSF under a ‘no advice model’. You will also be referred to Stakeshop Pty Ltd to enable your trading account and bank account to be set up in order to use the Stake Website and/or App. For more information about SMSFs, see our SMSF Risks page.

SMSF Self Managed Super Fund

Ciara Conway

Commercial Manager - Stake Super

Ciara is a Commercial Manager at Stake Super, with over 10 years of experience in the SMSF industry and an MA in Accountancy and Finance from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Having previously worked at a chartered accounting firm and one of the largest SMSF administrators in Australia, Ciara has extensive knowledge of SMSF compliance. She is also a current member of the SMSF Association.

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