Responsibility for SMSF investments
SMSF trustees are responsible for the investments made by the fund.
Unlike members of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) regulated industry and retail super funds, SMSF members aren’t entitled to compensation if they’re the victim of fraud or dishonest conduct by a third party.
Investment limits for stocks and ETFs
There’s no restriction on the percentage of your SMSF that can be invested in an individual stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF), provided the investments align with your SMSF investment strategy.
SMSF diversification requirements
SMSF trustees are required to consider diversification as part of the fund’s investment strategy. Trustees must also consider risk, liquidity, the ability to pay benefits and whether to hold insurance for members.
Investing in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies with Stake Super
When you sign up to Stake Super, we also refer you to the Stake investing platform, where you can invest in stocks and ETFs in Australia and on Wall St.
Stake doesn’t support direct purchases of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. However, Stake provides access to more than 2,500 ASX-listed equities and 9,500+ U.S. stocks, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency ETFs.
SMSFs can invest in a wide range of allowable investments, including crypto assets. Investing outside Stake may incur additional fees under the Stake Super Fee Schedule and increase the administration required from you as a trustee.
This isn’t a recommendation to invest in any particular financial product or cryptocurrency. Stake Super isn’t licensed to provide financial product advice. You should consider seeking advice from the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence before making a decision about a financial product.
Moving SMSF funds to USD
You can move funds to USD through the Stake app or website.
Investing outside Stake
Investing in allowable SMSF assets outside Stake may incur additional fees under the Stake Super Fee Schedule.
It will also increase the administration required from you as a trustee.
Using another bank account for your SMSF
SMSFs can hold a wide range of allowable investments, including an additional bank account outside Stake.
Holding an external bank account may incur additional fees under the Stake Super Fee Schedule.
Paying for Stake Black through your SMSF
Your SMSF can pay for a Stake Black subscription. The subscription fee can be debited directly from your Stake Super AUD account.
Paying for investment research subscriptions
Your SMSF may pay for investment or stock research subscription fees that are necessarily incurred by the fund.
All invoices should be issued in the SMSF’s name.
Using Sharesight for your SMSF portfolio
You don’t need to use Sharesight for your SMSF portfolio.
For all Stake Super customers, we take care of reporting after the end of the financial year. This includes calculating capital gains and losses on your Stake portfolio in Australian dollars, as well as recording dividends and tax credits. We use this reporting to accurately prepare your SMSF’s end-of-financial-year accounts.
If you’d like to track your SMSF portfolio during the financial year or use other financial reporting and tracking tools, you can choose to do so, but it isn’t required.
Paying SMSF trustees for managing investments
An SMSF can’t pay trustees for carrying out duties in their capacity as trustees.
In limited circumstances, a trustee may be paid for duties or services performed outside their capacity as a trustee.
Tax deductions for Stake FX fees
Stake FX fees aren’t tax deductible. The nature of the FX spread means it’s absorbed into the currency conversion rather than treated as a tax-deductible fee.
The ATO provides more information in its guidance on ‘Forex Fee Expense Claim’.
