Guy’s extensive knowledge and experience in wealth creation, tax planning and asset protection are some of the reasons why I recommend Guy to advise some of our Blue Wealth clients in relation to taxation matters.

I am particularly impressed with Guy’s strategies in relation to negative gearing & the new opportunities and the tax saving benefits of purchasing properties in self managed superfunds.

I strongly recommend Guy’s services to you.

Dr Tony Hayek
CEO of BlueWealth Property

During our initial meeting, we met Guy Pounder. Guy immediately demonstrated his vast experience and knowledge in the area of property taxation and we knew we had found the right fit for our future business. Guy is such a generous soul and his knowledge and passion for property and the associated tax benefits, is contagious.

After working with Guy for a couple of weeks, we met Shaun Pounder, Guys partner and son. As a qualified Solicitor, Accountant, Financial Planner and Mortgage Broker, Shaun is incredibly knowledgeable. His constant communication and support to ensure we are abreast of the latest rules and guidelines is uncommon of this era and the speciality.

Tony Elliott

Kereen Edwards

Guy and Shaun have been paramount in helping us set up our new business as well as our Self Managed Super Fund. Both men are truly amazing, constantly demonstrating a strong desire to ensure their clients are fully informed and often showing considerable patience to explain complex issues. We are so impressed with Sydney Accountants and Tax Agents and grateful at our fortune of finding them. Honestly, we just can’t recommend them enough!

Kereen Edwards & Tony Elliott
Cherrybrook, NSW

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Normally, as a resident of Australia, you may opt to place your super payments and your personal super contributions into independently run superannuation or alternatively manage your own Self Managed Superannuation Fund. Currently among the knowledgeable investors, SMSFs are becoming increasingly well accepted.

Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF’s) have become a even more preferred option for a person’s superannuation arrangements as  they provide a greater level of control when compared with Public Offer super that is put forward by banks and other providers.

Things to consider

Setting up and running your SMSF is a big financial undertaking as the trustees will have sole responsibility for observing the law and running the fund correctly. While SMSFs are a superb option for many individuals, they may not fit everyone’s circumstances. Managing your own super takes time as well as sufficient cash, so before choosing to set up an SMSF, it is crucial to contemplate the following:

• Have you sufficient time
• What being a trustee means
• Have you the required knowledge
• Have you the necessary skills
• What is needed to operate your own fund
• Assets and cash to ensure the fund is feasible

An SMSF is an option to manage your super and save for your retirement. Prudent individuals will also think about all the other options before a conclusive decision is made. So do weigh up the advantages and costs of running an SMSF against those of other retirement saving possibilities.

Further reading

The government website Money Smart can be a valuable source of information;

http://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are an excellent method for investing towards for your well-earned retirement. The regulator of SMSFs, the Australian Taxation Office, is accountable for safeguarding the retirement income system by making certain that any SMSFs adhere to the rules that are stipulated in the income tax and superannuation legislature. So if you have taken the decision to set up self managed super fund, then it is imperative that you understand any duties and commitments that come with being a trustee.

Is a very important financial decision to set up self managed super fund as the individuals acting as trustees will have accountability for administering the fund and conforming to any appropriate regulations. While SMSFs may be ideal for many Australians, they do not always appeal to everyone as managing your own super can be time consuming.  Before setting up an SMSF, investors should research the answer to the following questions:

• What needs to be done to manage your own fund?
• What needs to be done by a trustee?

Investors must always evaluate any costs and advantages of running an SMSF with those of other retirement saving opportunities before making their decision.

Further Reading

More information on the setting up of self managed super funds can be found at: http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/00182478.htm

With more individuals than ever using Self Managed Super Funds to control their superannuation investments, there is a great opportunity for investors to use any super investment assets to be able to join in the popular property investing strategy of gearing.  Investors can now have their superannuation investments working for them in this smart investment strategy because SMSF Trustees are sanctioned to borrow up to 70 percent on residential properties and 60 percent on commercial properties.

Borrowing via a SMSF

Self Managed Super Fund Loans can be secured for a commercial property at commercial rates. These loans may also be for a residential investment property.
The loan arrangement consists of making Self Managed Super Fund Loans to a SMSF Trustee; with a Security Custodian Trust acquiring the investment property on behalf of the fund. The SMSF Security custodian then keeps the asset in trust for the fund. The borrower must be a SMSF conforming to the SIS Act and permitted to enter into a gearing arrangement. Normally providers will require the SMSF Trustee to seek independent legal advice to be satisfied regarding this. The SMSF Trustees must also state in the SMSF Deed of Trust Declarations & Undertakings that they will honour their responsibilities as a SMSF Trustee.

Useful Research Sites

The government website Money Smart is a decent resource with plenty of useful information on SMSF and many other subjects; http://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources

More details on the introduction of self managed superannuation funds can be found at: http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/00182478.htm

Superannuation funds are able to borrow money to purchase real estate although this can be very complicated to do via   an SMSF and so reliable financial advice is very important.  Individuals, who are part of a SMSF, can obtain specific loans via the SMSF arrangements to contribute towards the purchase of either residential or commercial investment properties.  Should a SMSF aspires to purchase property without having enough available funds for the full purchase price, the SMSF may make an equity contribution towards the property and secure a loan for  the remainder of the funds necessary to complete the acquisition.

What steps are needed?

• Firstly investors need to set up a Self Managed Super Fund.
• Attain financial advice from a reputable advisor.
• Find suitable Self Managed Superannuation Property.
• The SMSF assigns a Security Custodian to acquire on the SMSF’s behalf, the Self Managed Superannuation Property as collateral for the loan.
• The SMSF contributes funds for the deposit.
• The SMSF reimburses any stamp duty and legal fees.
• The SMSF maintains the property the same as other real estate investments.
• Any property is then kept in trust.
• When the loan is  repaid the legal title is conveyed over to the SMSF
• OR once the property is sold off,  the legal title is conveyed over to the SMSF

Further reading

The government website Money Smart is a very valuable source of information; http://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources

More details on the establishment of self managed superannuation funds can be read at: http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/00182478.htm

Superannuation is the retirement or pension program set up for Australians. This has an important element where employers pay an extra amount to their employee’s wages. Australian residents may opt to place their super guarantee payments and their personal super contributions into a superannuation fund independently managed or they could decide to run their own self managed super fund (SMSF). After the Superannuation Industry Supervision Act 1993 was changed during 2007, super funds may borrow money for investment properties. At one time, SMSFs could not gear any property investments because many SMSF did not have the money to purchase any property outright and were not permitted to borrow. The 2007 amendment allows SMSFs to take out loans and take advantage of the gearing options to be had.

What self managed super property can you buy?  Commercial and Residential

What self managed super property can you NOT buy?  Owner Occupied

Who holds the title to the property?

• The property is kept in trust with a security custodian holding the title on the property for the self managed super fund.
• Once the loan is paid off; the legal title is passed over to the self managed super fund
• OR once the property is sold off; the legal title is passed over to the self managed super fund for sale.

Further Reading

Taxpayers Australia is a beneficial non profit making educational institution which can be found at http://www.taxpayer.com.au/

More details on the introduction of self managed superannuation funds can be found at: http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/00182478.htm

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are a brilliant method for investing towards for your long awaited retirement day. The Australian Taxation Office is the regulatory body for SMSFs and therefore is accountable for safeguarding the pension system by ensuring that any SMSFs comply with any rules that are specified by the income tax and superannuation legislature.

Setting up a self managed super fund is a very important financial decision as the people who will be entrusted as trustees will have a responsibility for administering the fund; as well as ensuring that relevant regulations are met. If you have made this decision and are setting up a self managed super fund, then it is vital that potential trustees understand any responsibilities and tasks that come with being a trustee.  While SMSFs may be perfect for many Australians, self-managed super funds do not always appeal to everyone as managing your own super can be extremely time consuming.  When establishing an SMSF, investors  intending to become a Trustee should asked themselves the following two questions; do you know what must  be done to manage the  fund and do you know what tasks are required of a trustee?

If you establish a self managed superannuation fund, you could be obliged to perform the position of trustee which includes;

• Related legal duties
• Maintain complete records
• Ensure benefits are for retirement alone
• Organise an audit each year with a qualified auditor

Sensible investors should always assess any advantages and expenses of running an SMSF with those of other retirement investment prospects before coming to a final decision.

Further Reading

The Australian Office of Taxation provides a lot of information on self managed super funds and this can be found at; http://www.ato.gov.au/superfunds/content.aspx?doc=/content/00182478.htm

The government website Money Smart is an indispensable source of information; http://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources