Blog

SMSF Best Practices in 2025

Tips for Setting Up or Optimising Your Fund

SMSFs are more popular than ever before with families and individuals seeking more involvement in their retirement savings. According to the latest figures from the ATO, almost 1.2 million Aussies have a self-managed super fund (SMSFs).

While SMSFs offer more control over investments, they also come with increased management requirements, and accountability upon individual members.

So, we’re looking at how to apply SMSF bestpractice principles to ensure you’re compliant, efficient, and aligned withlong-term financial goals.

Whether you're looking to set up your first SMSF orimprove how your existing fund operates, here’s tips on SMSF setup,structure, compliance, and ongoing management in 2025.

Starting an SMSF? 3 Best Practice Foundations to SMSF Establishment:

1. Clearly Define the Purpose and Objectives of the Fund
To remain compliant, every SMSF must exist solely to build retirement savings. SMSF best practice goes beyond compliance, however. Successful funds start with a written investment strategy which is tailored to satisfy the needs and objectives of all members, accounting for:

  • The age of individual members and their risk tolerance
  • Current balances and contribution plans
  • Desired asset mix (e.g. property, shares, cash, etc.)
  • Liquidity requirements for future pension payment

2. Choose the Right Structure
Today, SMSFs can have between one and six members, and select to operate under a corporate or individual trustee structure.

SMSF have always been very popular with families –mostly couples until recent updates in 2021 which have allowed for up to six members, paving the way for more multi-generational SMSFs.

When selecting the right structure for your SMSF, best practices includes:

3. Engage Professional Support Early
While the SMSF model allows more control, it doesn’t mean you need to manageeverything solo. Best practice managing an SMSF involves engaging anaccountant, SMSF specialist, or administrator early in the setup phase to:

  • Ensure the trust deed is correctly drafted
  • Register the fund with the ATO
  • Set up bank accounts and rollover procedures
  • Understand ongoing lodgement and reporting obligations

Here’s an article covering the different services which can be covered by accountants and advisersregarding the setup and ongoing management of your SMSF fund.

Best Practice Management of Your SMSF in 2025:

Once your SMSF is set up, it’s important to keep on top of relevant regulatory updates, either first-hand, or with the support of a financial advisor or SMSF specialist.

It’s also important to weigh up any changes incircumstances for members that has implications for the fund and its trustees,including:

1. Regularly Review Your SMSF Investment Strategy
Markets change, as do member needs over time. Therefore, your approach to your retirement savings must also be regularly reviewed and updated. A best-practice fund:

  • Reviews its investment strategy annually (or more frequently than every 12 months, if circumstances change
  • Rebalances asset allocations in line with member ages or market trends
  • Documents all decisions made by the trustee(s)

2. Stay Compliant and Audit-Ready
This year, the ATO has warned the industry about increased scrutiny on particular areas of SMSF compliance - namely:

These issues, and any other risks to compliance will typically be discovered during the annual SMSF audit and reported to the ATO. Here’s an article designed to keep trustees on top of the audit process.

Compliance best practices in 2025 includes:

  • Keeping digital records organised and accessible
  • Working proactively with your auditor before year-end
  • Using SMSF admin software or platforms to simplify SMSF activity tracking

3. Prioritise Asset Liquidity and Diversification
Generally speaking, a diversified fund that can meet pension payments and any unexpected costs is far more resilient to market shifts and member needs.

Therefore, when considering liquidity throughout the lifecycle of the fund, trustees should ask these questions:

  • If a member needs to draw down on their pension today, could the SMSF fund this?
  • Are we over-concentrated in a single asset or asset class?
  • Do we need to review property valuations or insurance arrangements?
  • Can we benefit from contribution splitting or recontribution strategies?

As always, it’s ideal to check in with a licenced financial planner or SMSF accountant when considering options.

4. Plan Ahead for Retirement and Succession
With more SMSFs transitioning into the pension phase, best practice includes:

  • Ensuring pension documentation is in place and reviewed regularly
  • Updating binding death benefit nominations
  • Reviewing tax implications and legacy planning strategies

Staying Ahead of the Curve

In 2025, SMSF trustees are not only expected to be financially prudent but also expected to be more tech-savvy and engaged with changes to super legislation.

Therefore, it’s a good idea for SMSF members to subscribe to ATO updates and check out some of their online educational modules. Lean on licensed professionals who can help with the somewhat complex and burdensome task of keeping up with SMSF legislation and optimal strategies.

SMSF Best Practice Checklist for 2025

In addition to routine SMSF annual return and audit processes, the following checklist will assist with priority actions according to the lifecycle of your SMSF.

As always, Prime Financials’ SMSF experts are available to provide nuanced advice that factors in all 2025 legislative conditions and changes as they occur throughout each phase of your preparation and commencement of your retirement.  

Thank you for submitting your details, now you can download here.
Download Now
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you for submitting your details.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Take up this one-time exclusive offer and choose the service and expertise you need to make your SMSF work for you, speak to a specialist today to get started.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Terms & Conditions:
The promotion is not valid for cash or cash equivalent and is non-transferable. Cannot be combined with other offers, discount promotions or promotions. Promotions may be subject to availability. All monetary amounts specified in these terms and conditions are in Australian dollars (AUD). All pricing excludes GST. To redeem this promotion during the promotional period, you must complete the form submission included in the communication or landing page. Stock Doctor, Bell Direct and Prime reserves the right to modify or amend this promotion and cancel or suspend the promotion without prior notice. By completing the form or attempting to participate in this promotion, you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions from StockDoctor, BellDirect and PrimeFinancial. The promotion from Bell Direct starts on Friday 27th October 2023 at 9:00 am AEDT and ends on Thursday 7th December 2023 at 5:00 pm AEDT. The promotion from Prime starts on Friday 27th October 2023 at 9:00 am AEDT and ends on Thursday 7th December 2023 at 5:00 pm AEDT. The promotion includes from StockDoctor: a 30-day complimentary membership to Stock Doctor. The promotion starts on Friday 27th Oct 2023 at 9:00 am AEDT and ends on Sunday 24th December 2023 at 5:00 pm AEDT and $200.00 AUD discount on new members joining Stock Doctor. The promotion starts on Friday 27th Oct 2023 at 9:00 am AEDT and ends on Sunday24th March 2024 at 5:00 pm AEDT.

Disclaimer:
This information has been prepared by Primestock Securities Limited ABN 67 089 676 068, AFSL 239180 ('Prime'). Prime accepts no obligation to correct or update the information or opinions in it. This information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider whether it is appropriate to your situation. It is recommended that you obtain financial, legal and taxation advice before making any financial investment decision. Prime is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles for the handling of personal information. Privacy Policy | Financial Services Guide

Lincoln Indicators Pty Limited (Lincoln) ABN 23 006 715 573, as Corporate Authorised Representative of Lincoln Financial Group Pty Ltd ABN 70 609 751966, AFSL 483167. This communication may contain general financial product advice or forward-looking statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to the market conditions. Caution is advised in placing undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as our advice has been prepared without taking account of your personal circumstances. Therefore, you should consider its appropriateness, in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs, before acting on it. Before acting on any advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, and we recommend you obtain financial, legal and taxation advice before making a decision. Please refer to our Financial Services Guide (FSG) for more information at Lincoln Indicators Pty Ltd. If our advice relates to the acquisition or possible acquisition of a particular financial product, you should obtain a copy of and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) at Lincoln Indicators Pty Ltd before making any decision. 

The Bell Direct service is provided by Third Party Platform Pty Limited trading as "Bell Direct" (ABN 74 121 227 905) an Australian financial services licensee (AFSL 314341) a Participant of the ASX Limited Group and a Trading Participant of Cboe Australia. Bell Direct does not provide investment advice. You should consider your own financial situation, particular needs and investment objectives before acting on any of the information available at https://www.belldirect.com.au/.

Testimonials are provided by third parties for information purposes only and are not intended, and should not be taken to be financial product advice. Please refer to “Terms of Use”, “Important Information”, Terms and Conditions and The Privacy Policy Guide for StockDoctor, BellDirect and Prime for more information.

Contact details:
Email:
katea@primefinancial.com.au
Phone: 03 8825 4745

A unique and personal service approach to support all your business advisory and personal wealth management needs.

wealth strategies