Why big super's pseudo-SMSF won't deliverBY KRIS KITTO | FRIDAY, 7 MAY 2021 11:55AMAs the success of SMSFs boomed in the last decade, some industry funds rolled out self-directed or member direct investment options that allowed their members to invest (with ... Upgrade your subscription to access this article
Join the growing community of superannuation
professionals with unlimited access to our latest news, research and analysis of the industry.
Become a premium subscriber today. |
Latest News
AustralianSuper rolls out new investment data platform
AustralianSuper has implemented a new investment data platform designed to improve portfolio oversight, risk management and decision-making as the superannuation fund expands its global operations.
The risks keeping APRA's new deputy chair up at night
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's (APRA) new deputy chair David Bradbury said the risks that keep him awake at night are those with the potential to threaten the financial stability of the super system or cause catastrophic losses for members.
Early access undermines super's purpose: Mulino
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino took an aim at plans by the opposition to let Australians dip into their super early, stating weakening preservation would undermine intergenerational protections and hurt the most vulnerable.
ART rolls out new investment technology platform
Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has launched a new portfolio management system as the $375 billion superannuation fund strengthens its investment capabilities targeting further growth.
Further Reading
Cover Story

In the right place
VASYL NAIR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
TEAM SUPERANNUATION FUND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
TEAM SUPERANNUATION FUND
Team Super chief executive Vasyl Nair reflects on the winding path from law to superannuation, the people who shaped him and the changing role of super funds in people's lives. Vinny Vucago writes.









Thankyou Kris for your insights. To address your suggestion that big super funds pull money out of investment portfolios to cover future tax liabilities: in fact, they don't - they create an accounting provision for deferred taxes in valuing member accounts but this accounting liability is not backed by cash. It is essentially a gearing effect as the money remains invested to earn compounded returns until the tax is actually payable. This is really the same as SMSFs; it's just that the deferred tax liabilities are made explicit in the member account valuation. The point is that both types of funds can earn compounded investment returns until the tax actually has to be paid.
Just wanted to point out this article is inaccurate and probably misleading. Pseudo-SMSFs let each member who chooses to use them to accumulate unrealised gains just like an SMSF. Additionally some of them also allow members to transfer their investments in specie to the retirement phase and to directly benefit through the unrealised gain provision being removed boosting the balance available for retirement income.