Your super needs a new home

CBA requires all superannuation savings account balances to be transferred by 30 June 2026. The accounts have been off sale since 2013, but existing customers have been able to keep them open until now. CBA has written to all affected customers with details of the closure and their options.

If you don't transfer your balance before the deadline, CBA will send it to the ATO as unclaimed super. It won't be lost – you can retrieve it at any time – but while it sits there, contributions stop, insurance cover is gone and your balance only keeps pace with inflation. It's worth acting before that happens.

Your super isn't lost. The ATO will hold it as unclaimed super, which can be retrieved and rolled into a new fund at any time. It's a little more work to recover it, but it's doable. Get in touch and we'll walk you through it.

The right choice depends on your situation – your balance, your goals and who's involved. We'll help you work through what makes sense for you.

An SMSF is a superannuation fund you control directly, rather than having your money managed by a bank or institution. You decide where it's invested, who's in the fund and how it's structured. It comes with more flexibility and more responsibility – which is why having the right adviser matters.

It depends on your situation. As a general guide, a combined balance of $300,000 or more across all members tends to make an SMSF viable – though the right answer depends on your specific goals and circumstances. Around 41% of all SMSFs in Australia hold between $200,000 and $1 million, so it's more common than most people assume. We'll give you an honest assessment in your discovery call.

Yes. An SMSF can have up to six members – typically a couple, siblings or a small family group. Pooling balances together increases your combined investment options significantly. Members under 18 can also be included, with a parent acting as trustee on their behalf until they turn 18.

Yes. A common misconception is that everyone's super gets pooled into one pot – but individual member balances are tracked separately and clearly reported in the fund's financial statements. Your contributions, rollovers and share of investment returns are all attributed to you individually.

It’s less work than most people expect. As trustees, you're responsible for making investment decisions and ensuring the fund operates within ATO rules – but we handle the compliance, annual accounts, tax returns and audit for you.

SMSFs can invest in a wide range of assets, including Australian and international shares, cash and term deposits, managed funds, exchange-traded funds and direct property, including commercial real estate. Your fund needs a documented investment strategy, and there are rules around what's permitted, but the flexibility is significantly greater than a standard retail fund. One thing to note: super funds cannot be used to buy a property you live in or to pay down your home loan – those arrangements are specifically prohibited.

Yes, through a structure called a limited recourse borrowing arrangement. It's more complex than a standard property purchase and the interest rates are typically higher, but it's a legitimate and popular strategy for SMSFs looking to invest in real estate. We can walk you through how it works and whether it suits your situation.

No. There's no minimum return required. There is, however, a general obligation on trustees to invest prudently and act in the best interests of all members, which is part of what we help you navigate.

The costs vary depending on the number of members and the complexity of your fund. We'll be transparent about all costs upfront and assess whether an SMSF makes financial sense for your specific situation before you make any decisions. If it doesn't stack up, we'll tell you.

From the initial conversation to having your fund established and your super rolled in, the process typically takes a couple of months. That's why we recommend getting the conversation started sooner rather than later – particularly with the 30 June deadline approaching. And if the deadline passes before you're ready, we can help you recover your balance from the ATO and find it a better home.