SMSF borrowing has changed: What you need to know about LRBAs
Most people running a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) reach a point where the fund’s balance and the asset they want are not the same number. Borrowing is the only lever that closes that gap, and superannuation law has always been reluctant to hand it over. As a general rule, SMSF trustees cannot borrow at all. […]
Buying property in a family trust: what you need to know
For many families, an investment property is the first asset bought with the next generation in mind. Holding property in a family trust can offer flexibility, asset protection and succession planning benefits. However, it also comes with important legal consequences, and the tax landscape has changed following the 2026 Federal Budget. Before putting a property […]
How to co-own property without conflict, confusion, or costly mistakes
Buying property with family or friends is becoming increasingly common in today’s market. It’s an exciting achievement, but without the right legal framework co-owning property can lead to conflict, financial stress, and damaged relationships. You shouldn’t have to choose between getting into the property market and protecting your relationships with the people you care about. […]
You’ve been told to make a family trust election. Here’s what that actually means.
If you’re running a family business or managing family wealth through a trust, chances are your accountant has recommended that you “make a Family Trust Election” (or FTE for short). If your response was, “Sure… what exactly is that?”, you’re not alone. Let’s demystify what this election is, why it’s coming up now, and why it’s worth talking to a lawyer before you commit. What is a […]
Changes to trust taxation in the Federal Budget: Is there still a case for keeping a family trust in my structure?
We’re hearing this question from many of our clients since the Federal Budget announcement on 12 May 2026 introduced proposed changes to how family trusts (also called discretionary trusts) are taxed. Small to medium-sized businesses, family business owners and individuals who have taken steps to limit their personal liability are now questioning the value of […]
Australia’s new AML/CTF rules: what changes from 1 July 2026
If you have engaged a lawyer, accountant, conveyancer or real estate agent recently, you may already have been asked for more identification than usual. From 1 July 2026, those asks become standard practice across the profession. Your advisers will need to verify who you are. They will also ask about the source of funds in […]
Set up and manage a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF)
Set up and manage a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) Control over your retirement savings starts with a fund built to hold them. You want your super invested the way you would invest it, not the way a default option would. An SMSF gives you that. It also makes you the trustee: the person who signs […]
Set up an SMSF borrowing arrangement (LRBA)
Set up an SMSF borrowing arrangement (LRBA) Your fund can borrow to buy one asset, and the rules for how are exact. Your fund has found the asset but not the full purchase price. A limited recourse borrowing arrangement is the only route superannuation law leaves open. The asset sits in a separate bare trust […]
Update your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) deed
Update your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) deed The deed decides what your fund is allowed to do, and it was written a long time ago. Nobody reads their SMSF deed until the fund needs to do something. Then the accountant asks for a pension the deed does not contemplate, or a binding nomination it never […]
Transfer business real property into your SMSF
Transfer business real property into your SMSF The building your business trades from can be the asset your super retires on. You own the premises your business operates from, and they sit outside super doing nothing for your retirement. Business real property is the one asset class an SMSF is allowed to buy from you. […]