Self-Managed Super Funds

If there are disputes over the decision made by the trustee, the only recourse is through the courts. SMSFs do not have access to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) as members of other super funds do. Disputes going before the courts can be expensive and create bitter family disagreements. 

Members of an SMSF may wish to consider putting in place binding death benefit nominations to bind the trustees to pay the death benefits according to their instructions. 

It is important to check whether the trust deed allows for the creation of a binding death benefit nomination. A trust deed can be amended if required. A binding death benefit nomination needs to be made in writing and be signed to be valid. It should also be made in accordance with the wording in the trust deed as other requirements may need to be met. 

The trust deed may specify that the nominations need to be renewed every three years or that they remain valid until amended or revoked. 

When nominating who to receive the benefits, in a death benefit nomination, members are limited to the list of beneficiaries specified in superannuation legislation under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (“SIS Act”), to include: 

• A current spouse (married or de-facto, including same-sex).
• Children (including step-children, adopted, ex-nuptial or defined under Family Law) of any age.
• A person in an interdependency relationship, which includes financial dependency.
• Your legal personal representative (the executor or administrator of your estate).

A binding death nomination may need to be signed in front of two independent witnesses.