Self-Managed Super Funds

A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a private super fund that you manage yourself. As a trustee, you’re responsible for making investment decisions and ensuring your fund complies with superannuation and tax laws.

Yes. If you want to open an SMSF trading account with CMC Invest, you must have an established SMSF before you can open a CMC Invest account. The account is opened in the name of your SMSF, using your fund and trustee details. If you don’t have an SMSF yet, you’ll need to set one up first through an accountant, administrator or SMSF provider.

Interest is calculated daily on your cash balance as at midnight (AET). Accrued interest is paid by ANZ Bank into the settlement cash account opened by CMC Invest on your behalf, on the first business day of each month. If the applicable interest rate changes during the month, interest will accrue at the previous interest rate up to the date of the change, and then at the new interest rate on and from that date.

Yes. Your cash remains available to invest whenever you're ready, or to withdraw from your CMC Invest account, subject to standard processing times, the CMC Invest Terms and Conditions, and SMSF regulations.

With a CMC Invest SMSF account, you can access a wide range of investments including Australian and global shares, ETFs and crypto, all from a single platform.

There are no ongoing account-keeping fees for a CMC Invest SMSF account on the standard online trading platform, however, additional fees apply for Pro and IRESS platform users. 

Brokerage and other transaction costs apply when you trade. There may be other fees which apply to your CMC Invest account from time to time. Please refer to the CMC Invest Financial Services Guide for more information about the fees and charges which may apply to you when receiving services from CMC Invest.

To set up an SMSF in Australia, you’ll need to establish the fund through an accountant, SMSF administrator or specialist provider before you can start investing. 

This typically includes creating a trust deed, choosing a trustee structure, registering the SMSF with the ATO for an ABN and TFN, and setting up the required fund documentation. Once your SMSF is established, you can apply for a CMC Invest account in your fund’s name using your SMSF and trustee details.

There’s no legal minimum balance required to set up an SMSF in Australia.  

However, SMSFs are generally more cost-effective for those with higher super balances, as fixed costs can have a greater impact on smaller funds. Consider your individual circumstances and speak with a financial or tax professional if needed. 

SMSFs may qualify for several tax advantages compared to investing outside super:  

• Concessional tax on investment earnings 

• Capital gains tax discount: for eligible assets held longer than 12 months  

These benefits may help improve long-term returns, especially for higher-balance SMSFs. It’s important to speak with a qualified tax adviser or financial professional before making investment decisions. 

Tax rules are complex and may change. CMC Invest does not provide tax, legal or SMSF administration advice. Any information provided by CMC Invest is for educational purposes only, does not take into account your objectives, financial situations or needs, should not be considered personal financial product advice or taxation advice, and no representation is made as to the currency for the information provided. You are responsible for obtaining tax, accounting, legal and/or financial advice before making decisions about an SMSF.

To ensure interest and dividend income is correctly reported to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), you should provide your Tax File Number (TFN). Providing your TFN prevents withholding tax from being applied to your applicable investment income.  

You can supply your TFN when applying for your CMC Invest SMSF account, or at any time via the CMC Invest trading platform by navigating to: Account > Account Information > View Details > Tax File Number. 

If your TFN is not provided, withholding tax may be applied to your interest and unfranked dividend income at the top marginal tax rate. Any tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit in your SMSF’s tax return.

The time it takes depends on whether your SMSF is already established and how quickly your details can be verified. 

To open a CMC Invest SMSF account: 

• Set up your SMSF: Establish your SMSF through an accountant, administrator, or specialist provider before applying.  

• Apply online: Complete your CMC Invest application by providing your SMSF and trustee details. 

• Review: Your application will be reviewed by CMC Invest once all required information and documents are verified. 

Because setup and verification can vary, timeframes will differ from person to person.

Yes, CMC Invest is suitable for first-time SMSF investors who already have an SMSF set up, want a self-directed investing platform, and prefer to manage investments independently.  

CMC Invest does not provide SMSF setup, administration, or advice. Instead, it gives you access to 40,000+ stocks and ETFs, plus crypto, with $0 brokerage* on Australian shares and ETFs under $1,000 and $0 brokerage when you trade US, UK, Canadian and Japanese listed stocks**, all-in-one powerful platform.