Is Setting Up an SMSF the Right Move — or a Misalignment?
📅 Published: Mar 28, 2025 | ⏳ Reading Time: 2 Minutes
Author: Becky Lau – Principal Adviser of Earnest InvestSmart
Don’t let urgency or persuasion dictate your retirement strategy.
Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are often promoted as a powerful way to “take control” of your retirement. And for some, that’s exactly what they offer. But for others — particularly those setting up an SMSF only to buy property — it can become an expensive detour from their long-term goals.
At Earnest InvestSmart, we believe in strategy before structure. The best decisions come from clarity, not pressure. So before you move forward with an SMSF setup, take a moment to step back — and ask the right questions.
Why This Blog — and Checklist — Exist
Over the years, I’ve supported many clients referred by their accountant, broker, or trusted network with a clear intention:
“I’m ready to set up an SMSF to buy an investment property.”
My role isn't to rubber-stamp that plan. It’s to help you zoom out and assess whether an SMSF is truly the best fit, based on your goals, financial capacity, and ability to manage the fund over time.
Sometimes, the answer is yes — with the right mindset, structure, and support. Other times, a different approach may serve you better until you're ready to take on the responsibility.
Who We Work Best With
We collaborate best with clients who:
✅ Value strategic, long-term financial planning
✅ Seek ongoing guidance — not just transactional advice
✅ Are open to education, coaching, and holistic decision-making
If that sounds like you, you’ll likely benefit from a reflective, structured approach to making major decisions like this one.
✅ The SMSF Suitability Checklist
To support your thinking, we’ve created a free, 3-minute checklist designed to help you evaluate:
1. Your Intentions
Are you drawn to SMSFs for control and strategy — or simply chasing one investment?
2. Your Readiness
Do you have the knowledge, time, and professional support to manage it well?
3. Your Diversification
Will the SMSF support a resilient portfolio or be concentrated in one asset?
4. Your Time Horizon
Is this a long-term structure aligned with a decade-long vision?
📥 Download the Free SMSF Suitability Checklist
[👉 Get the PDF here (insert link)]
This quick guide can help you avoid costly mistakes and make a well-informed decision about your super strategy.
Final Thought: Strategy Before Structure
Setting up an SMSF isn’t “bad.” But doing it without a clear plan — or simply because someone suggested it — can lead to compliance stress, poor returns, and missed opportunities.
If you're curious whether an SMSF aligns with your goals, I offer a short, one-off SMSF Suitability Consultation. No pressure. Just guidance grounded in experience and long-term thinking.
Because your retirement strategy deserves more than a checkbox.
It deserves a strategy.
No Advice Warning / General Advice
The purpose of this website is to provide general information only and the contents of this website do not purport to provide personal financial advice. Earnest InvestSmart strongly recommends that investors consult a financial adviser prior to making any investment decision. The contents of the Earnest InvestSmart website do not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any person and should not be used as the basis for making any financial or other decisions. The information is selective and may not be complete or accurate for your particular purposes and should not be construed as a recommendation to invest in any particular product, investment, or security. The information provided on this website is given in good faith and is believed to be accurate at the time of compilation.
