Specialist SMSF Accounting for People Who Are Serious About Their Super
Are you someone who makes active financial decisions? Whether you run a business, earn a high income, invest in property or simply pay close attention to where your money goes, you are not the kind of person who sets and forgets.
So why is your superannuation sitting in a generic fund you chose years ago, managed by people you have never met, invested in things you never approved? Or perhaps you already have an SMSF but feel like it could be working a lot harder for you.
If you are serious about building long-term wealth, a Self Managed Super Fund is not a complicated extra. It is the next logical move.
And Sharp Accounting can make that happen.
Do You Already Have an SMSF?
If you have an existing SMSF but feel like it is not being managed as well as it should be, or you have simply outgrown your current accountant, Julian works with trustees who want more strategic support, not just annual compliance tick-boxing. Switching is easier than you think.
Meet Julian Versloot, Sharp Accounting’s SMSF Specialist
Julian Versloot is Sharp Accounting’s dedicated SMSF specialist, working exclusively with individuals and business owners in Ballarat who are serious about their superannuation strategy.
Julian brings deep technical expertise across every stage of the SMSF journey from initial setup and structuring through to ongoing compliance, tax optimisation, audit coordination and long-term strategy.
When you work with Julian, you are not dealing with a generalist accountant who handles the occasional SMSF. You are working with someone who lives and breathes this stuff and who understands how an SMSF fits into the bigger picture of building wealth as a business owner.
Why Business Owners Are Moving to SMSFs
An SMSF puts you in the driver’s seat of your retirement wealth. Instead of handing your super to a fund manager and hoping for the best, you decide exactly where your money is invested, and you use it as a strategic part of your overall wealth plan.
Here is what that looks like in practice:
Invest in what you understand: shares, property, gold, cash, managed funds or a combination
Buy your business premises through your SMSF: pay rent to yourself instead of a landlord, and own the asset inside a tax-advantaged structure
Access one of Australia’s most tax-effective investment vehicles: 15% tax on earnings in the accumulation phase, 0% in the pension phase
Protect assets: superannuation held inside an SMSF carries strong asset protection benefits
Plan your estate: greater flexibility and control over how your wealth is distributed
For the right person, an SMSF is not just a super fund. It is a wealth-building engine.
Is an SMSF Right for You?
An SMSF is not for everyone, and we will always tell you honestly whether it makes sense for your situation. Generally, an SMSF starts to become compelling when:
- You have $200,000 or more in superannuation
- You want to invest in specific assets, including property, shares, gold or alternative investments
- You own or are looking to acquire business premises through your superannuation
- You want to combine superannuation with your partner’s for greater investment power
- You are approaching retirement and want more control over your strategy
- You earn a high income and want your super to work harder inside a tax-effective structure
- You already think strategically about your finances and want your super to reflect that
As accountants, Sharp Accounting manages the setup, compliance, tax and ongoing administration of your SMSF. For advice on whether an SMSF is the right structure for your personal financial situation, we work alongside your financial planner, or can refer you to a trusted adviser if you need one.
If you are ticking more than one of these boxes, it’s worth a conversation.
What Sharp Accounting Does for SMSF Clients
SMSF Setup and Structuring
We handle the full setup of your SMSF: trust deed, trustee structure, ABN and TFN registration, bank account setup and ATO registration. We get it right from day one, so you are not unpicking problems later.
SMSF Tax Returns and Compliance
Every SMSF must lodge an annual return with the ATO and meet strict compliance obligations. We manage this for you completely so you stay compliant, avoid penalties and never miss a deadline.
SMSF Audit Coordination
All SMSFs require an independent annual audit. We coordinate this process on your behalf, liaising directly with your auditor and ensuring your fund is audit-ready every year.
SMSF Investment Strategy
Your SMSF must have a documented investment strategy. We help you develop one that reflects your goals, risk profile and financial situation, and we keep it updated as your circumstances change.
SMSF Property Strategy
Investing in property through an SMSF, including via a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement, is one of the most powerful strategies available to business owners. We guide you through the structure, the rules and the numbers so you can invest with confidence.
Online SMSF Portal Access
We provide clients with secure online access to their SMSF so you can track performance, view reporting and stay across your fund at any time. No waiting for your annual return to know where you stand.
Ongoing SMSF Management
We are not a set-and-forget firm. We work with our SMSF clients on an ongoing basis, reviewing performance, identifying tax-planning opportunities, and ensuring your fund continues to work hard for your retirement.
Why Sharp Accounting
Sharp Accounting has been serving Ballarat businesses for over 25 years. Founded by Glenn Sharp in 2000, the firm has built a reputation for straight-talking, strategic advice that actually moves the needle for business owners.
We are not a volume firm churning through clients. We take the time to understand your business, your goals and your financial situation, and we give you advice that is specific to you, not a generic template.
When it comes to SMSFs, that means you get a specialist, not a generalist. You get Julian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Setup costs vary depending on the trustee structure you choose. We provide a clear, upfront quote before any work begins, so there are no surprises.
While there is no legal minimum, most financial professionals suggest $200,000 as a practical starting point to make the costs worthwhile. We will always give you an honest assessment of whether an SMSF makes financial sense for your situation.
Yes, this is one of the most compelling strategies for business owners. Your SMSF can purchase the premises from which your business operates, with your business then paying rent to the fund at market rates. It is a powerful way to build wealth inside a tax-effective structure.
An LRBA allows your SMSF to borrow money to purchase an asset, most commonly property. The rules are strict, and the structure must be set up correctly from the start. Julian specialises in this area and can walk you through exactly how it works.
Yes, one of the advantages of an SMSF is the ability to invest in a much wider range of assets than a standard retail or industry fund, including physical gold, ETFs, direct shares and more. Your investment strategy simply needs to reflect these choices.
Typically, two to four weeks from the point of engagement, depending on how quickly trustee and banking arrangements can be completed.
As a trustee, you are responsible for ensuring your fund remains compliant with superannuation law. In practice, we manage the vast majority of this on your behalf: annual returns, audit coordination, investment strategy documentation and ATO lodgements.
Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Super?
If you are ready to stop leaving your superannuation on autopilot and start using it as a genuine wealth-building tool, let’s talk.
Julian is available for a no-obligation initial conversation to help you understand whether an SMSF is the right move for your situation.
Julian Versloot
p: 03 5338 7100
e: julian@sharpac.au
