Australian Super account investing in ASX stocks

[frugal.rock]

Have decided to keep a log of the super scenario for future reference.
I wasn't aware that I could invest inside the Aus Super account in the ASX300 myself until recently.

Member Direct is the name of the platform within the Aus Super app.
It's clunky and a little cumbersome to navigate around, they should create a separate linked app.

I stumbled across the trade/invest function in the app and proceeded to set it up mid July, then transferred funds inside.
First purchase was the start of August.
Fees to do so aren't bad in comparison to a SMSF, maybe around 30% or less of a SMSF (~$1000 per year), but that was from looking a few years ago.
There probably is cheaper options around now, but I'm happy to let the super fund sort out tax issues.

I had bought STX , but dumped it with around a 12% loss.
Wasn't a big holding though.
BOE is also a small holding.

Snapshots as of this weekend.
Not showing $ amounts, % is enough.
Can't quite remember the exact $ figure the super account was on, but I believe it's now up around 15% at least (on paper) since starting the ASX300 investments. Approximately 67% of total super in these investments, a little high for my liking.
Am in consideration of holding for over 12 months for the reduction of CGT. Will run a few numbers, but am inclined to try to hold for the discount, where worthwhile.

 

[qldfrog]

Have decided to keep a log of the super scenario for future reference.
I wasn't aware that I could invest inside the Aus Super account in the ASX300 myself until recently.

Member Direct is the name of the platform within the Aus Super app.
It's clunky and a little cumbersome to navigate around, they should create a separate linked app.

I stumbled across the trade/invest function in the app and proceeded to set it up mid July, then transferred funds inside.
First purchase was the start of August.
Fees to do so aren't bad in comparison to a SMSF, maybe around 30% or less of a SMSF (~$1000 per year), but that was from looking a few years ago.
There probably is cheaper options around now, but I'm happy to let the super fund sort out tax issues.

I had bought STX , but dumped it with around a 12% loss.
Wasn't a big holding though.
BOE is also a small holding.

Snapshots as of this weekend.
Not showing $ amounts, % is enough.
Can't quite remember the exact $ figure the super account was on, but I believe it's now up around 15% at least (on paper) since starting the ASX300 investments. Approximately 67% of total super in these investments, a little high for my liking.
Am in consideration of holding for over 12 months for the reduction of CGT. Will run a few numbers, but am inclined to try to hold for the discount, where worthwhile.

View attachment 210249View attachment 210250View attachment 210251

you will quickly notice restricted etf access: India etf, gold etf, emerging countries etc...
these restrictions were the reason i got out and into smsf.
i also saw restrictions increasing with time

 

[rolly1]

Stake smsf you just do the trading and they take care of the rest. Just under $1000/ year after setup.

 

[Value Collector]

Have decided to keep a log of the super scenario for future reference.
I wasn't aware that I could invest inside the Aus Super account in the ASX300 myself until recently.

Member Direct is the name of the platform within the Aus Super app.
It's clunky and a little cumbersome to navigate around, they should create a separate linked app.

I stumbled across the trade/invest function in the app and proceeded to set it up mid July, then transferred funds inside.
First purchase was the start of August.
Fees to do so aren't bad in comparison to a SMSF, maybe around 30% or less of a SMSF (~$1000 per year), but that was from looking a few years ago.
There probably is cheaper options around now, but I'm happy to let the super fund sort out tax issues.

I had bought STX , but dumped it with around a 12% loss.
Wasn't a big holding though.
BOE is also a small holding.

Snapshots as of this weekend.
Not showing $ amounts, % is enough.
Can't quite remember the exact $ figure the super account was on, but I believe it's now up around 15% at least (on paper) since starting the ASX300 investments. Approximately 67% of total super in these investments, a little high for my liking.
Am in consideration of holding for over 12 months for the reduction of CGT. Will run a few numbers, but am inclined to try to hold for the discount, where worthwhile.

View attachment 210249View attachment 210250View attachment 210251

It would be an interesting experiment for most Traders I think to put 50% of their Account into a straight buy and hold ASX300 index where they don’t trade and then the other 50% into ASX300 trades which they actively manage, to see if after 5 years their actively traded side can actually beat the buy and hold.

I actually think allowing people to trade inside their super is a bad thing, most people will hurt their results compared to the index, not improve them.

 

[frugal.rock]

Stake smsf you just do the trading and they take care of the rest. Just under $1000/ year after setup.

I had a look again at what Aus Super charges and it's $180 pa for the trading ASX300 with term deposits, ETF's (only some as froggy has pointed out) some LIC's and some REIT'S.
There's another $30 pa for the cash account required which has a interest rate of4.35% pa as of 14 August 2025, which is quite good considering.
Trades are $13 for under $13k, or 0.1% for above, so their making quite a bit more on that portion.
So, for my purposes, I'm quite happy with those lower comparable fees.

I actually think allowing people to trade inside their super is a bad thing, most people will hurt their results compared to the index, not improve them.

I agree with the second part of that statement.
Provides further liquidity to markets though and unfortunately, Australia is a huge gambling country.

I wasn't aware of the CGT rates inside super, being 15% for short gains (under 12 months held), and 10% for long gains (over 12 months held).
That's quite attractive for trading purposes!

I closed out VUL yesterday at a 77% gain, which pre CGT, matches the last 2 financial years of gains within the fund being managed by them which averaged ~9%.

The goal is to beat the fund managers, which in a bull market such as we're seeing, isn't hard.
When the tide turns, I'll probably exit all? and leave a chunk in the cash account and put some back into the managed fund.

I've added another packet of TLX yesterday to make it a full size position and also put in a half position of S32
Have both of these in the personal portfolio also.

 

[Value Collector]

I agree with the second part of that statement.
Provides further liquidity to markets though and unfortunately, Australia is a huge gambling country.

That’s my point, most people can’t sit still in the markets, and sitting still is where most of their money will be made.

I wasn't aware of the CGT rates inside super, being 15% for short gains (under 12 months held), and 10% for long gains (over 12 months held).
That's quite attractive for trading purposes!

Yeah it’s roughly half of what most people pay in their own names, that’s why super in general is good place to invest.

The goal is to beat the fund managers, which in a bull market such as we're seeing, isn't hard.
When the tide turns, I'll probably exit all? and leave a chunk in the cash account and put some back into the managed fund.

Not quite the first goal of any investment is to provide an after tax return to you greater than inflation. That’s why you would choose the stock market as a place to hold your money, after that it’s just a choice of whether you want to accept the market average return by investing in the index or trying to beat that using an active strategy. What fund managers do is kind of irrelevant.

I've added another packet of TLX yesterday to make it a full size position and also put in a half position of S32
Have both of these in the personal portfolio also.

Any moves you make should be compared to what the index does over say a 5 years period, you could be the busiest boy in the market clicking refresh every 30 seconds of your retirement years. But if you aren’t beating the index over a rolling 5 year period you are wasting your time.

 

[divs4ever]

Any moves you make should be compared to what the index does over say a 5 years period, you could be the busiest boy in the market clicking refresh every 30 seconds of your retirement years. But if you aren’t beating the index over a rolling 5 year period you are wasting your time.

that depends on what your aims are ,

are you trying to beat capital gains or beat the rate you get with a term deposit with your dividend returns

the younger members ( unrealized ) capital gains are very important , for old codgers like me income returns keep starvation away from the door , and yes sometimes i sacrifice capital growth in exchange for ( relatively ) regular dividends

clicking every 30 seconds .. why not the alternative is an old movie or daytime TV

That’s my point, most people can’t sit still in the markets, and sitting still is where most of their money will be made.

but who can sit still when your future retirement is at risk , not many i would guess ( but the next 60% crash will test that theory )

the trick if you can call it that , is to get a nice entry position say WBC at $20 or BHP at $16 AND REALIZE what a lucky place you are in , and not sell at $40

remember the BIG players love playing mind games with the retail folks

 

[Value Collector]

that depends on what your aims are ,

are you trying to beat capital gains or beat the rate you get with a term deposit with your dividend returns

You would being trying to get your total return (Capital gains and dividends combined) over a 5 year period to beat the total return you would have received if you just placed your funds into an ASX300 index fund. I mean if you aren't beating the index for 5 years straight, why are you bothering with all the extra effort?

the younger members ( unrealized ) capital gains are very important , for old codgers like me income returns keep starvation away from the door , and yes sometimes i sacrifice capital growth in exchange for ( relatively ) regular dividends

It doesn't really really matter either way, you don't really need dividends you can just sell some shares every year and declare your own dividend. Plenty of people live well owning Berkshire Hathaway stock, and they pay no dividends.

clicking every 30 seconds .. why not the alternative is an old movie or daytime TV

Surely you could think of a better hobby, get Netflix or Stan for a start, what are you watching broadcast tv for, you net to be streaming so that if you do want to watch TV at least watch what you want to see, and not what happens to be on TV, if you need some good suggestion hit me up.

income returns keep starvation away from the door

listen to this video at the 2.30 mark for an explanation into living without dividends. This is Warren Buffetts sister.

 

[divs4ever]

You would being trying to get your total return (Capital gains and dividends combined) over a 5 year period to beat the total return you would have received if you just placed your funds into an ASX300 index fund. I mean if you aren't beating the index for 5 years straight, why are you bothering with all the extra effort?

but not always in the same place ( stocks ) sure i have unexpected monster gains in places but those stocks were selected for dividend yields and then went crazy

and the extra effort , i call experience , so i know that companies like WOW are serial stumblers and reduce early $27.10 , $30.28 , $34.46 , $40.71 , and $39.12 .. there was a lot to sell down , and when to bail on a stock completely like EML @ $1.69 in 2017

by the way VAS bought during the same period has only had roughly a 100% capital gain since 2011 , so there is every chance i have crushed the 10 year gains overall when divs and take-over premiums have been added ( stocks like TOL , OZL , and API . , left me with a difficulty finding a worthy replacement )

well drinking beer , coke , rum messes with the meds , the hospital keeps getting concerned about passing out/falling from modestly high places , or just passing out on remote parts of the farm .. heck they won't even let me have a wheelchair ( solo )



but in 2010 i decided i need a retirement income fund and decided to do it my own way , now all i can do is wait to see how it handles a serious crash ( GFC or worse )

 

[divs4ever]

You would being trying to get your total return (Capital gains and dividends combined) over a 5 year period to beat the total return you would have received if you just placed your funds into an ASX300 index fund. I mean if you aren't beating the index for 5 years straight, why are you bothering with all the extra effort?



It doesn't really really matter either way, you don't really need dividends you can just sell some shares every year and declare your own dividend. Plenty of people live well owning Berkshire Hathaway stock, and they pay no dividends.



Surely you could think of a better hobby, get Netflix or Stan for a start, what are you watching broadcast tv for, you net to be streaming so that if you do want to watch TV at least watch what you want to see, and not what happens to be on TV, if you need some good suggestion hit me up.



listen to this video at the 2.30 mark for an explanation into living without dividends. This is Warren Buffetts sister.

divs and franking credits for me , even the biggest companies can go to zero , and the government keeps sniffing at unrealized capital gains

all the important information is restricted here .. i worked with NWS for 12 years and mainstream media is all about advertising ( i guess my BS meter is overloaded )

BTW lets see how Berkshire goes without Warren doing all his super rescue deals ( of deeply distressed companies )

eroding your capital assets is addictive and a quicker way to be penniless especially if stock prices slide for several years while living costs go up

i have a TV and use it for my Playstation 2 which plays DVDs , games and music , only need to keep the power bill paid and screw subscription foul-ups ( and NBN outages )

 

[frugal.rock]

Guys, can you please take it to the FMG thread?
This is in the "trading diaries and journal" section of the forum.
Thanks ever profusely.

 

[Value Collector]

but not always in the same place ( stocks ) sure i have unexpected monster gains in places but those stocks were selected for dividend yields and then went crazy

and the extra effort , i call experience , so i know that companies like WOW are serial stumblers and reduce early $27.10 , $30.28 , $34.46 , $40.71 , and $39.12 .. there was a lot to sell down , and when to bail on a stock completely like EML @ $1.69 in 2017

by the way VAS bought during the same period has only had roughly a 100% capital gain since 2011 , so there is every chance i have crushed the 10 year gains overall when divs and take-over premiums have been added ( stocks like TOL , OZL , and API . , left me with a difficulty finding a worthy replacement )

well drinking beer , coke , rum messes with the meds , the hospital keeps getting concerned about passing out/falling from modestly high places , or just passing out on remote parts of the farm .. heck they won't even let me have a wheelchair ( solo )



but in 2010 i decided i need a retirement income fund and decided to do it my own way , now all i can do is wait to see how it handles a serious crash ( GFC or worse )

Note I said you should compare your total gains against the total gains of the index, and if you are beating it on a rolling 5 years period basis by all means continue, but if it’s beating you regularly. Why carry on, it’s an expensive hobby to under perform the market,

 

[Value Collector]

Guys, can you please take it to the FMG thread?
This is in the "trading diaries and journal" section of the forum.
Thanks ever profusely.

This conversation is on topic, so just click ignore

 

[Value Collector]

divs and franking credits for me , even the biggest companies can go to zero , and the government keeps sniffing at unrealized capital gains

all the important information is restricted here .. i worked with NWS for 12 years and mainstream media is all about advertising ( i guess my BS meter is overloaded )

BTW lets see how Berkshire goes without Warren doing all his super rescue deals ( of deeply distressed companies )

eroding your capital assets is addictive and a quicker way to be penniless especially if stock prices slide for several years while living costs go up

i have a TV and use it for my Playstation 2 which plays DVDs , games and music , only need to keep the power bill paid and screw subscription foul-ups ( and NBN outages )

Have a think about it.

There is no real different between dividends and growth, you can just harvest and spend either one.

 

[frugal.rock]

Faaaarrrkkk mmeeeee
Your back on ignore. Bloody rich serial pest