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SMSFs warned about major derivatives trading losses

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By mbrownlee
November 23 2015
1 minute read
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SMSF trustees have been warned by one industry lawyer about some of the risks involved in derivatives investment, with one client losing as much as $1 million in a matter of months.

DBA Lawyers director Daniel Butler said while the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act and the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations do not prohibit the use of derivatives by SMSFs, they can represent a risky investment.

Mr Butler said that if clients intend to engage in derivatives, the SMSF practitioner should ensure there is a corporate trustee structure in place, ensure the deed and investment strategy allows for investment with derivatives, and ensure the derivative is the kind that can be legally acquired by an SMSF.

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In 2010, APRA released a practice guide covering derivatives and while it has since been withdrawn, the guidance stated it is “inappropriate for trustees to use derivatives for speculation” and that the “use of derivatives other than for hedging purposes is likely to give rise to unique risks”.

The use of derivatives for speculation could refer to investment activity that results in the net exposure of the fund to an asset class being outside the limits set out in the fund’s investment strategy, APRA stated.

APRA said this could also refer to investment activity where the risk for the whole portfolio is outside what is considered appropriate in the fund’s investment strategy.

“APRA also doesn’t like uncovered derivatives where you have a position and it’s an open position,” said Mr Butler. “People get blown out of the market with open positions, so you could have an open position where you don’t have a cover of some description [and] where your maximum position is open.

“Unfortunately, over the years, I have seen some clients take $1 million of retirement savings and blow it into the ground within months on derivatives.”

In one case, a client blew $600,000 in three months on options trading, but fortunately, in that case, a corporate trustee structure was in place.

“If he had individual trustees, his negative 300 would have come home to him,” he said.

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Miranda Brownlee

Miranda Brownlee

Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.

Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.

You can email Miranda on: miranda.brownlee@momentummedia.com.au