This guide describes the services Strategic Super provides, how it is paid, and how to raise a concern. Strategic Super has no Financial Services Guide because it does not provide financial product advice and does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence. This Service Guide is its honest equivalent.
1. Who we are
Strategic Super is a trading name of Ascendancy Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 622 382 781. The firm provides SMSF administration, accounting, compliance and tax agent services to trustees of self-managed superannuation funds, and works alongside the licensed financial advisers who advise them.
The firm's registered tax agents provide tax agent services in relation to a fund. Tax agent services are regulated under the Tax Agent Services Act and the Tax Practitioners Board. This is a different regime from financial product advice.
2. What we do, and what we do not
Strategic Super attends to the fund itself: its structure, its compliance, and its taxation obligations. It does not provide financial product advice, does not recommend financial products, and does not advise on whether a self-managed fund suits a person's circumstances. Those are questions for a licensed financial adviser.
3. How a fund begins
Establishment of a fund follows advice. Where a new fund is being established, setup begins only once a Statement of Advice from a licensed financial adviser is in place. Where an adviser is needed, introductions are available to licensed planners the firm works alongside, including its sister firm, Ascendancy Planning.
4. Our services
- Fund establishment: trust deed arrangements, ATO registration, ABN and TFN, the fund's bank account, and the rollover of existing super.
- Administration & compliance: transaction records, annual financial reports, coordination of the independent audit, transfer balance reporting, and pension compliance.
- Tax & reporting: preparation and electronic lodgement of the SMSF annual return, PAYG instalments, and the schedules and certificates a fund's circumstances call for.
5. How we are paid
The fee for annual administration is flat and agreed in writing before work begins. Some costs belong to the fund rather than the firm and pass through at cost, without margin. These are the independent auditor's fee, the ATO supervisory levy, ASIC fees for a corporate trustee, and actuarial certificates where retirement-phase income requires one. Indicative fees are set out on the pricing page; your engagement letter confirms the figure that applies to your fund.
6. Tax agent services
As registered tax agents, the firm can provide tax advice in respect of a fund. This is distinct from financial product advice, which the firm does not provide.
7. Your privacy and our use of AI
The firm handles personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. See the Privacy Policy for detail.
The firm may use artificial intelligence in its operations and in preparing work for clients. How AI is used, and the safeguards around it, are set out in the AI Policy.
8. Complaints
If something is not right, we want to know. The complaints page sets out the process and who will handle it.
We will acknowledge receipt of a complaint within 48 hours (or two business days). If we are unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you may lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) if your complaint relates to our services and you are not satisfied with our response after 30 days.
Complaints about tax agent services that cannot be resolved with the firm can be taken to the Tax Practitioners Board. Concerns about how personal information has been handled can be raised with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. All three bodies are free to use.