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Know what your fund can hold.

The investment categories ESUPERFUND currently supports, the conditions attached to each of them, and the assets that sit outside our administration service.

The short answer

If it is on our list, your fund can hold it.

ESUPERFUND clients can invest in any category on our current allowable list, subject to that category's conditions. Anything not on the list is outside our service, even where super law may allow it.

If a fund we act for later buys an asset that is not on the list, we reserve the right to stop acting for that SMSF.

  1. 01Super lawWhat an SMSF may hold
  2. 02ESUPERFUNDWhat we administer
  3. 03Your trusteesWhat your fund holds
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Check before investingLast reviewed . The list can change, so confirm it before you commit fund money.

The allowable list, in six groups

18 categories. Pick a group to see what is covered and the one condition to check.

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Cash and deposits

The fund's everyday banking and cash holdings. Any provider.

  • Bank transaction accountRequired for every SMSF
  • Other bank and savings accountsAny provider
  • Term depositsAny provider
How term deposits work Reviewed 30 Sep 2026
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Australian listed securities

Shares and other securities on the ASX, held in the fund's name.

  • Australian sharesAny broker, under the fund's HIN
  • ETFsAny Australian broker
  • Listed bondsAny Australian broker
  • Options and warrantsUnlisted: Australian providers only
  • IPOsASX listings only
Shares & ETFs Reviewed 30 Sep 2026
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International shares

Four equity markets only, through any broker, in the fund's name.

  • US
  • UK
  • Canada
  • Japan

Other international markets are not supported.

How international shares work Reviewed 30 Sep 2026
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Australian property

Residential and commercial property, bought in the trustees' names for the SMSF.

  • Residential, no borrowingLet to unrelated tenants
  • Commercial, no borrowingRelated-party lease on commercial terms
  • Commercial, with borrowingNot for vacant land
Property Reviewed 30 Sep 2026
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Cryptocurrency

Any cryptocurrency, bought through an Australian based exchange in the fund's name.

  • Australian exchangesOverseas exchanges not supported
  • Hardware walletsAllowed once bought in the fund's name
Crypto Reviewed 30 Sep 2026
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Managed funds and other assets

Unlisted funds, metals, bonds and trading products.

  • Managed fundsNot via WRAP accounts or SMAs
  • Physical metalsAustralian based provider
  • Unlisted bondsAustralian based provider
  • CFDsAny provider
  • Foreign exchangeAny provider
All Other Investments Reviewed 30 Sep 2026

Not on the list?It is outside our current service. See what sits outside.

Permitted, with conditions attached

Six rules most likely to shape a decision. Open any one for the detail.

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International shares4 markets

US, UK, Canada and Japan only.

Details
  • Other international markets are not supported.
  • Any broker, with the account in the SMSF's name.
How international shares work
CryptocurrencyAustralian exchanges

No overseas exchanges.

Details
  • The account must be in the SMSF's name.
  • Crypto may move to a hardware wallet once bought.
  • Crypto a trustee owns personally cannot be transferred in.
How crypto works
PropertyResidential and commercial

Borrowing to buy is available for commercial property only.

Details
  • Residential property is bought without borrowing.
  • No borrowing to buy vacant land.
  • No overseas property.
  • Residential property is let to unrelated tenants, never a member's home or holiday home.
How property works
Managed fundsNo WRAP or SMA

Any fund manager, held directly.

Details
  • Unlisted Australian and international managed funds are supported.
  • WRAP accounts and SMAs are excluded because we cannot receive their transaction data.
How managed funds work
Physical metalsAustralian providers

Collectable metals carry extra rules.

Details
  • Collectable metals cannot be stored in a member's or associate's home.
  • They must be insured in the SMSF's name within 7 days of purchase.
How physical metals work
OwnershipIn the fund's name

Paid from the SMSF bank account.

Details
  • Accounts and assets are never in the trustees' personal names.
  • Unlisted bonds, unlisted options and warrants use Australian based providers.
All Other Investments

Outside ESUPERFUND's service

Two different reasons. Some assets are restricted by super law. Others may be legal for an SMSF, but we do not administer them.

A house behind a white picket fence
1 Super law

The law says no

Super law restricts these, so no SMSF administrator can support them.

  • Loans to members or their relativesProhibited for any SMSF.
  • A member's home or holiday homeRelated-party residential purchases, and members using fund assets, are prohibited.
  • New borrowing for residential propertyFrom 10 August 2026, according to ESUPERFUND's property pages.

These apply to every SMSF, whoever administers it.

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2 ESUPERFUND service

The law may allow it. We don't support it.

An SMSF may be able to hold these, but they sit outside the ESUPERFUND service.

  • Anything not on the allowable listEven where the law permits it.
  • Unlisted private companies and trustsThe entity itself would need auditing.
  • Loans to anyone elseEven on commercial terms.
  • Collectables and personal use assetsArt, wine, cars, jewellery and similar. Physical metals are the exception.
  • Overseas propertyAustralian property only.
  • Other share markets, overseas crypto exchanges, WRAP and SMAWe cannot receive the data needed to administer them.

What happens if a fund buys one? We reserve the right to stop acting for that SMSF.

Lane 1 is a general summary of super law, not legal or financial advice. Your trust deed and circumstances also matter.

Before you invest, ask three questions

A quick way to test an idea against this page. It is guidance only, not an approval, and the decision stays with the trustees.

  1. Is it on the current ESUPERFUND list?

    Find the category in the allowable list and read its condition. If it is not listed, it is outside our service.

  2. Does it fit the fund's strategy, trust deed and super law?

    The trustees decide whether an investment suits the fund and record that thinking in its Investment Strategy.

  3. Can the fund own it and evidence it?

    It should be held in the SMSF's name, paid from the SMSF bank account and supported by statements the fund's auditor can check.

ESUPERFUND does not give personal financial or investment advice. If you are unsure whether an asset is supported, contact support before committing fund money.

Your next move

Start your SMSF with a clear view of the road.

Apply online, then choose investments from the current list as trustee.

Apply NowRead about Investment Strategy
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