How Gold Has Performed Against Super Funds
Let's look at the real numbers. If you'd invested $500,000 on 1 July 2009 and never added another dollar, here's where you'd be in September 2026.
In gold, that $500,000 would now be worth $3.46 million, an average of 11.9% a year. The best performing industry super fund we tested, UniSuper, would be worth $2.05 million. The average of the nine funds would be worth $1.81 million, and the worst, MLC, just $1.51 million. That's $1.65 million less than gold for the average fund.
Swap that gold for silver when the gold to silver ratio hit 100 in April 2025, and it would be worth $4.86 million, around $3 million more than the average super fund.
This isn't just a recent phenomenon. The last time we saw rising rates, high inflation and overvalued markets together was the 1970s. From its September 1971 low to its January 1980 top, gold rose more than 2,000%. Silver rose over 3,400% from its October 1971 low. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
Why Add Precious Metals to Your SMSF
How to Buy Bullion Through Your SMSF
Purchasing bullion for your SMSF is straightforward. The only difference from a personal purchase is the documentation we need to comply with superannuation regulations.
To transact with an SMSF, we require:
- Superannuation fund name, registered address, and contact details
- Superannuation fund ABN
- Trust deed showing who is eligible to act on behalf of the fund
- Personal ID for each director or trustee of the fund
If your fund has a corporate trustee, we'll also need a copy of your last annual company statement or company extract from ASIC.
You only need to provide this information once. We'll keep it on file for future purchases. We require all documentation before we dispatch your metal or make it available for pickup.
Storing Your SMSF Bullion
Storage requirements depend on what you've purchased.
Bullion Coins
Coins are classified as collectables under SMSF regulations. This means they need to be insured in the fund's name, stored independently in a secure facility, and audited regularly.
Bullion Bars
Bars aren't captured under the collectable rules. However, some SMSF managers still recommend independent secure storage. We're not advisors in this area, so check with your SMSF manager to confirm what's required for your fund.
Many of our SMSF clients use The Melbourne Vault for storage. It's located in the same building as Liberty Bullion at 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, which makes logistics simple.
