Death benefit nominations are a critical component of estate planning and superannuation fund management. In Australia, superannuation death benefits do not automatically form part of a deceased member’s estate, making death benefit nominations essential for directing who receives the benefit and in what form.

This comprehensive online, self-paced course explores the types and legal implications of death benefit nominations, including binding, non-binding, and reversionary nominations, as well as trustee discretion. It explains how the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 (SISR) influence death benefit payments and examines the role of dependants and legal personal representatives.

Whether you’re advising clients, managing an SMSF, or looking to deepen your understanding of death benefit nominations, this course equips you with the knowledge to navigate complex estate planning scenarios. Legal considerations, fund-specific rules (such as trust deeds), and real-world application are all addressed, helping you reduce risks and ensure compliance.

This course is ideal for professionals seeking to align their estate planning strategies with superannuation laws and ensure appropriate and timely distribution of benefits after death.

This course is suitable for:

• Financial planners and advisers
• SMSF trustees and directors of corporate trustees
• Superannuation fund administrators
• Legal and estate planning professionals
• Accountants and tax advisers working with superannuation clients

What you will learn

By completing this course on death benefit nominations, you will gain the ability to:

• Understand the purpose and legal framework of death benefit nominations under Australian superannuation law.
• Identify who can receive a superannuation death benefit, and the differences between dependants and legal personal representatives.
• Distinguish between binding, non-binding, and reversionary nominations, and understand when trustee discretion applies.
• Recognise how the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 (SISR) and trust deeds affect the distribution of death benefits.
• Evaluate the strategic use of death benefit nominations to minimise estate disputes and manage creditor risks.
• Apply nomination options in various fund types, including SMSFs, in compliance with legal and fund-specific requirements.
• Recommend appropriate nomination strategies to clients or stakeholders as part of broader estate planning.
• Understand how death benefit nominations can be structured to support tax efficiency and beneficiary intentions.