Complexity stops investors opening SMSFs: moomoo launches one-stop service for them

Moomoo Australia and New Zealand chief executive officer Michael McCarthy.

SYDNEY, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investors want to open self-managed super funds, to invest in cryptocurrency, and make use of artificial intelligence, found investment platform moomoo Australia and New Zealand in its recent survey of share investors.

But a key finding was that the complexity and cost of opening a SMSF is stopping those interested in opening a fund from doing so.

SMSF complexity holds investors back

Moomoo aims to simplify the complex setup of SMSFs, which is why 24% of interested Australians say they haven’t opened a fund. At the same time, moomoo and its partners offer a transparent range of fees to reassure the 21% of people that cite costs as their reason for not opening a SMSF.

A key third reason interested Australians hold back from opening a SMSF is not knowing what to invest in (24%). So, moomoo is providing a broad range of news and content, including from SMSF experts, to help investors manage their super to deliver for the long term.

“There are clear, legitimate reasons that even those Australians familiar with share investing and interested in opening a self-managed super fund, haven’t done so. We answer these concerns head on with our trading account service, administration partner services, and sophisticated investing resources,” says moomoo Australia and New Zealand chief executive officer Michael McCarthy.

Not only can investors use moomoo to set up a SMSF trading account, but also our partners for investment guidance, and other services including fund setup, rollovers, reporting, compliance and ongoing management.

They want to make use of artificial intelligence

Most Australian share investors (67%) would use artificial intelligence in their SMSF investing, found moomoo Australia.

Specifically, survey results show a third would use AI for their SMSF investment strategy, while 37% would use it to analyse individual investments. A third would also use AI to help manage the fund, and almost 30% to meet compliance requirements. Just over a quarter of respondents would use AI tools to meet all four needs.

“Australians' recognition of the power of AI to lessen the burden of managing a SMSF is particularly interesting given that they cite the complication of opening a SMSF as a leading reason for not doing so,” explains Mr McCarthy.

“This need comes at the right time for moomoo, with our AI assistant launching this month. Combined with the platform’s other AI-powered features, including our trend projection and market monitoring automation, we’re using the full power of artificial intelligence to really help investors make easier, smarter, more informed trades.”

An appetite for cryptocurrency

Australians interested in opening a SMSF are far more likely to trade Bitcoin than those who already own a self-managed super fund, found moomoo Australia.

Almost two thirds (60%) of those interested in SMSFs are either trading or want to trade cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin (88%) and Ethereum (56%). Almost a third are interested in stablecoins and altcoins.

But for the more conservative current SMSF owners, just over half (55%) are trading crypto or would like to. And they're far more diversified in their interest, with 40% trading or wanting to trade Bitcoin, a third focused on memecoins and a sizeable minority (27%) on stablecoins.

“There is strong investor interest in cryptocurrency. And the moomoo platform provides for them, with access to more than 26,000 securities across the Australian, US and Hong Kong markets, including a broad range of crypto-based stocks and exchange-traded funds,” says Mr McCarthy.

About the survey

Moomoo Australia surveyed 153 sharemarket investors experienced in trading and managing superannuation (independent of the moomoo platform). About one third of respondents held a self-managed super fund, with 22% interested in opening one.

Characteristics of those that own or would like to own a SMSF are quite similar. Generally, aged over 45, they work full time with a household income between $50,000 and $150,000. Those not yet running a SMSF have less share-trading experience (about one year) and are less confident in their investment knowledge (describing themselves as 'intermediate').

Australians that invest in shares and hold a self-managed super fund, or want to:

• are either intermediate (41%) or advanced (35%) in their level of investment knowledge
• believe their retirement balance can be up to $200,000 (23%), $500,000 (32%), $1m (26%)
• would use AI investing tools (67%), to strategise (33%) and analyse investments (37%)
• believe AI is great for SMSF reporting (37%), management (37%), but isn’t secure (31%).

Those that haven’t yet set up a SMSF:

• haven’t done so because they’re satisfied with their current fund (55%), see the process as too complex (23%) or don’t believe they have enough funds (23%)
• would want to invest in Australian stocks (76%), property (55%), crypto (39%), ETFs (30%)
• would not invest in crypto (36%), futures (24%), bonds (18%), non-US global stocks (18%).
  

About moomoo

Through moomoo, investors can access local and international markets, choosing from more than 26,000 shares and ETFs – more securities than most broking platforms in Australia – to shape their own retirement investment strategy. We’ve partnered with four administration service providers – Intello, Superannuation Warehouse, Just Superfund, SMSFai – to provide a one-stop service to clients.

Moomoo Australia is a next-generation investment platform that integrates investment transactions, up-to-date news, real-time market data, and an active trading community. It offers investors access to securities across the Australian, United States and Hong Kong markets.

Moomoo is owned by Futu Holdings, a global fintech operation listed on the Nasdaq. It operates in seven world markets including Japan and the United States.

Media contact (to arrange interviews and photos)

Moomoo Australia and New Zealand senior content manager Byron Smith, phone 0411 272 701, email pr@au.moomoo.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96e9e2b9-ad94-4bd6-aa93-c67fc0855d76

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