This research was jointly funded by the Centre for International Finance and Regulation, the University of Technology Sydney and The University of Sydney under CIFR Project E220. The Centre for International Finance and Regulation is funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments, and supported by other Consortium members. Research Working Paper Who starts a self-managed superannuation fund and why? Ron Bird University of Technology Sydney Doug Foster The University of Sydney Jack Gray University of Technology Sydney Adrian Raftery Deakin University Susan Thorp The University of Sydney Danny Yeung University of Technology Sydney WORKING PAPER NO. 127/2016 / PROJECT NO. E220 September 2016