Hi,
I don't know if its optimal, but I can say what I use and why for my trust:
1. Gift/loan. I loaned funds to the trust (on the advice of my accountant). Apparently it gives more opportunity to redraw the capital down the track without it needing to be distributed (taxable impact). This has better taxable impacts. Downside is less asset protection - the "loan" is an asset in your name, which is potentially fair game if someone sues you. I went with a loan as I wanted to be able to get some dollars out to buy a PPOR in the medium term.
2. I have a transaction account set up. I went for something with low fees - I've used one of the NAB pay as you go business accounts. No regular fees, and 20c/transaction. Has worked out OK for me so far.
3. I have a trading account set up for the trust. Do you have a corporate trustee? When I set this up, it was about the same amount of effort as setting up my personal brokerage account, except I needed to provide a JP witnessed copy of the trust deed and the trustee company constitution. On an ongoing basis, it is an extra tax return of course. I also found it more straightforward to use a CHESS sponsored broker (most AUS brokers) compared to IB (which holds shares in trust), as there was a more transparent audit trail if the accountant needed it.
4. Main difference in investing with the DFT is in flexibility of distribution. I'm guessing you will probably be distributing to the lower income spouse rather than a corporate beneficiary? From my experience, investing through the trust has been mostly upside in allocating income most effectively. Downside has been in operating costs and no capital gains discount on any cap gains in the company beneficiary. Because of the lower impact of tax on income in the trust, I've tended to put higher yielding shares in the trust, and retained lower yield in my own name.
Question on the carried forward losses - are these actually in the trust, or were they distributed out when they were realised? I'm not an accountant, but I thought that each tax year any profit/loss from the trust needed to be distributed? Maybe check up on that part?