Under the leadership of AMP SMSF administration managing director Andrew Hamilton, Multiport has developed its offering into a modular service to ensure it consistently caters to the differing needs of SMSF clients.

Regulations were introduced in 2012 making it mandatory for SMSFs to consider the life insurance needs of their members. It’s a welcome step forward, according to TAL, winner in the life insurance category in the CoreData SMSF Awards.

Cash returns are not what they used to be with interest rates at record lows, but cash and term deposits will always form part of SMSF portfolios for the security and liquidity they provide. 

Since the demise of high interest rates in Australia, investors have been hunting for alternative assets that deliver yield, resulting in significant interest in the property sector.

According to AMP Bank chief operating officer Rob Slocombe, variations and inconsistencies found in term deposit offerings will not win any favours with advisers in this day and age.

Borrowing for property investment is a small but fast-growing feature of the SMSF marketplace. While still a relatively niche product, growing numbers of financial institutions are offering the limited recourse borrowing arrangements SMSFs need to gear into real estate.

New government legislation has resolved the uncertainty surrounding the treatment of pensions in the event of death. David Shirlow takes a look at the resulting positive tax implications.