The corporate governance practices of the underlying companies in which a real estate investment trust (REIT) chooses to purchase shares is the most important factor to acknowledge when assessing the merits of these investment vehicles, according to a specialist fund manager. “If you could only look at one thing, corporate governance would be the thing […]

SMSF trustees need to have planned some tax minimisation strategies well in advance of the commencement of a pension, and also should allow for any future change in member circumstances, a superannuation technical specialist has warned. Addressing the situation of trustees wanting to separate the taxable component of their benefits from the tax-free component, BT […]

Research into the superannuation industry has shown financial planners’ expectations of how much SMSF client revenue would contribute to their practices over the past three years have not been met.

Putting in place a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) that does not lapse after three years should be the preferred estate planning strategy for SMSF trustees, according to a specialist superannuation educator. Speaking at the Australian Investors Association 2016 National Conference, SuperConcepts executive manager of SMSF education David Busoli said: “With binding death benefit nominations […]

The only way to address inflation risk and longevity risk is to invest in growth assets, according to a leading financial author. “You can’t just be invested for interest to deal with inflation risk and longevity risk. You need to have growth assets where you’re getting some growth in the capital as well as an […]

The Federal Court has banned Bradley Grimm and Vanessa Ash from providing financial services for 20 and 10 years respectively and from managing corporations for 15 and seven years respectively after finding them guilty of dishonest conduct.

The latest industry research has shown SMSF trustee attitudes have changed in how they would like financial advisers to play a role in the running of their super funds.

Despite the fact the proposed changes to superannuation included in the 2016 federal budget are yet to be legislated, advisers need to revise any existing SMSF strategies with their clients, the director of a top four accounting firm has said.