The SMSF sector was currently putting too much emphasis on legislative and compliance issues and needed to increase the attention given to the investments of funds, according to a former ATO official.

Legislation clarifying and consolidating the tax treatment of limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) has been introduced into Parliament.

Research house Zenith’s latest review of the infrastructure sector has found it generated a healthy return of 19.9 per cent to 30 April 2015, as reflected by the S&P Global Infrastructure Index ($A hedged). “Pleasingly, the overall performance of listed infrastructure managers on Zenith’s approved product list was strong, with the majority of rated managers […]

The ATO’s SMSF compliance activity over the next 12 months will pay particular attention to dividend stripping, asset values and related-party loans.

The latest research into the SMSF sector has produced results showing claims SMSF trustees are underinsured may be exaggerated.

Specialist software provider BGL Corporate Solutions has facilitated a threefold boost to its Simple Fund 360, with the inclusion of a licensing solution for accountants, an actuarial certificate capability and an increase in the data feeds associated with the application.

The use of partial pension commutations in satisfying the minimum pension payments in an income year is currently unclear following a recent ATO ruling on the matter, according to an SMSF technical expert.

The ATO will soon clarify its compliance stance on the segregated method for SMSF assets being used to fund a pension after it recently received a significant number of queries on the subject.

Superannuation veteran and SMSF technical specialist David Shirlow will be leaving Macquarie Bank at the end of this week. Shirlow has been involved in the superannuation industry since 1985 and was head of Macquarie Adviser Services that provided technical support to financial advisers. More recently he was an executive director with Macquarie Bank. Shirlow be […]