The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has banned Charterhill Group founder George Nowak from providing financial advice until 3 July 2017 as a result of his status as an undischarged bankrupt.

The latest sector research has shown SMSF trustees are continuing to move away from cash and term deposits to pursue opportunities for higher returns overseas.

SMSF specialist software provider BGL Corporate Solutions has teamed up with property data firm CoreLogic RP Data to launch the first automated property depreciation facility for the sector.

Risk tolerance specialist FinaMetrica has raised concerns over the levels of risk incorporated in SMSF portfolios due to a concentration of domestic equities.

The SMSF Association has questioned some of the tax observations included in the Financial System Inquiry (FSI) based on its own factual observations and practicality concerns.

The SMSF Association has called for the government and industry to have informed dialogue about superannuation tax concessions without reliance on flawed measures like the Treasury Tax Expenditures Statement (TES) as justification to make changes to the system.

Taxpayers Australia has launched a book designed to boost SMSF trustee knowledge and assist them in running their own retirement savings vehicles.

Business owners should consider using an SMSF to house the investments and assets of the business for retirement preparation and risk mitigation, according to a succession planning expert.