The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is expecting the number of SMSF auditors completing the mandatory registration process to increase steadily over the coming few years.

Parliamentary Joint Committee (PJC) on Corporations and Financial Services chair Senator David Fawcett has thrown his support behind the concept of an SMSF profession.

The ATO has affirmed the SMSF auditor registration requirement is already making a difference in improving the quality of audits in the industry, particularly through the elimination of practitioners who were servicing a very small number of funds.

The SMSF Association’s 2015 federal budget submission has called on the government to provide a more equitable superannuation system through continuing the Low Income Superannuation Contribution Scheme and raising the concessional contributions cap.

The increasing costs of providing SMSF administration is a concern needing to be addressed in the coming years, according to a specialist service provider in the space.

The ATO has new powers, called Superannuation Guarantee Estimates (SGE), designed to protect the retirement savings entitlements of workers where a company is on the verge of liquidation.

Financial education content developer Money101 has launched an online SMSF facility to assist practitioners with their professional development commitments.

Large financial services organisations looking to gain traction in the SMSF market must abandon the traditional packaging approach, according to a sector consultant.

Chris Benson has joined the sales team of fractional property investment manager DomaCom, taking on the role of Victoria and Tasmania state manager.