Count Financial launched an online facility today that will assist accountants who are considering obtaining an Australian financial services licence (AFSL) to provide financial advice to SMSF clients in gaining a better practical understanding of what the process involves.

Providing monetary compensation to accountants who provide client referrals is a practice financial planners should not reject as it can establish the most effective path to signing up new clients, according to the head of an advisory firm.

The ability for SMSFs to refund non-concessional contributions cap (NCCC) breaches when the yearly $180,000 limit was exceeded would be a more practical application of the rule, according to a superannuation industry technical expert.

Criticism is often directed towards SMSFs on the premise trustees are acting in a selfish and self-serving manner, but this perception ignores their obligations to serve all members of the fund, according to the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA).

Former Macquarie Group SMSF division director Sarah Penn has launched a consultancy business for all financial services firms wanting to obtain greater traction in the sector through a better understanding of how it works.

Property investment specialist Future Estate’s August residential property update has indicated Sydney and Melbourne are the two cities providing the strongest capital gains. Quoting statistics from research house RP Data, Future Estate said Sydney and Melbourne dwelling values rose by 2 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively in the three months ending July 2014. […]

Russell Investments is the only product provider to be awarded a highly recommended rating in research house Zenith’s multi-manager sector review. The firm achieved the rating for all of its multi-manager offerings, made up of its Conservative Fund, Diversified 50 Fund, Balanced Fund, Growth Fund and High Growth Fund. The highly recommended ratings were awarded […]

Financial advisers with SMSF clients wanting to take advantage of the grandfathering rules applying to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) should commence pensions for those individuals immediately, according to an industry expert.

Global listed infrastructure as an asset class can be used to achieve many different investing objectives for SMSF trustees, according to an international portfolio manager.