SMSF trustees and advisers need to be aware of the discretionary powers in the hands of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in its use of the Super Fund Lookup facility as they are wide ranging and do not incorporate an appeals process, according to a sector specialist.

Financial advisers servicing SMSF clients need to know the difference between a qualified audit report and an auditor contravention report (ACR) and the different implications of each, according to a specialist SMSF auditor.

Fixed-interest inflation-indexed investments would suit the needs of self-funded retirees running their own super fund very well, a recent SMSF study conducted by financial services research house DEXX&R concluded.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) questions about the legitimacy of an SMSF during set-up phase are purely for compliance purposes and not for public use, according to the regulator.

AMP has rejected the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) proposal for SMSF advisers to disclose when an SMSF may be a cost-effective retirement savings vehicle compared to other superannuation funds.

The use of specific procedures, such as a conditional pension and the appointment of a fund member’s guardian, can help ensure death benefits are distributed as per the wishes of a deceased SMSF member, according to a recognised industry lawyer.

Running multiple pensions within an SMSF, as opposed to commuting and restarting an existing pension, has significant tax advantages, according to an industry expert.

Practitioner misunderstanding regarding market valuations for SMSF assets remains prevalent, especially issues such as when a valuation is needed and who can provide one, according to a specialist sector auditor.

Melbourne-based credit specialist fund manager La Trobe Financial has introduced a loan facility for SMSFs looking to implement limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) to acquire fund assets.