Specialist SMSF administration provider Xpress Super has warned SMSF members they are in danger of losing their Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) as a result of the impending legislative changes to the sector.

SMSF investor behaviour is beginning to influence financial product development, with one recognised fund manager using this factor in designing a capital-protected offering it recently released to the market.

Determining a minimum fund size to achieve cost-effectiveness rests with the fund balance, the number of fund members and the investment strategy, according to research conducted by the Centre for International Finance and Regulation (CIFR).

AMP is looking to leverage off its newly developed SMSF research and education centre to provide an official facility for trustees to satisfy any education orders received from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as part of the regulator’s new penalty regime.

The increased level of automation involved with the establishment and administration of SMSFs could lead to some advice being provided by computers in the short term, an industry specialist has suggested.

The risk of SMSFs being targeted for fraudulent activities increases in conjunction with the growth of the sector, placing greater onus on accountants and auditors to put procedures in place to protect their clients from the actions of criminals, according to a fraud prevention specialist.

SMSF trustees should rethink investments in residential property to avoid major cash-flow problems, a wealth management expert has recommended.

The failure to comply with formalities when exercising the discretion associated with executing a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) is the most likely avenue of challenge against these SMSF estate planning instruments, according to a specialist superannuation lawyer.

Recent analysis into SMSF investors has found a substantial outflow from listed trusts and separately managed accounts (SMA).