Recent analysis into SMSF investors has shown a growing preference for allocations to separately managed accounts (SMA) at the expense of listed shares as well as an increase in the use of exchange-traded funds (ETF) and unit trusts as avenues for access to international equities.

Financial services giant AMP has appointed Natasha Fenech to the newly created role of managing director for its SMSF business arm, AMP SMSF.

SMSF administration software provider Class Super has released its latest solution equipped to handle SuperStream services, after partnering with financial services technology firm GBST.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced it will undertake a pilot project to review the risk of SMSF auditors’ details, including the SMSF auditor number (SAN), being misused and falsely reported on annual returns.

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.

More financial planners are advising on share trading transactions in response to client demand, with the trend set to continue, industry research from Investment Trends has indicated.

Retail and industry superannuation funds have been unable to challenge the SMSF market due to weak branding and marketing, according to the former managing director and founder of CommSec.

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.