Westpac Group will roll out SMSF specialists across its phone-based services as well as its branches as part of its plans to better address the growing number of SMSF enquiries.

Allocations to property within superannuation portfolios, and in particular SMSF portfolios, will decrease in the medium to long term, according to the head of a large financial services institution.

CMC Markets Stockbroking’s most recent data analysis on its SMSF clients has shown diversification remains an issue, with trustees on average holding only four types of securities, mainly blue-chip shares.

Clients could be missing out on significant tax savings because many advisers do not understand the way minimum pension payments can be made.

The way SMSF investors use and understand franking credits associated with Australian equities leaves a lot to be desired, according to a technical expert associated with the industry.

Financial planners need to reassess the way they manage retirement incomes as restrictive, product-focused thinking is creating risks for clients.

Continued SMSF migration represents significant latent demand for professional advice and assistance, though accountants rather than financial advisers may benefit most from the trend, according to the latest Core Data research.

Specialist SMSF service providers Bendzulla Actuarial and Class Super have jointly improved the process of obtaining actuarial information through greater automation.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will crack down on SMSFs that fail to lodge annual returns in a timely manner by preventing them from receiving employer contributions and rollover benefits from large superannuation funds.