Investment platforms are maintaining their share of the SMSF market, however, there has been a significant shift with institutional providers losing ground to those that are non-aligned, the latest analysis from Class has revealed.

Implementing the federal government’s changes to the superannuation system is likely to result in substantial costs for SMSFs, a specialist sector lawyer has said.

Australian SMSF investors have taken a few blows in 2016, with financial market volatility hammering portfolios. But after recently training Brisbane boxer Jeff Horn to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) number two in the world, and potentially a bout away from a world title fight, it became apparent to me that successful investing is like surviving in the ring.

The proposed changes to the superannuation system seem to favour certain objectives of the Australian retirement savings framework and not others as outlined in the first tranche of legislation covering the subject, a sector technical expert has said.

The proposed 12-month grace period for reversionary pensions before pensions are counted for the $1.6 million transfer balance cap has been welcomed by Townsends Business and Corporate Lawyers.

The Self-managed Independent Superannuation Funds Association (SISFA) has warned there is a real danger the new super laws will drive people away from the superannuation environment.

Advisers need to be mindful of the strategic order of the steps required to make the most of the new non-concessional contributions (NCC) caps bring-forward rules in the event of capital gains tax (CGT) rollovers, a specialist lawyer has said.

The incoming changes to the asset test for the age pension and its effect on their SMSF clients have been top of mind for advisers, with demand and queries for strategies to reduce their impact high, according to Colonial First State (CFS).

There will be three likely impacts for SMSF investors or investors generally as a result of Donald Trump being elected United States president: commodity price rises, higher inflation and a lower Australian dollar.