SMSFs, particularly those close to or in retirement phase, are showing great interest in exchange-traded bond units (XTB) as they present an innovative way to gain access to the Australian bond market, which in turn helps to reduce portfolio risk.

The $1.6 million transfer balance cap coupled with the proposed change in contributions caps could lead to a spike in SMSF establishments in the immediate future, the partner of a chartered accounting firm has predicted.

The SMSF Association today welcomed the introduction into Parliament of the federal government’s legislation to lift the education and ethical standards of financial advisers.

SuperConcepts has added the DomaCom Fund to its low-cost fund administration service, iSaver, for SMSFs holding simple assets.

Spring FG has added the technology of NowInfinity to its mysuper247 platform, which will give Australians the ability to instantly set up an SMSF, as well as pick and choose the services of other leading financial service providers.

The Self-managed Independent Superannuation Funds Association (SISFA) has revealed it will offer an exclusive insurance product built into its membership, with the initiative expected to be launched in the new year.

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.