The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued a permanent ban on Perth-based former financial planner Marion Pearson for improper conduct in relation to advice provided to SMSF clients.

The Federal Court has imposed a $25,000 penalty against online SMSF administration and accounting service provider Superannuation Warehouse Australia (SWA) for false and misleading advertising.

Specialist provider of Australian financial services licences for accountants Rise Standards has experienced a large increase in interest in its offering as the deadline for the scrapping of the accountants’ exemption draws near.

SMSFs will continue to seek fixed income and yield for some time, according to BT Investment Management (BTIM).

Wealth management software provider Bravura Solutions has improved its portfolio administration system, Garradin, for SMSFs, making tax lodgements easier.

The ATO has revealed it expects to soon release new guidelines for the reporting of serious SMSF contraventions in order to avoid fund non-compliance.

Financial services giant AMP has acquired SMSF administration technology providers SuperIQ and SuperCorp.

Research house Lonsec has assigned its initial ratings for two managed investment funds – the AllianceBernstein Global Equities Fund and Macquarie Specialist Investments (MSI) Dividend Run-Up Fund. The AllianceBernstein offering was awarded a Recommended rating, with Lonsec noting the underlying strategy the fund employs has a well-established record despite the product’s limited performance track record. […]

Having poorly prepared documentation regarding pensions can result in significant tax liabilities for SMSFs, a specialist sector law firm has warned.