SMSF trustees running their own investments lack the depth of knowledge to make the best investment decisions and should steer away from do-it-yourself solutions.

Global pandemics, political tensions and market volatility have driven the usage of managed accounts to record high levels.

Investment bonds offer similar tax-free and estate planning benefits as SMSFs, but still remain underused by Australian investors.

Not all offers of shares from an employer can be passed through to an SMSF, with details of the transaction often hidden behind the name.

A deeper examination of SMSF underperformance may reveal it is caused in some cases by the life cycle of fund members rather than poor investments.

The ATO has made the SMSF sector aware of the need for diversity in an investment portfolio, but this is not a legal obligation that must be met.