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.

Analysis of SMSF data has identified the defining factor as to why certain funds underperform other types of retirement savings vehicles.