News

Death benefits, SMSF, Succession Planning

Equity rule key to benefit payments

Equity SMSF Death benefit BDBN Reversionary pension

Understanding the rules of equity is essential in determining how superannuation death benefits will be paid out in a legal case.

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Retirement

Government retirement costings inappropriate

Retirement Funding Superannuation system Age pension

The current methodology used to ascertain what it is costing the government to fund Australians’ retirement is misleading and not appropriate.

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Education, Investments, SMSF, Superannuation

Facilitating the education of grandchildren

Education bond SMSF

SMSF trustees can make specific portfolio allocations that will enable them to fund the education expenses of their grandchildren.

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Contributions, Legislation, Tax

Reserve allocations a $3m cap issue

Reserve allocations Total superannuation balance Contributions $3 million soft cap tax Concessional cap

The treatment of reserve allocations to members for the purpose of the $3 million soft cap is problematic and can have significant adverse outcomes.

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Death benefits, Regulation, Tax

Death benefit payment delay risky

Death benefit Payment Pension Lump sum ECPI

SMSF trustees have been urged to promptly distribute death benefits as doing so is believed to reduce the likelihood of unintended consequences.

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SMSF, Superannuation

SMSFs top member satisfaction again

SMSF Member Satisfaction Roy Morgan

SMSFs were the only part of the superannuation sector to record a positive level of satisfaction in a recent survey of fund members.

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ASIC, financial advice

Exam changes to be implemented

ASIC Financial adviser exam

Changes to the content of the financial adviser exam proposed by the government will go ahead and apply to the next sitting in March.

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ETFs, Investments

VanEck releases private credit ETF

VanEck Private credit ETF

VanEck is set to list its 40th ETF for the Australian market with the release of a global private credit fund.

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Investments, SMSF

Dig deep into related-party concerns

related party investments SMSF

Consistently reviewing the relationships between parties to an investment is the most prudent way to ensure clients do not fall foul of the related-party rules.

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Retirement, SMSF, Superannuation

Definitions key to avoid retirement confusion

Superannuation Retirement definition Financial adviser Accountant Auditor Heffron Leigh Mansell

SMSF practitioners are confusing the definition of retirement for superannuation purposes, but need to be aware there are two ways to view this event taking place.

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